READ: ACTS 2:42-47; EPHESIANS 2:13-22; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11

When God created Adam, He said that people shouldn’t be alone. And so, God created Eve. From the beginning, God created people for community. God designed Adam and Eve to thrive in fellowship—in companionship and intimacy with one another (Genesis 1-2).

But then, Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Adam blamed Eve, and she blamed the serpent. No one wanted to take responsibility. Trust was broken. God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and He warned them that life would be different. And it was. Humanity was trapped in sin (Genesis 3). Years later, Adam and Eve’s son, Cain, killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4).

After the Fall (when people first sinned), how can we trust each other? Do we even want to live in companionship and intimacy in this broken world? Isn’t it easier to fend for ourselves without depending on others? Maybe it is easier. Bad things continue to happen in relationships. We’ve all experienced this. Friends betray each other. People abandon their families. We feel hurt by those we love.

But easier is not always better. We are created to thrive in fellowship, just like Adam and Eve. When Jesus came to earth, He emphasized the importance of community. “For where two or three gather in my name,” He said, “there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). After Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit, His followers acted out this model of fellowship: “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:46-47). Because of this, more people came to know Jesus.

Jesus brings us redemption, so we can live in fellowship. While this world is still broken, and there may be places where we need to put up loving boundaries, that doesn’t mean we need to live our lives in isolation. Jesus makes us part of His family, and He makes it possible for us to live in fellowship with each other. He saves us through His death and resurrection, places us in community, unites us by His Holy Spirit, and holds us together in His love. So let’s live in companionship and intimacy with our fellow believers in Jesus. And, in our fellowship, let’s draw others into the love of our Savior. • Becca Wierwille

• Why do you think God cares so deeply about fellowship?

• Do you carry hurts from trusting others in the past? Who are safe people in your life that you can talk to about these hurts, such as pastors, counselors, parents, or youth leaders?

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11a (NIV)