And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:40-42
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:11-14
Today's thoughts from today's verses:
In today’s first Scripture it is important to understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, ““Be saved from this perverse generation!” The Apostle Paul was saying to his listeners that they needed to be delivered from being caught up together with those who live life without a relationship with God so that they can enter into living life with a relationship with God in the context of loving and supportive relationships with others who have also been delivered from the world.
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, we enter into a relationship with God that is meant to be close, deep, abiding, loving, and meaningful. Being caught up in our relationship with God or being caught up in the world becomes our daily challenge. This is why it is all important that we build relationships with other committed believers that are close, deep, abiding, loving, and meaningful. Living life together (Koinonia) with other believers provides the impetus we need for maintaining a close and abiding relationship with God as we go about the daily living of life in the world (in the world but not of it).
Our first passage gives a very clear statement about being connected with other believers in this way: “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The word “continually” shows us that having close relationships with fellow believers was a priority for them. The word “fellowship” in our passage is where we get the term “Koinonia.” “Koinonia” or “fellowship” is really all about the idea of “togetherness.” So, we are saying that “togetherness” with God supported by “togetherness” with other believers is the key to navigating well our daily lives in the world.
Really both our passages today are windows into the “Koinonia” of the early church. Our second passage is a challenging call to us today to be like the early church: “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship (togetherness) of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”
Today's prayer response from today's thoughts:
Lord, I am seeking you today in prayer. I want to draw close to you in order to be together with you in a more complete way, to know you better, and to able go forward into my life today fully connected with you. Please help me to connect with other Christians who are seeking the “Koinonia” you have in mind for your people. Thank you, Lord, for your love, provision, and grace. Amen!
