Recently I had the opportunity to work with a few people on a special project. I didn’t know these individuals before we started, but at the end of the project I felt a special connection that I did not have when we began. As we worked together on a common goal, we had opportunities to get to know one another. Today, I can honestly say, we are friends.

Have you noticed, in your own life, how true bonds of relationship form when you are devoted to a common work or goal?

This is so true in our faith journey as well. We can sit beside the same person week after week at church on Sunday morning, yet we don’t start to build relationships with them until we work together on something. Maybe in a ministry, like KidsZone or a building project, or a missions project, or being involved in the same small group studying God’s Word together.

In Acts 2 of the New Testament we are told:

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

And here’s what happened as a result:

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

When we work with each other, that’s when we have the opportunity to learn from each other and support one another. That’s when life change happens. That’s when our faith journey’s intersect and we begin to grow. The world we live in today strongly promotes independence, and yet all the Biblical communities supported togetherness. Of course we need to take responsibility for our own faith, but it’s also imperative for us to build relationships and form bonds with others, so that we can grow together as God intended. Together.