Most of the laws of Moses in the Old Testament were aimed at the creation of true community. In an individualistic culture it is easy to miss this and think that faith is just about the way “I” live. Actually, the Bible is all about “we”. It is about transcending the “I” centred way of thinking and creating a united and diverse human family. What Luke is trying to show us here at the end of Acts 2 is the fruit of Spirit in terms of the creation of true community. He wants to show that what was idealised in the Old Testament law but never realised by Israel in practice was realised by the early church. What we read about here is actually the ultimate expression of the highest ideal toward which the whole Old Testament law was aimed. As we shall see, it was not a perfect expression, but it was far beyond anything that had been seen in practice before. It was made possible because of the unifying power of the Holy Spirit who was writing the law on the hearts of the people (Ezekiel 36:26). This is what Luke wants us to see. What this means is that your ability to live in community with people who are very different to you is the best measure of your willingness to move with God’s Spirit. It is why church is so important. Church is not just a useful tool to help us in our individual relationship with God. It is actually God’s ultimate goal: the creation of a family of diverse human beings under God’s fatherhood, living out his purpose together.
Pray for your church community.
Read Acts 2:42-47
