June 11, 2021 - Acts 2:42-47
Choices! Our day is filled with them, and we are constantly determining which is the best one for that moment. Some are as simple as turning right or left or choosing the clothes to wear each day. Others may be more difficult such as which life insurance policy to acquire. I do not know how many decisions are made each day, but it adds up to thousands of personal choices every day.
After listening to Peter’s explanation of the powerful display that had occurred before their eyes, the crowd was faced with a choice to either follow the directives of Peter or dismiss it as foolishness. The decision had immediate consequences as those who chose to follow were baptized and became part of this group of believers.
This led them to make further choices as this new group was invited into the life of the community that had been in the Upper room awaiting the power of God. There are four practices that evidently the followers of Christ had been employing and now invited the new followers to begin. These included the apostle’s doctrine, which would have comprised subjects such as Christ’s resurrection, Old Testament scriptures and their fulfillment, discipleship and following Christ’s teachings that the apostles had received firsthand. Second, fellowship is named. This had the idea of camaraderie, association and relationship. These new believers are welcomed into the circle or family of more seasoned followers of Christ. Third, breaking of bread, the Lord’s table had already become a major symbol as well as the times of fellowship in homes as the believers shared a growing relationship with one another. Lastly, prayer was listed as a key component of their lives as followers. This would have included the normal temple prayer times of Judaism but seems to indicate broader times as well within the privacy of homes and as larger groups prayed together (2:46; 3:1; 4:23-24; 5:22).
As this routine of activity continued, the growth of the people was evident as there was a reverence, awe or fear that settled on the people as signs and wonders transpired (v.43). The unity and desire to have needs met were indicators of those who had made the choice to follow Peter’s instructions. Verses 46-47 states that as the followers daily displayed these four disciplines in their lives, the people they interacted with at the temple and elsewhere observed and then chose to become part of the group as well.
Our lifestyle is witnessed by those around us daily. Do we study His word, fellowship with other believers, break bread together and pray one for another? How has the choice to follow the Lord changed us and how has our choices caused people around us to choose to follow Christ as well? May our lives so reflect Christ that it draws people to Him!