The Chain

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25

"They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."

- Acts 2:46-47

  

Since the beginning of time we as Humans have desired one thing more than anything else: Community and being around others. It is written in Genesis 2:18-22  "Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone... God made a woman from the rib, and He brought her to the man."  If you read Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:18-22 you will notice that everything that God does in creating the Earth he says that "It is good" but if you look closely he does not say that when he creates Adam, because it is not good for Adam to be alone and to not have a partner to live life with.

In the first two passages at the top of this blog, you will notice that Paul is telling us that we need to be in a community of people that can invest in each other lives. He is commanding us to meet with our communities regularly not just on a periodic basis or whenever we feel like it.

The year after I graduated from High School I started living life with some guys, that were not just friends or best friends but brothers. We lived every possible moment of everyday with one another, some even worked with me. Early on we realized that being in a community it not just about "hanging out" its about investing in each other lives and keeping each other accountable.  These guys have been next to me through every major moment in my life and that is why they were standing next to me at my wedding. Now that I am married, Amy and I are in a community of married couples, we been there when they get married, announced they are pregnant or that they are getting a puppy. We have also been there during their not so good times.

"Community is as important as prayer, going to church and reading the Bible"

 - Matt Carter of Austin Stone Community Church

I have been asked to describe what my community looks like and after some thinking this is how I view it: Imagine a ship being anchored to the sea floor. The chain and anchor is what keeps the ship in place where it needs to be, even though the chains and the anchor look rusted, nothing can break it loose. Without the anchor and chain, the ship can stay in one place for some time, but sooner or later a wave is going to come by and move it.

My Community helps keep me grounded in the Word, God, and Christ.

Looking back at a story that Matt Carter of Austin Stone Community Church shared on 10/7/06: He was told that one of the main reasons why Starbucks has become so successful is because they have created a false sense of community. Starbucks realized the one thing that people crave more than anything else is being around other people. That is why the employees are friendly, the chairs are comfortable and you don't mind drinking coffee and having a casual conversation with a complete stranger.

So my question to you today is:

Who are you living life with?