Everything has changed because of Covid!!
To survive we closed more than our shops, we closed ourselves. We have become more cautious, less generous, more selfish. We have survived, but have we flourished?
It is time to go back to normal, it is time to get on with our lives. But the question is – what will normal look like? What can normal look like? This reminded me of what normal was for the church just after Jesus died.
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.
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 favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
- Acts 2
What a great picture of Christianity! Being Christian then was about having open homes that welcomed others. It was about having open hands sharing with those in need. Being Christian was about having open hearts devoted to Jesus’ teaching, to churching together, and praying together. The open generosity of the early church was fueled by the open generosity of God – God doesn’t simply give us our daily bread, but he gives us his Son too.
We have been closed for long enough because of COVID. It is time, as a community, to open up; to open our doors, our hands, and our hearts. Let us devote ourselves to each other and indeed Christ. Let's get back to inviting people over, going to church, praying together, sharing of possessions.
We too at Thomas Hassall are excited to have been able to open up for events.
Remember that while closed hearts survive, only open hearts flourish.