There is no way around it: if we want to grow in our relationships with others, we have to spend time with them on a regular basis. Relationships with people we see only occasionally can only grow so far. If we want to grow in our relationships with other followers of Christ, we have to step out of isolation and regularly spend time with them. That is what the early church did. Early church members made it a point to spend time together regularly, and as a result, they were stronger and more devoted to Christ.
Throughout the New Testament, we see examples of Christ followers purposefully and intentionally engaging in the community that God has placed them in, starting with the early church. In Acts 2, Luke, the author of Acts, describes the early church and what it was characterized by. One of the things the early church was known for was gathering together regularly. He wrote in Acts 2 that the early church "worshiped together each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity" (verse 46). Look back at the different ways that the early church members spent time together. Their time spent was habitual and significant. They lived life together. As they did, the church thrived and grew exponentially.
Spending a significant amount of time together was not just crucial for the early church; it is essential for us today, too. The writer of Hebrews made sure to encourage all followers of Christ to spend a great deal of time together. He wrote in Hebrews 10, "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works" (verse 24). Because we sometimes feel tired and discouraged, Hebrews encouraged believers to actively think of ways to motivate one another to do good. The writer of Hebrews continued, saying, "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" (verse 25). This call to continue meeting together is a logical next step in the instructions given in this passage of Scripture, as it gives us an opportunity for believers to "motivate each other to acts of love and good works." Notice that both of these commands in this passage of Scripture, to motivate each other and to keep meeting together, are active commands. Motivating others and meeting together requires believers to actively take steps to do these things. We must take the necessary steps to do these two things in order to obey this passage of Scripture.
If we want to feel less lonely, we must actively pursue community. We must reach out to friends, make plans with them, and join a small group, among other things. We will not cultivate a community if we stay home, never pick up the phone to reach out to others, and never join a small group. We will be lonely. If we, on the other hand, actively pursue community, we will experience the joy of living life alongside others rather than feeling lonely. Let's actively choose to live in community today.
Think about the followers of Christ whom God has placed in your life. Reach out to one of these followers of Christ in your life and make a plan to spend time with them today. Commit to making time for other followers to live life alongside you with a habit in your life.
1The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given me a body to offer.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
16 “This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”
17 Then he says,
“I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.”
18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 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.
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30 For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”
He also said,
“The Lord will judge his own people.”
31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
37 “For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
