Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV)
Read Acts 2:42-47 on biblegateway.com
Verse 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Verse 43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. Verse 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; Verse 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Verse 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, Verse 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Devotion
They shared all things in common.
My first thought in our new coronavirus world: “Ew!” These past months have forced many of us against our will to share much more in common with the people we live with than we ever have before. Sharing precious bandwidth with Xboxes, Zoom meetings, and Netflix. Sharing our snacks with a roommate’s ten hourly trips to the cupboard. Sharing our professional workspaces with our children’s pretend kitchens, police stations, and spaceports. Just as I assume it was in the early church, sharing can be challenging.
But then a second thought. Most importantly, we are sharing a purpose: to love and serve our neighbors by isolating in our homes.
In the early church, love looked like sharing resources, sharing bread, and sharing God’s word. Right now love looks like empty streets and empty pews. Because love is sharing our burden with the whole body of Christ.
Prayer
Jesus, remind us that we are one body in you. Just as viruses do not discern any difference between us, neither does your love. We need it now. Amen.