Daily Reading for Wednesday, Feb. 27: Community

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

This passage depicts the very infancy of the church as it began to form after the day of Pentecost. We see that the believers devoted themselves to several things: the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, to prayer. They devoted themselves to the teaching so that they would know the truth and learn how to live as Christ followers. They devoted themselves to fellowship so that they could not only hear the teaching but see it in action. They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread, to building relationships with one another as they grew together in faith. Finally, they devoted themselves to prayer which covered all their other activities and promoted fellowship with the Father.
This is picture of the church is what we desire to be as a faith community. Although we do not have a 1st century Christian lifestyle (as far as culture and society is concerned), we can still behave like they did. We can devote ourselves to the Word of God, both in our private devotions and in its public proclamation and teaching. We can devote ourselves to fellowship—to spending time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. That time will result in our personal faith being strengthened, our determination to press on being lengthened, and our desire to press in being deepened. As we devote ourselves to building relationships with one another, we become more able and ready to build relationships with others outside the community of faith. And, as we devote ourselves to prayer, we keep everything before God, so that our fellowship is not only with one another, but it is with one another in Him. If we behave in such a manner, the result of this will be that day after day, the Lord will bring more souls into the kingdom of God.