And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV)

There you are, living in Jerusalem with a Jewish background and it’s time for the Festival of Weeks, a week-long feast to help remind Gods’ people of the coming Messiah. This is something you have done since you lived with your parents. Every year your people do this, and it is quite possible that for some, the festival has turned into an obligation or something that feels like it must be done to avoid looking like a bad Jew.  

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As you go about the week, there is a strange buzz about the city; something is different about this week. You start hearing about a couple of young men who are speaking with unbelievable power. People start hanging out with each other to talk about these young men and a man who is said to be the new king. Your neighbor does something crazy: he sells his farm to help other people who are struggling.  People have a joy about them you have never seen. People are constantly getting together, sharing meals and growing. One day you finally talk to your neighbor who says he has come to know Jesus, the so-called new king, and that the Holy Spirit filled him. He can’t help but gather with others and share that joy.

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Being polite, you accept an invite to a dinner at his house. You meet so many people who have the same joy, excitement, and genuine heart for people, something you have really never seen before. As you continue to get to know these people, something happens. You meet Jesus, you meet him in these people, and it changes you. There is a completeness that fills a hole in your heart filled and you feel full for the first time in your life.

Christ became human, died, and rose again not just to pay a debt, but to change, complete, and fill you. I propose that in those first days of the early church, we see a glimpse of heaven, what the body of Christ is designed to be. In Genesis 2, God says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” There are at least 50 other places in Scripture where some type of community is mentioned. Community is not something we were designed to go without.

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A long time ago, a young me held a view that the church is not a building, so I can just do the “God thing” without going to a building. With that view, what I found over the years is that I had less and less true friends; coworkers didn’t count as true friends. I did less and less activities that I enjoyed, like fishing and camping. To be honest, I was isolated from a community that God created for me.

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And this isn’t just a spiritual thinking. The CDC reports people who isolate are more at risk of heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression and anxiety, addiction, dementia, and earlier death.

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Let’s face it. It’s easier to pull away, especially when you are already in an isolated state like Alaska. It takes work and can be uncomfortable to make that move. I found myself saying, I can do this thing alone. I pulled away from our people and found myself in all kinds of issues. The bad habits came out, the enemy’s voice became louder, and I felt distant from a perfect love I was made for.

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The church in Acts 2 lived in this community, showing Christ’s perfect love. They poured into each other in a way no one had seen, and it spread like wildfire. You were made for this, too. You aren’t created to live in isolation. Life is better in the love you were created for!

Abba, you know us inside and out, and you know exactly what we need in our lives. Abba, I pray we can see where you have given us the community of believers that is your church. That we can love our neighbors in your perfect love. All in your powerful name, amen.