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42 They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. 43 Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! 44 And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. 45 They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. 46 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, 47 as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved. (Acts 2:42-47 The Message)
Happy Wednesday, Friend. May the blessings of the Lord Jesus be with you and yours in ways that bless and benefit your needs and wants to His honor and glory.
"I don't have much; I have two eggs, some peanut butter, and some whole grain bread." That was an invitation to a feast I will never forget. My friend, the Mountain Man, invited me to lunch on the day I had no money and no food. My scholarship check from The Board of Global Ministries had found its way to Hawaii, and the board did not want to fly me out there to retrieve it! I had gone to class with thoughts of a much needed fast, but God intervened with an angel who invited me to a banquet. He scrambled the eggs, spread the extra crunchy peanut butter on thick bread and we feasted like kings! A friend's generosity fed my stomach and my soul. We sat at a common table and enjoyed a common meal. We prayed and we enjoyed conversation about God and God having us in seminary.
The early believers in Jesus were hungry to learn all they could about their new Savior. My friend and I were in seminary to learn how to feed the souls of believers, both the new and the old. And thank God, we have encountered both the very hungry as well as the very full, who think they don't need another "bite" of soul food. I think to the tables of when I went to Mt. Wesley as a youth and we would sit, eat, joke, and sing. "Here we sit like birds in the wilderness waiting to be fed" was a favorite, as was, "We are Table Number One, Number One, Number One, where is table two?" And some would sing, "We are Table Number Two" and well, you get it. The time there filled my soul with hope and joy and thoughts of the future. We knew that God was in control and that Jesus had come to share His love with us. We returned home happy and excited for what may be next. I imagine the daily meals with like minded believers, learning at the feet of the 11 and others, who had been in the presence of Jesus, were filled with excitement and hope, as well as new knowledge of God's love as was taught by Jesus. The prayers were exciting talks with God as new believers wanted to know God's will for their lives; they wanted to lift up petitions for healing and blessings, and the joy came in the knowing that God answered all prayers according to His will.
"Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done by the apostles!" Yes, in addition to the meal and the prayers and the teachings, these believers saw unexplainable, wonderful things happen to the sick and lame and blind. God's Holy Spirit moving in their midst in wonderful ways! Harmony was the operative word; all shared the same beliefs and hopes; so much so, that they left the communal gatherings and went home and sold everything they owned and pooled their resources so that there was no one in need. They took care of each other, sacrificing what they had, pooled their money and shared with those in need, so that no one would have need.
The daily discipline was worship together, meals at home, with every meal being a celebration filled with exuberant and joyful hearts , because they were praising God. Their joy was so awesome that others took note of that, asked questions about what was going on, and decided to join and see for themselves what this Jesus was all about. And the numbers of members grew because God was adding to their number, those who were being saved.
Dare we compare this to our churches? Yes, it's been some time since we have been together in the same room, but have you heard of "porch angels" who have gone out and bought groceries to leave on the porches of the elderly, the lonely, and the alone. Have you heard of those who call or email or even write handwritten notes to these same people? Or, the ones who pray and meditate and then write sermons to feed our souls? Yes, the church of today is a bit different from the church of Jerusalem, but we are moving towards the church where exciting things can and do happen, so that more people can come to faith in God. What role are you playing?
PRAYER: Loving God, We want and need to be a part of this community. Help us make the changes in us that will bring that about with our fellow believers, for we want to reach more people to be saved, and to bring some to faith and fellowship; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!. Be the person of change in your midst.
Receive my blessings of peace and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
