Devotion 20 April 2026

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Acts 2: 42

READING: Acts 2: 42-47

There is a great deal we can learn from the early Christians.  After they had first  learnt about Jesus and His life, His great sacrifice, death, and resurrection, displaying God’s great love for mankind.  The early Christians experienced immense awe and wonder at the supremacy of God’s love shown through His Son, Jesus.  This drew them into times of worship, prayer, and fellowship with Jesus and one another.

Jesus summarised the greatest commandments of Moses, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”, and  “The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12: 29 – 31a)  These two commandments show us how we can honour God the Father and Jesus His Son through our lives and allow them lead, guide and direct our lives.  Unfortunately, one can go into any bookstore where one will find a large section on “self-help.”  This does not save us from our sins.  One sees the early Christians seeking God’s presence by coming together to break bread, to pray and to have fellowship together.  They prayed and praised God together.  But it was greater than that because they sold all  their possessions and shared with those who were need.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her Sisters of Charity, exemplifies for me what those early Christians did.  She says that their lives are based on Jesus’ first commandment.  The fruit of this love of God is the basis of how they live their lives together and serve the poor and diseased of Calcutta.  Their lives are based on prayer, spending time in silence seeking God’s presence.  They try to be humble and to put aside all pride and allow God’s love and grace to fill their souls and to shine through their lives and smiles.  She describes how the joy of Jesus’ presence is prayer, it is strength, it is love.  (Something Beautiful for God by Malcolm Muggeridge)

Prayer

Dearest Lord Jesus, may we meet with you today through prayer and Your Word.  May we share Your love with our neighbour and find fellowship with other Christians. May Your love govern our lives so that we may praise Your Holy Name.  Amen