Archive for Christian Community
Beyond Blame
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(This is part two of a series on forgiveness. I’m not sure how many parts there will be! Pt. 1 is The Hardest Thing You’ll Ever Do).
It All Comes Down to Love
Posted by: | CommentsWell, fellow travelers on this journey, we have reached day 21. We will now prepare to break our fast tomorrow. I pray these days have been days of insight for you and days of personal growth in your relationship with God and others. Remember, God is always doing more than you can see and He honors every sacrifice we have made because we wanted to know his heart more.
When Jesus summarized the two most important things about a believer’s life, he said 1) love God, and 2) love others. It all comes down to love so today I end these devotionals with this section of Scripture from 1 Corinthians 13. Read it prayerfully, slowly, listening and being sensitive for any way the Holy Spirit wants to speak to you.
Even if I can speak in all the tongues of earth—and those of the angels, too—but do not have love, I am just a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophesy such that I can comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge, or if I have faith great enough to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own to feed those poorer than I, then hand over my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
The Blessings of Unity
Posted by: | CommentsIn Psalm 133, David reflected on what it was like for God’s people to live together in unity.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.
These are some of the principles we can draw out of this passage:
- It is good for God’s people to live together in unity.
- It is pleasant for God’s people to live together in unity.
- It is like the precious anointing oil that was used to anoint Aaron, the first high priest; unity is precious.
- It flows down from our high priest, Jesus.
- Its presence on our body is visible. It is tangible.
- It flows from one part of the body to another.
- It is fragrant like anointing oil.
- It is refreshing like the dew which fell on Mt. Hermon.
- The place where unity dwells is the place where God commands his blessing.
- The blessing of God is full of life.
As you can see, unity is highly valued by God and is highly desirable. It begins in our heart and affects everything around us. It draws others to it because it is irresistibly beautiful. Are you living in the place of unity?
The Power of Prayer
Posted by: | CommentsThe book of Acts records the history of the early church. Acts 1:14 finds them meeting together after Jesus’ resurrection, continuing "with one accord in prayer and supplication". The Holy Spirit filled the disciples and they set out to fulfill Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8. The early days of the church were full of the apostles teaching doctrine,prayer, fellowship,shared resources, unity, power, signs and wonders, rejoicing, and the church grew as people were saved and baptized. Acts 4 again finds the church in need of God’s help and as they "raised their voice to God with one accord…the place where they assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit."
Throughout the history of the early church, and sometimes very often, things happened that once again proved a challenge to the believers.
Acts 12 opens with James being killed, Peter in prison, and Herod triumphing. There was a very real danger that Peter would be the next to be killed, and perhaps many of them felt their own life and faith in danger. Acts 12:5 records for us that constant prayer was offered to God for Peter by the church.
At the end of chapter 12 we find Herod dead, Peter free, and "the word of God grew and multiplied". As the believers continued to mourn the loss of James, they rejoiced at God’s response to their prayers for Peter and they continued on in the mission of Acts 1:8.
