Community of Love

Acts 2
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Here's what made this type of community possible: John 13:34 "A new Command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Do you think we should give as much weight to this command as we do these:

• "You shall not murder.
• "You shall not commit adultery.
• "You shall not steal.

When is it okay to disobey God's other commands? Is it okay for you to not love your brothers and sisters as jesus loves us? How in the world are we to know exactly what that kind of love is?

1 John 3
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

What does "laying my life down for my brother" look like? Is this refering only to physical death? Was it only in Jesus' physical death that He showed His love for us?

Something to ponder:

If you are autonomous -- SELF SUFFICIENT -- as we were all taught to be. In other words, If you are meeting all of your own needs and loving only yourself -- How many people do you have loving you and meeting your needs?
answer: (1)

if you are in a community of believers who all hold each other up as more important than themselves -- who meet each others needs before there own -- who love in ACTION and in TRUTH -- who have laid their lives down for each other --how many people do you have loving you and meeting your needs?
answer: as many people as you have in your community!!