Wednesday 10 May 2017

May 10: Acts 2:42-47

Key Verse: Acts 2:43
Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

Devotion:
The book of the acts of the apostles tells us what they got up to after Christ ascended back to heaven. Admittedly, immediately after Christ’s death and even His resurrection, the disciples did not know what to do and many people may have looked at them and wondered what was going to happen. I suppose the new Christian church body was now looking to them for instruction and direction; what they did next would shape the rest of the church.

Peter was bold enough to now stand up and be counted as a follower of Jesus, yet a short time ago he had denied Him three times in one night. Christ had left a standing impression on them and they now felt compelled to take what they had learned and share it with the people. Who were they going to go to and share things with? The same people Christ had done so with and the same people Christ had given them instruction about – everybody!

Whilst they may have felt most comfortable talking to the local people, the Jews, they knew they would have to go out into the general population and spread the Gospel just as Jesus had done so. To make themselves stronger and more confident, they started gathering together and sharing things with each other. The more they did so the more confident they became and the more sure they were that Christ was with them in the Spirit.

They lifted up their prayers to Christ and He answered them giving them the ability to heal people and to do many wonders, or miracles. Being confident in Christ does not come easy to some of us, we have to gather together and give each other encouragement and with that comes confidence and strength. It is not that we have less faith than others, our minds just work differently. Include everyone in your congregation trusting in Christ all the time.

Points to Ponder:
How often do you gather together as Christians?

Church is not just about singing hymns and breaking bread. Embrace it!