The Joy of Community
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
In the last two churches I’ve been a part of, the passage from Acts 2:42-47 has been a central pillar and has taught me so much about how beautiful and important it is to live in community with other believers. This is a verse I’ve come to memorize by heart, one I look to when thinking about how important it is to be connected to other believers wherever I find myself in life.
John 1: 14 reminds us that “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us […]” Before time began, the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) was already in community with one another, and God loved us so much that He sent Christ to us, to make community with us here so that we could be in community with the Trinity for eternity. How beautiful is that!
In spite of this beauty, if we’re honest, it’s really messy doing life with other people. Whether it’s your friends or youth group in your hometown or your cabinmates at Camp, when we choose to embrace those around us, things often get challenging. Why? Well, we as humans are messy! But something powerful happens in us and to us when we choose to love, serve, and connect with other believers. Jesus promises that “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20).
Christ comes to dwell with us again and again as we live life with others who love Him. And just like Acts 2 suggests, in this community, Christ allows us the opportunity and privilege of being His hands and feet to one another. When Christians come together and seek Christ above all, people’s needs can be met. People find a place to belong, experience the joy of being known and accepted, and those who don’t yet know God find something different and refreshing in these Christians.
We get the joy of following God and walking the journey of life with other Christians. We don’t have to do this alone. If you have a wonderful community already, praise God for it! Consider what you can do today to love and serve that community, to show your friends or leaders what they mean to you.
If you don’t, ask God for fellow Christians to live life with. Ask Him to give you friends that love God and build you up. Ask Him to help you be the kind of person who creates community wherever they go, and be willing to go first in making friends and loving others. Know I am praying for you to experience this type of community too!