Daily Devotion, August 27, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Acts 2:43-47; 4:32-35.

I believe the Bible transcends time and culture so today the same applies to the original church. It is interesting to ask if Luke is describing an ideal Christian community. I imagine that the original church was on a significant emotional high. Everything was new and nothing had yet been established beyond the teachings of Jesus. There are four activities that appeared important to the church at its core. Teaching new converts, fellowship of any sort, communion, and prayer seem like good building blocks for the church from any perspective.

First, they devoted themselves to the teaching from the apostles. This instruction was for new converts who may not have heard Jesus teach. The apostles were witnesses passing along the things which they had seen and heard. Second, they devoted themselves to fellowship. Since this word has the connotation of sharing resources, this is likely an allusion to the communal life described.. At the very least this included care for the poor. Third, they devoted themselves to breaking of bread. While this phrase can be used for sharing a meal together, it is likely that Luke is describing celebrating some form of communion. Fourth, they devoted themselves to prayers. It would not be unusual for Jewish men to go to the Temple several times a day to pray, so the community continues to worship at the Temple regularly. Personal Worship Option: I feel like, along with the four basic principles, we need to make an effort to live in a closer community with fellow believers, so that we will not become complacent with just the Sunday morning stuff, but that we will push each other, keep each other more accountable in the deeper things that are happening in our everyday lives and with this community will become stronger in doing all of these things. Let’s strive to encourage one another.