^{For April 10th:}

^“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)

The community described in the above scriptures is what we should strive to be.  Not just as Christ UMC, but as communities of believers in our homes, in our neighborhoods and in our workplaces.

This passage of Acts is a cause and effect text.  As we continue to praise God, show our gratitude, give God the glory, and continue to grow together as a Christian community bound by the love of Christ, people will be added to our number.  More importantly, people will be added to the Kingdom of God.  The pastor of my hometown church, Leland Brehm says that is what it’s all about. 

What does that mean for us?  It is often hard to be a Christian community.  Two chapters after the love feast in Acts 2, we read about the struggles of the Christian community.  We always need to pray, give thanks, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Being in community with one another is messy, but the rewards are great.  I often use the expression “if it weren’t for the humans”.  God made each of us as humans, so we should rejoice in each person’s contribution to the community as a whole.

Becky G. Hall

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Living a Life of Gratitude