True Connectivity

I’m old enough to remember the widespread introduction of the internet. Over the last 25 years I’ve watched technology permeate nearly ever facet of life. Today technology is present from work and research, to entertainment and shopping. This rise of technology has been promoted by many as the age of connectivity but the truth is that these human inventions have actually further divided and fragmented relationships and people.

The good news is that being disconnected isn’t the only option! For anyone interested in deep and lasting relationships, there is still a path to complete unity and harmony. Real unity can still be found and is cultivated through obeying God’s truth.

One the first Bible passages that comes to my mind regarding unity is Acts 2. This chapter begins with

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

and ends with

“Now all who believed were together...continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart...”

Clearly these Christian believers were together in a single location, but what is the meaning of their “one accord” and “simplicity of heart”? The phrase translated “one accord” comes from a Koine Greek word which means “with one mind” or “with one passion” so they had a common zeal. “Simplicity of heart” is really “singleness of heart” meaning that their spiritual hearts were united together in one. But, how did they achieve this single passion and this unified heart?

The answer to our question is found in the previous chapter. In Acts 1:4-5 Jesus is about to ascend from earth back to heaven. These verses say

“Being assembled together with them, [Jesus] commanded [the apostles] not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

This deep, real connectivity that the early church experienced was the result of receiving and obeying the same message from the same source. Everyone in this small group followed Jesus. Everyone heard Jesus’ Word and then chose to patiently obey it. The result was perfect, beautiful and extremely rare unity. This connectivity is still available today!

It seems to me that many church goers seek to find their preferred flavor of Christianity instead of asking “What is God’s definition of Christianity? How does He want me (really it’s not “me” it’s “us” isn’t it?) to work, live and worship Him?”

Proverbs 18:1 says it clearly and succinctly

“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire”

Isolation is about putting one’s self and one’s desires first. Unity is about focusing on God, obeying His word and setting aside self to achieve spiritual unity. True, eternal connectivity can only be found through the God who is One, specifically through His Word which is found, obeyed and lived within His church.

Do you have spiritual unity today? If you are interested in true, lasting harmony, but haven’t experienced it yet, are you willing to fully set aside yourself to enjoy this rare and beautiful experience?

Additional Verses: 2 Chronicles 30:12, Jeremiah 32:36-40, Romans 12:16, Romans 15:4-6, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, Philippians 2:1-4, Philippians 4:1-2, Hebrews 10:23-25, 1 Peter 3:8 and Jude 1:17-19