And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread. Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread Acts 2:42
We find ourselves a little past a very significant event celebrated by many believers around the world, Pentecost Sunday. In my opinion, one of the most significant events of the history of our world… the birth of the Church through the long-awaited gift of the Holy Spirit to those first disciples’ praying in the upper room more than 2000 years ago. Today, the Church has become a more than 2 billion strong revolutionary movement of justice and God’s love. By exploring the spiritual blueprints set by those faithful first followers of Jesus we can still be inspired to a greater calling and purpose for our lives today. As we pause to reflect on our own personal spiritual journey with Jesus, is there a place we need a fresh perspective or fresh filling of the Holy Spirit? Would we dare pray “Holy Spirit, reshape the pattern of our lives” … would we dare offer Him our whole life, our whole story, the old, the new, that which we deem as good and whole, and yes, even that which we would rather leave behind, those broken and scattered bits.
I would like to draw your attention to a few simple practices modeled and lived out by the Early Church in Acts 2:42-47, Apostles Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread, Prayer, Awe and Wonder, Growth. By taking a closer look at these practices, they can help us in our recentering or reorientation us to the things of God and His Kingdom. Today, I would like to reflect on the first three simple practices.
Devoted to Apostles Teaching until Christ Returns: this was rooted and grounded in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and the teachings of their beloved rabbi, Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High God. We are fortunate in that we are part of a community of believers that are committed to and value the reading of scripture not just to us on Sunday morning by preachers and teachers, but we are also encouraged to engage in the reading of scripture for ourselves on a regular basis. Think of the many ways the teaching of the Word of God has transformed your life, the ways it has reshaped the patterns of your heart. How the living word of God has helped you realign your life with the Spirit of God in you by challenging you, confronting the idols our hearts we once held dear. As we have released those things that hinder us in our relationship to God, our hearts have been awakened to the things of eternal value bringing light to dark places in us as well as our world. Psalm 119:130 The teaching of your word gives light so even the simple understand. As you continue to devote yourself to the Apostles teaching, look forward to new life stirring in unexpected places, walk in confidence in the ways of God and the true teaching of scripture, live the example of Jesus before men through love faith, purity, and integrity.
Devoted to Fellowship: as we reflect on God’s generous friendship towards us and the gap between us that was bridged by the death on the cross, the glorious resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we see a radical shift and renewal in the Apostles resolve. The friendship they shared was transformed to fellowship which is deeper still. Fellowship is a bond of deep commitment that says I am with you always, in the good and the bad, the beauty and the ugliness, the pain and the joy. Living out the words Jesus spoke to His beloved disciples “I will not leave you as orphans but rather I am with you always to the end of the age” Do you have people that love you like that in your life…ones who would stick with you to the bitter end, ones you can trust to hold your deepest secrets? Are you that kind of person to others? Deep fellowship only comes with deep honesty. The place where we choose to walk in the light of God’s unfathomable love for us. It is here, we are able to honest about our dark places, aware of our own broken ways and how we have embraced a false persona to cope. It is here, the real deep work of fellowship with God and others begins to grow and can flourish. When we choose to step into the light and encounter unmerited grace, compassion, and love we too are transformed and develop a radical resolve to be about the Fathers business of extending that grace and mercy to others that so desperately need to be seen, known, and loved… regardless of their history.
Holy Spirit, would you awaken our hearts to your unending grace and mercy today…Help us to pursue fellowship with You and others…Give us the courage to step out of the shadows that hide the deeper things so that we may be truly seen, known, and loved. 1John 5:20b and now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
Devoted to the Breaking of Bread: this seems like a natural progression to me. Our Beloved invites us to feast at His table through His Word and to regularly approach the communion table. As we corporately engage in the breaking of bread and the drinking from the cup together, we are reminded of the very foundation of our faith, the God’s sacrificial generous love towards us. The very thing everything else hinges upon!! We do this in memory of Him, Jesus, who paid the full ransom price to redeem us, whose body was broken in our place. The breaking of bread with one another recalls and celebrates the New Covenant Jesus ushered in through His death and resurrection. As we partake together, we are reminded of stark truth of our own stories and how we are powerless to save ourselves or the ones we love. Through the communion table, we are our declaring the mysterious beautiful reality that we have been born again into a new eternal life where death has been vanquished by One who gave His life for each of us on His road to Glory…That my friends is reason to celebrate!!
These are but a few of the simple practices or disciplines the first followers of Jesus engaged in their Spirit filled lives. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we too can more fully engage in these practices of the early Church in order to help reshape or reorientate our lives. To once again light our hearts on fire with His incredible love for us and the world He died to save. Is there an area you sense an invitation from the Spirit to spend time in or reevaluate in your life? Devoted to the teaching of scripture, devoted to true fellowship, the kind like the kind Frodo experienced in Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring, or perhaps realizing that Jesus becomes truly known to us as we reflect on the deeper meaning of the practice of Breaking of Bread together, in community.
“Father, help us to live this and every day to the full, being true to you every way. Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, being kind to all those I meet. Spirit, help me to love the lost, proclaiming Jesus in all I say and do” Amen (Lectio 365, June 11 closing prayer)
Next month I will conclude with Part 2, Prayer, Awe and Wonder, and Growth of the church as per Acts 2:42-47 and the practices modeled by those faithful first followers of “The Way”.
Fondly,
Melody
