![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/swirl.jpg\" "\\"swirl\\"")
<\/a>Okay, maybe I didn\u2019t play Wii games all afternoon, although I did play one rhythm game with my 6-year old granddaughter who beat me mercilessly. Most of the day I held a precious baby, played with a nearly 2-year old and had great conversations with my baby girl. I had the best Super Bowl Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
But the day would have been lacking if I hadn\u2019t started the day with serving my Lord and worshipping Him. It was a morning filled with meaningful worship music, good fellowship, an excellent presentation of the Gospel, and reflection during the Lord\u2019s Supper. These are truly what make every Sunday a Super Sunday.<\/p>\n
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I enjoy reading the section of Scripture about the believers in Acts 2:42-47. This group enjoyed fellowship with one another and with God on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
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As I read this passage, I\u2019m almost jealous. Where has our longing to be with one another gone? Where has our longing to be with God in this way gone? Our busyness and life practices have taken a great deal from us, but perhaps the greatest thing we\u2019ve lost is our communion with God and other believers.<\/p>\n
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So let\u2019s break this passage down and see what these early believers enjoyed.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThey devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:42 \u2013 NIV) This one is jam-packed full of wonderful things to enjoy. And to be honest, this is the verse that everyone knows. We all know that we are to do these things. And I suspect, once a week might be the limit of our practice of this verse. How might we be change that?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEveryone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:43 \u2013 NIV) When was the last time you were awe-struck by God? We seem to find awe in the most unusual places. Like an action or a celebrity. But God is the only One deserving of our awe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The wonders of God deserve our awe. The miracles we see in our lives deserve our awe. But the God of all deserves our awe more than any of these. When was<\/em> the last time you were awe-struck by God?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll the believers were together and had everything in common.\u201d <\/em>(Acts 2:44 \u2013 NIV) I\u2019m sure there were personality conflicts among the early believers. There had to be. But when God is the common factor in a relationship, certain personality traits can be overlooked. Unity of believers was one of Jesus\u2019 prayers. This verse shows us that it is possible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSelling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:45 \u2013 NIV) Benevolence is good practice. Sharing with other believers who are in need is exactly where our priority of possessions should be. Giving of ourselves and our material wealth allows others to experience the ability to be among fellow believers. I\u2019m sure this had its problems, but it worked for the early believers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEvery day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:46 \u2013 NIV) It\u2019s been said that you learn more about another person when you sit down to share a meal with them. That\u2019s exactly what happened here. Getting to know other Christians brings us to a better understanding of who they are and why they are like they are.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And as they shared together, they were glad. They were sincere. Their heart motives were right on spot. What an example we can see from this group of believers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPraising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:47a \u2013 NIV) This just might have been the first externally focused church. Their actions moved into the community and those who lived in the community were the benefactors of their joy-filled service. Jerusalem experienced God and Jesus through this group of believers. And all the while, God was praised.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.\u201d<\/em> (Acts 2:47b \u2013 NIV) Ah, we see in this verse that as we get out into our communities, lives are changed. When others see the change in our actions and words, God is able to move in their hearts. This must be the reason we do what we do. For the lost to hear the message, to see the message through us and to turn their own lives over to Jesus. That is our purpose here on earth. To make disciples (Matthew 28:19).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You see. I want this in my life. Community with other believers. Not as we know it today, but on a daily basis. Living our life with fellow believers who are alongside me to encourage me, to know me, to serve with me, to share our faith with others, to give where there is a need. Do you get it?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure how or if this is possible in our world today. In our American society. But oh how I wish, no pray that it were.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perhaps it must begin with me. Perhaps I need to make an effort to create a community of believers around me. Where my contact with them is on a daily basis, not just once in a while. I know my weaknesses and I think I\u2019ve just added another one to the list. But with God\u2019s help, I believe I am up to the task.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I guess what I\u2019m saying is that at the end of my life, I\u2019d love to have these verses read. And as they are being read, those who hear them would be able to say, \u201cDonna lived her life just like that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Donna<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I believe there will be several people who are shocked to find out that our television was not tuned into the Super Bowl on Sunday. Not once. Not even for a minute. We aren\u2019t professional football fans however we had a party of our own. My daughter and the grandkids came for a visit! 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