Acts 2:41-47: a reflection

41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. 42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44All who believed were together, and had all things in common. 45They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. 46Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

The account of the early church in Jerusalem gives us a picture of what life together in Christ can look like, marked by devotion, fellowship, sharing, and gladness. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, the account says, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. They were together, held their possessions in common, and gave to any who had need. Day by day they met, broke bread in their homes, took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God. Here is a community devoted to God's word and to prayer, sharing life and possessions, caring for one another's needs, and full of gladness and praise. This is a picture of the church as a shared life: devoted to God together, caring for one another, glad and generous, praising God day by day. The early church was not a collection of isolated individuals but a shared life of devotion, fellowship, generosity, and joy. Life together in Christ was marked by these things: devotion, sharing, care, and gladness.

Notice the marks of this early community: devotion to God's word and prayer, fellowship, sharing, care for the needy, and gladness. They were devoted together to the apostles' teaching and to prayer; they shared their lives and their possessions, giving to any in need; they met daily, ate together with glad and generous hearts, and praised God. This was a shared life, not a set of isolated believers, but a community bound together in devotion, fellowship, generosity, and joy. It shows what life together in Christ can be: not merely individuals believing separately, but a community devoted to God and to one another, sharing life, caring for needs, glad and generous and praising. The church at its best is such a shared life, marked by devotion, fellowship, generosity, and gladness. And the Lord added to their number daily; a community like this drew others. Life together in Christ is meant to be shared, devoted, generous, and glad. This is a picture worth recovering.

That is worth taking to heart, for life together in Christ is meant to be a shared life of devotion, fellowship, generosity, and gladness. We can hold our faith as an isolated, individual thing, separate from others; but the early church was a shared life, devoted together to God's word and prayer, sharing possessions, caring for needs, glad and generous and praising God. Life together in Christ is meant to be shared, marked by devotion, fellowship, generosity, and joy. There is something worth recovering in this picture of the church as a shared life. Do not hold your faith as an isolated, individual thing; share life with God's people in devotion, fellowship, generosity, and gladness, as the early church did. Share life with God's people in devotion, fellowship, generosity, and gladness rather than holding your faith as an isolated thing, as the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and prayer, held things in common, cared for the needy, and ate together with glad and generous hearts, praising God; for life together in Christ is meant to be a shared life, not a collection of isolated individuals, marked by devotion to God and one another, generosity toward the needy, and gladness, and there is much worth recovering in that picture of the church.

Lord, the account of the early church in Jerusalem gives us a picture of what life together in Christ can look like, marked by devotion, fellowship, sharing, and gladness. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, the account says, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. They were together, held their possessions in common, and gave to any who had need. Day by day they met, broke bread in their homes, took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising you. Here is a community devoted to your word and to prayer, sharing life and possessions, caring for one another's needs, and full of gladness and praise. Show me the marks of this early community: devotion to your word and prayer, fellowship, sharing, care for the needy, and gladness. They were devoted together to the apostles' teaching and to prayer; they shared their lives and their possessions; they met daily, ate together with glad and generous hearts, and praised you. This was a shared life, not a set of isolated believers. It shows what life together in Christ can be: a community devoted to you and to one another, sharing life, caring for needs, glad and generous. And you added to their number daily; a community like this drew others. Take that to my heart, for life together in Christ is meant to be a shared life of devotion, fellowship, generosity, and gladness. I can hold my faith as an isolated, individual thing, separate from others; but the early church was a shared life. Keep me from holding my faith as an isolated thing; help me share life with your people, Lord, in devotion, fellowship, generosity, and gladness, as the early church did, devoted to you and one another and praising you.