READ: ACTS 3: 42-47
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. (V. 42)
From the time I was hired by the police department you would be assigned to a community of officers. First would to be a class of rookies and then to a shift, squad or platoon depending upon departmental terminology. The friendships and bonds made from the first day last for the rest of your career and in reality, for a lifetime. The rigors and demands of police service teach you to trust one another; encourage and support one another at all times and places; and to care for one another through the thick and thin of the turmoil surrounding the work. When you are a first-hand witness to the trauma, physical and emotional pain inflicted by humans on each other—you need your essential community. When you are called upon to investigate crashes and other incidents that involve death and serious injury on a regular basis—you need your essential community. When you find yourself rolling around in the mud, blood and beer with a suspect—you need your essential community. When you are the one charged on a daily basis with holding people accountable for obeying the law—you need your essential community. When you feel the sting and pain of death of a Brother or Sister who gave it all to protect and serve—you need your essential community. This police community bond is the source of the strength and courage needed to sustain officers every day they put on the badge!
The early Christians, facing all sorts of opposition and adversity, recognized their need to form an essential community of believers. This community based upon their unshakable belief in Jesus and dedicated to the teaching of the apostles would give birth to the force that propelled the Good News to the Gentiles and the world beyond Jerusalem. They prayed, shared and worshipped together giving strength to their faith and enabling them to do wonderous things. Untied they could withstand any challenge and overcome any obstacle placed in their path. This essential community would stand the test of time and become the foundational model for practice of the Christian faith.
I not only bear witness to the power of the essential community of police, but to that of the fellowship among those who live Christ centered lives. This witness is based upon my direct involvement with my Sunday School Class and Small Group. Time and again they have supported my wife through her journey with a severe respiratory illness. But it has also been a humble privilege to witness their generosity, compassion and love extended not only to each other, but to many outside the group bringing Glory to God. These devoted servants of Jesus make a difference in the world—no stopping the power of this essential community!
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Are you a member of an essential community for Christ?
Dear Jesus, keep me active in a community that serves you and my fellow man.