ACTS 2:42-44

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.

TO PONDER

I wonder if any of us have ever come close to experiencing something like the community of the early Christian Church under the leadership of the first apostles. It sounds kind of wonderful don't you think?

No one having to go without, everything being shared among the community, the people devoted to learning whatever they could from the apostles - as the apostles dedicated themselves to the task Jesus had left for them - to make disciples of all nations, baptising and teaching them.

The crazy thing is that the task of the church today is no different than it was back then, but the church today looks very different. We have institutional churches with heirarchies, and policies and various doctrines - some which look like the things that Jesus and the apostles taught, many which have nothing to do with any of that stuff. We don't have everything in common, and instead are often quick to point out when our beliefs or practices are different from others and separate ourselves rather than find ways to work together.

The world today looks different than it did for the early Christians, but the task we have as God's church is no different. Maybe if we looked a bit more like the early church, we might find more people drawn into the community, as the early Christians did.

PRAYER: Jesus, please help me to remember that being part of a church is not about simply attending church services, but about being dedicated to learning from your word, to meeting with and supporting others in our church community and to gathering to worship you. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle