Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Divine Revelation in Worship
Acts 2:43-47
Anila Thomas
Epiphany MTC, NY


44 All who believed were together and had all things in common;

The second chapter of Acts is divided into three “sections”; 1) The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost, 2) Peter Addresses the Crowd and 3) The Believers Form a Community.  Today’s portion is taken from the third section where we see the formation of the early Church.  The focus here is on fellowship.  The first Christians met together, worshiped together, shared meals, and shared everything all the while praising God.  Their fellowship with one another was a form of worship that was pleasing to God, as “each day the Lord added to their fellowship” (vs. 47).  
 
Today, it has become even harder to share everything with one another; and not just in material terms but also in regards to how vulnerable we make ourselves to one another.  Social media has become a canvas on which we post the best parts of our lives creating the illusion that everything is just great.  James 5:16 says “therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed”.  The early Christians empathized with each other by sharing not only their prosperity but their burdens as well (Galatians 6:2).  

The early believers worshiped together at the Temple each day (v. 46) meaning that their worship was not confined to just the Sabbath.  Today, our-fast paced world makes it inconvenient for us to even spend a few hours one day a week worshiping together.   It’s easy to assume that others may “have it all” but do we take the time to sit down and have real conversations with each other, to find out the needs that we can pray for and the praise reports we can celebrate together?  What if we tried to just uphold one family or one friend’s need each day in our personal prayers?  Although we may not be able to physically be near each other, the Holy Spirit can bless our fellowship by interceding to the Father on our behalf.   Then “by this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).  

PRAYER

Father, help us to see one another through the lens of Your love.  Tear down any strongholds of pride or fear that we may possess and help us to love each other freely.  May this be a pleasing worship to You.  Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Let us remember that “sharing is caring”.

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