Fellowship And Growth

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 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 2:42, 46-47 NIV)

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles today comes immediately following the extraordinary happenings on Pentecost and the baptizing of about 3000 people that day. We are reminded that once we are baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit we will do more than just show up once in awhile on Sunday morning. The people were so excited that they gathered often together both in the temple for worship and for fellowship over meals as with glad and sincere hearts they praised God, giving Him glory. And, then we hear "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."  The people in the early church were in a living relationship with God and with one another and the church grew. Being a member of the Church, the Body of Christ, means that we are in relationship with one another and to be in a living relationship with one another we need to communicate with one another. That generally means fellowship!

Last evening, many of us gathered together for a supper of soup following Worship. It was wonderful! It was the first such gathering that we've had at Christ Lutheran Church since I came here. My last congregation enjoyed many meals together throughout the years. They would have at least one or two meals a year for the whole community just so they could enjoy the fellowship of other brothers and sisters in Christ who attended other congregations as well as those who had no church affiliation at all.  

It was very good to be able to share a meal and conversation last night with those who have just recently begun worshipping with us. Won't you join us next Wednesday for Worship at 5 pm and for fellowship over a soup supper at about 5:30 pm? This Sunday (Mar 12, 2017), being in the midst of Bike Week (Motorcycles for those who don't live around here), we will have a special service at 9 a.m. to bless the Bikers followed by a coffee fellowship before our regular Sunday Worship at 10 a.m..

Let us take note: The people of the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. May God help us to recognize and remember the lessons the early church provides us with. Our context may be different; but, the Word is not.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Some Things Cannot Be Bought

Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona

"How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings." Psalm 36:7 NIV

My husband is a shopper. I am not. When we were stationed in Rota, Spain, the Exchange would have ladies night out specials. He went with my friends. I stayed home. I don't like to spend money. My husband also has a passion for Harley Davidson motorcycles. He drives a three-wheeler at the present time. We live about ten minutes from the Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona so we get to tour it every few weeks. The dealership is huge and is located in a shopping center focused on bikers' dreams. I am not only not interested in shopping, I am not a biker. The only thing that interests me in the whole place is that used pick-up truck in the photo above with it's hood up. It is not for sale. It is being raffled to benefit Bikers Against Drunk Drivers (BADD). The bottom line is that it cannot be bought. One can purchase a raffle ticket among the millions that are probably being sold as it allegedly is the largest biker raffle in the world. But, that truck and the antique Harley sitting in the back of it cannot be purchased.

The most precious things in life cannot be bought. We cannot buy our salvation. That was purchased for us by the blood of Jesus that was poured out upon the cross for us. There is nothing that we can do or give that can buy us our salvation. Salvation comes by faith alone in Christ alone.

We cannot buy love. We might be able to purchase a companion for awhile. But, see what happens when the funds run out! Love is priceless. The love of God is priceless. There is nothing in this world that can buy His love for you. We don't need to buy it. He gives it to us freely even as He gave us His Son so that we might receive the free gift of salvation.

Money cannot buy love. The gift of love is priceless.

God's Peace - Pr. J