Better Together / ODB

 

Better Together All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:44 READ Acts 2:42–47 Marie, a single working mom, rarely missed church or Bible study. Each week, she rode the bus to and from church with her five children and helped with set up and clean up. One Sunday, the pastor told Marie that some church members had donated gifts for the family. One couple provided the family a house with reduced rent. Another couple offered her a job with benefits at their coffee shop. A young man gave her an old car he’d rebuilt and promised to serve as her personal mechanic. Marie thanked God for the joy of living in a community devoted to serving God and each other. Though we may not all be able to give as generously as Marie’s church family, God’s people are designed to help each other. The gospel writer Luke described believers in Jesus as “devoted” to the “apostles’ teaching and to fellowship” (Acts 2:42). When we combine our resources, we can work together to help those in need like the first believers in Jesus did (vv. 44–45). As we grow closer to God and each other, we can care for one another. Witnessing God’s love demonstrated through His people’s actions can lead others to a saving relationship with Jesus (vv. 46–47). We can serve others with a smile or a kind deed. We can offer a financial gift or a prayer. As God works in and through us, we’re simply better together. By Xochitl Dixon Why is it important to experience a community devoted to serving God and each other? How can you serve someone selflessly and generously this week? Loving Father, please help me see those in need and serve You by serving others. For further study, read Understanding the Bible: The Book of Acts.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT After writing an account of the life and ministry of Jesus (Luke 1:1–4), Luke wrote the book of Acts, an account of the life and ministry of His disciples. Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would indwell them and empower them to share the gospel (Acts 1:8). Luke documented the acts of the disciples and early believers in bringing the gospel to those “in Jerusalem” (chs. 1–7), “in all Judea and Samaria” (chs. 8–12), and “to the ends of the earth” (chs. 13–28). He described the first church in Jerusalem as growing and generous. The believers had “fellowship” (2:42) with one another. The Greek word for “fellowship” (koinonia) means “close relationships, participating in and sharing the common among them.” Together they worshiped, learned spiritual truths, depended on God, and cared for one another (vv. 43–44). They especially cared for the needy and poor in their midst, showing extravagant acts of generosity (v. 45). K. T. Sim