Read Acts 2:42-47. The early church was a melting pot of different cultures, languages, and backgrounds. It was a community that was developing a way of being together while still changing from day to day. Can you imagine what it would be like to have new faces at the table every time you sat down for a meal? As I read this, rather than a utopian vision of Christian community, I find three main characteristics of the early church. “They were together and had all things in common.”
Despite any of the various prejudices, preconceived notions, and levels of financial security that the group was navigating, they agreed on the common practices of 1. tending to the needs of all, 2. sharing meals, and 3. praying together. Together. They committed themselves to staying together even while the Spirit was out there blowing on those outside the community’s borders and ideas about who should be in or out.
How do we, as a church, respond to new faces at the table (in the church, in the community, etc.)? Do we seek common ground, or do we focus on our differences? How willing would you be to stick with the church if it was constantly changing? How willing will you be to stick around if it doesn’t change at all?
In prayer, consider those things you believe our congregation holds in common and pray that we might continue to grow and move and be open to the expansiveness of the Spirit’s invitation.
Read Psalm 23. The familiarity of the words of the psalm can keep us from truly entering into the meaning and intent of its words. Sometimes, a reframing of the familiar brings it to life in a new way. Eugene Peterson, in his Message paraphrase, interprets Psalm 23 in the following way:
God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows;
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through Death Valley,
I’m not afraid when you walk by my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” “God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.” Which words are correct, which are true? Could it be both? The words of Psalm 23 are those of an ancestor in our faith who was delivered, in some way, from danger and who praised God for help during that danger.
Today, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for all those moments of deliverance.
Read 1 Peter 2:19-25. First, it is important to remember that this was a letter addressed to those living in a Greco-Roman household in the first century. Despite its use in the past, this is not a passage that condones slavery. What it does is insist that new life in Christ – following Jesus’ teaching and example – might bring a person into conflict with the prevailing culture. For us, there is not much risk that we will be beaten for standing up for our principles, but we may still suffer in some way.
Can you think of a time when you felt excluded or belittled for your beliefs? How did you respond in that situation? What do we have to learn from Jesus’ response to suffering as described in verse 23?
In prayer, ask for the Spirit to infuse you with wisdom to know what aligns with God’s will, with strength for difficult moments, and for the courage to follow Jesus even when it conflicts with what is popular.
Read John 10:1-10. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Jesus makes this claim right on the heels of the statement that the thief comes only to steal and destroy. For centuries, these have been great words of comfort for followers of Christ. One of the reasons it stands the test of time is that every generation and every individual endures events that threaten to be life-stealing.
As followers of Jesus, we must be careful not to allow these events to define who we are, determine how we respond to circumstances in life, or erode our joy. Christ came that we might have life, and life abundant. Christ is bigger than the negative forces at play. Christ transforms our days with joy and hope.
Today, think about a moment when the light of Christ shined in the darkness, offering hope for better days ahead. For that moment and every moment, offer a prayer of praise.