Category: Home (Page 1 of 2)

The time in the Church after the resurrection of Jesus is extraordinary! A whirlwind of amazing events.

Before our text today we see Jesus ascending; Matthias chosen to replace Judas; Pentecost taking place, with Peter preaching and about 3,000 souls being added to the Body of believers.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42

Praise the Lord!

Then comes our text for today. It begins with “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42) and ends with “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).

The believers “devoted themselves” to the things the Church should be doing. Getting into what God teaches, providing for each other, worshipping and Communing together, doing things for the benefit of people.

And then comes the last sentence, “the Lord added to their number.”

The believers were being the Church and God was being God!

God brought people to faith, and those in faith were living it out!

And the cycle repeated.

Too often we think that we need to do certain things for others to come to faith. We get the mistaken idea that we make believers.

Only God does that. Only God can do that.

We are called to live the life of faith. To do the faithful things. To be the Body of Christ. And when we do that, God uses us to bring others to faith, too.

Jesus is alive and has sent the Holy Spirit to us, to help us in our sanctified living and to bring others to faith. Our Call is not a difficult one, but rather one of privilege and honor: devoting ourselves to a life of discipleship in all areas – and letting God add to number of those being saved.

May the cycle repeat!

“Thank You, Lord Jesus for rising, ascending, and sending the Holy Spirit to us. Move us to be ‘devoted’ as Your disciples in every area of Christian living and move those who do not yet believe to faith in You. Help us be faithful in our following, winsome in our actions, and joyful in our service. In Jesus’ precious name do we pray; amen.”

Scripture

• Acts 2:42-27

I can be…non-observant; not noticing things going on around or perceiving of things right in front of me.

It can take many forms.

And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And He vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”

Luke 24:31-32

In some cases, it is being completely unaware to my surroundings; not noticing (or remembering?) that our master bathroom had wallpaper after living there for several years. Or that my wife had hung up a simply painting on the wall of the house.

Other times it in the form of my focus on something I’m working on, while being shockingly oblivious to the fact that my wife had come home, done work in the kitchen, had a conversation on her phone – all while I worked at my desk a few feet away until I look up and ask in wonder, “when did you get home?”

It can be quite impressively shocking and scary!

Perhaps I am rare in the scale and scope of my ignorance of surroundings, but I do not think I’m alone in it. (And, “no,” it’s not just a husband thing!)

I do wonder, however, if a lot of the disciples were plagued with some version of this. Seeing Jesus’ miracles all the time, yet not grasping the significance of Him being Lord of all. Hearing His words and message but being clueless as to what He meant. Having eye-witnesses see Jesus alive after His death and not connecting to this reality that confronts them.

And the two in our text today even speak with Jesus face-to-face and start to eat with Him – and still don’t “see” or recognize Him – until ‘the breaking of the bread!’ Then they saw Jesus, recognized Him, and realized the burning that was happening in their hearts was due to Him!

Now I think that Jesus was having some fun here. Whether or not He was intentionally obfuscating their view until the right time, allowing it to happen, or it was simply due to gross unawareness may be debated. But Jesus took the time to walk with these two, share the Gospel, and ‘acted as if He were going further.’ Really, I think He was enjoying this!

But the fact is, Jesus made Himself known through His actions, through His Word, through Himself – and He is to be recognized and seen!

I wonder how different things would be if we intended to intensely hone our hearts, our gaze, and our very being on Jesus; if we made Him our world and being; if we made Him our focus rather than our periphery.

Jesus and His victory over sin, death, and the Devil isn’t some side-story that can be missed, forgotten, or disregarded; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life to be seen, believed, and followed!

Open your hearts and eyes! Look at Him! Look to Him! Let your hearts burn with Him and His Word every day and in every way! Don’t miss Him! Let your eyes be opened – for Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

“Amazing Lord Jesus; thank You for not only saving us, but for being the One to look to as the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Send us Your Spirit to ignite our hearts, open our eyes, and strengthen us for holy service. In Your risen and reigning Name do we pray. Amen!”

Scripture

• Psalm 116:1-14 (Confession & Absolution)
• Luke 24:13-35