Daily Devotionals

X Factor of Friendship Week 3: Friday

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. Acts 2:44

What comes to mind when you think of the word community? Do you think about the group of people you work with? Do you think of the people you see at your gym every day? Do you think of your neighbors who live around you? Most of us are involved in more than one community. This is because we human beings are meant to live life together. This truth has never been made more evident than how the early church formed an incredible community. 

The book of Acts tells us about the extraordinary way the early church came together to care for each other. The believers came together and "shared everything they had" (Acts 2:44). They also "sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need" (Acts 2:45). This way of living continued so that several chapters later in the book of Acts, we learn that "there were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need" (Acts 4:34-35). This was an extraordinary moment in the church. The early church members understood the importance of taking care of each other. They did this because they understood that they were all part of the Body of Christ, so they did not view their possessions as their own (Acts 4:32). They took care of each other, and no one around them was needy because of their generosity. This was the mindset and outlook of the very first church. Their lifestyle of care and generosity is an example for us. Because we are all members of the body of Christ, as Paul refers to the church in 1 Corinthians 12, we are responsible for caring for and helping each other in any way we can. 

Even today, we are called to live in community together and help care for each other. Growing in community takes work. It involves time and commitment. It involves being willing to be open about your life and your struggles. It involves caring for others, even if it means that you sacrifice your own time and resources. The reward, however, for building that strong community with other followers of Christ far outweighs the work required. You see, in community, we share joys, care for each other, strengthen each other, and become more like Christ. Commit today to embracing community.  

Moving toward action

Are you involved in a small group? If so, take a few moments to reflect on the impact of your group. How have you grown? How have you seen group members grow? When you are finished, thank God for this group of people God has placed in your life to encourage each other in your faith. If you are not involved in a group, think about the benefit that this group could have in your life. If you are ready, sign up for a group here: https://www.sagebrush.church/groups/.

Going Deeper

Going Deeper - Acts 4:1-37

"While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, "By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?"

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

'The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.'

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

16 "What should we do with these men?" they asked each other. "We can't deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus' name again." 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John replied, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard."

21 The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn't know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God 22 for this miraculous sign-the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: "O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,

'Why were the nations so angry?
Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle;
the rulers gathered together
against the Lord
and against his Messiah.'

27 "In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means "Son of Encouragement"). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles."