Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV)
Read Acts 2:42-47 on biblegateway.com
Verse 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Verse 43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. Verse 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; Verse 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Verse 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, Verse 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Devotion
Carly Simon once recorded a song that included the lyrics, “That’s the way I always heard it should be.” Perhaps that is our reaction when we read this passage from the second chapter of Acts. We see that those early believers placed great value on community, sharing resources and growing in discipleship. We yearn to be a part of communities of faith like that. Yet our experience is often very different.
The good news is that the Holy Spirit is still very much at work in the places where God’s people come together. There are real-life examples of people supporting and loving one another, of giving sacrificially and seeking to grow in their love for Jesus and each other. While it may not be as we “always heard it should be,” we give thanks that glimpses of the Acts 2 church are still with us today!
Prayer
Lord, even as you work through us to proclaim your kingdom, help us to recognize and give thanks for the powerful ways that you are already at work in our communities of faith. Amen.