Volleyball and Community
Musings from The Garden
By Peggy Wyar
As Mark and I watched our oldest granddaughter play volleyball, God began to speak to me through the action of the game. The ball would be volleyed to one, and then the other side of the net. The players in the back would be backing up, keeping their eye on the ball, readying themselves to set it up for their team to return it. Quite often a teammate would shout, “Out!”, and the player would step aside and let the ball fall out of bounds. I watched this happen over and over throughout the match. Because of what I was observing, the Holy Spirit started speaking to me about His Church.
As we individually do whatever God has directed us to do (just as the volleyball player was actively playing the game), we often miss seeing the out of bounds line. We need brothers and sisters willing to point out where we are in danger of crossing the line. When we continue doing what we are doing, without heeding the warning of others, it’s possible something in our life that should have been dropped continues to influence us. We would be wise to let go of what may lead us out of God’s boundaries in our life.
We can become so focused on our ministry that we fail to hear the Holy Spirit’s warnings. Being connected in a community of believers means we have others around us seeing from different vantage points. As we interact in meaningful ways with one another, someone else may see where we’re close to being out of bounds, and courageously tell us. God may want us to let it drop, but we may be determined to keep juggling what we think important.
Being teachable in all humility before the Lord enables us to receive the warnings. Trusting our brothers and sisters helps. Trust is built over time and shared experiences. At times God may use a stranger to speak a warning, but processing it with people who know you can be a safeguard against error.
Why would any of this be important?
Because we are to be holy as He is holy 1 Peter 1:15
Because our behavior matters 1 Peter 2:12
Because we love each other 1 Peter 4:8
Because we have an enemy 1 Peter 5:8
Because our growth brings God glory 2 Peter 3:18
Because God instructs us to help our brothers and sisters:
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 NIV
“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”
By caring for His Church, we are imitating Jesus. He loves His Church enough to call us to holiness, knowing that’s what brings us the most joy and peace. We can choose to lovingly pray for His Church. We can choose to care enough to warn fellow believers of possible sin or trouble if they continue out of the bounds of God’s Word. We can care enough about the individual by being patient and gentle when warning them. We can speak the truth with love, hoping and believing the best for them. Together, we can continue becoming His unblemished Bride, knowing it is God in us and through us doing the sanctifying work.
Jude 24-25 NIV
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”