Are we gathering in Jesus’ name?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
(Acts 2:46-47 (NIV))

We must not forsake fellowship with other believers. God intended for this fellowship to strengthen us, encourage us, and enable us to reach others for Jesus. It is tremendous how the early church grew even under the persecution that they faced for their beliefs. This growth was made possible by the fellowship and strengthening that comes from sharing and encouraging others in the faith.

The church was not intended to be buildings as so many today think of it. The church is the Body of Believers, no matter where we may be gathered. The early church gathered in homes and grew strong in the faith. Today’s church meets in buildings once or twice a week and many see it as a duty, not as a time for fellowship with other believers and with Jesus.

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
(Matthew 18:19-20)

Are we gathering in Jesus’ name or are we just gathering to be seen by man?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Have you fully embraced the joy of the Lord?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
(Acts 2:46-47 (NIV))

I don’t know about you, but this describes something that I would love to be involved in!

Is this how you want to experience church?

It is amazing just how the early church was able to grow. I think that there is a valuable lesson to be learned from the early church. They did not simply meet for an hour or so once a week. They were a community. They were invested in the lives of each other. They embraced newcomers. They worshipped together. They ate together. They truly enjoyed being around each other. They recognized the value of being around the body of believers. They were truly filled with the joy that only comes from the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Over the many years that have transpired since the early church, the church has grown. I am truly thankful for that growth, for without that growth, chances are extremely great that the current members of the Body of Christ would not have heard the Gospel. We must not lose sight of the joy that the early church had. They were focused on Jesus.

We must return to that focus. We must return to that joy! We must focus on Jesus.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV))

Even though He suffered and died on the cross, He went through it all so that we could experience the joy of salvation. Now, we can experience the joy of His resurrection and redeeming grace. He is the only source of true joy in this world!

Have you fully embraced the joy of the Lord?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you serious or are you just playing church?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
(Revelation 3:21-22 (NIV))

What are the things that you take seriously?

Is it your job, your family, or perhaps it is your reputation? Could it be your finances, your stock portfolio or even your collection of sports memorabilia? Perhaps you take your exercise program seriously. If you stop to think about what you take seriously, what does that say about you and your priorities?

Think about what you do take seriously. For the sake of argument, let’s say that you take your exercise program seriously. You do whatever it takes to make sure that you are at the gym and doing what you feel that you must do. You overcome all obstacles in your way to make sure that you fulfill your priority. You even overcome your physical exhaustion to succeed at the program.

With that fresh in the back of your mind, think about what Jesus was telling the churches in this passage from Revelation. He wants people who have the commitment to overcome. He wants people who will take His Word seriously. He wants people to realize that their commitment to Him as a member of the Body of Christ should be the most serious thing that they ever commit to. After all, Jesus was serious enough to His commitment to His church that He willingly gave His life to build the church.

Every day I see things going on in the world that makes me realize that I need to be fully committed to Jesus. There are troubles in this world that make being a follower of Jesus a risky proposition from a worldly perspective. Just like the person who pushes through the exercise program, we must push through the things of this world and go for all that Jesus has promised. It takes commitment. It takes more than simply sitting in a pew for an hour on Sunday. It takes more than putting a dollar in the collection plate. It takes more than a social appearance to let others see you in church.

It takes more than simply playing church!

Are you focused on being an overcomer?

Copyright 1998 – 2016 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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