Devotion #6: Gathering Together

Who do you gather together with on a regular basis? Is it friends, family, coworkers, or people you do not really know? I want us to think about that for a moment and then follow up with these questions: Why do we gather with them? Is it because we are around them all the time? Is it because we share similar interests with them? Is it just because we like them? No matter if you are the most introverted person in the world or the most extroverted, you need a group to be with. We enjoy belonging to something. 

Acts 2:42-47 says, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” 

1. What are the people in this passage doing together? 

These verses are a wonderful picture of the power of Jesus and what He did for us all. This is a beautiful image of a group of people, saved by Jesus, each of their lives turned to Him, coming together and sharing life together. When we talk about gathering together, this is what it is supposed to look like. It is more than just showing up on Sunday morning and being done there. It is about connecting, sharing, and loving with a group of people who have all declared Jesus as Lord. Each person in the group, no matter what different backgrounds they come from, gathers together to praise God, eat together, help each other, and add more to their lives. 

2. After reading these passages, how can you approach gathering differently? 

3. How has gathering with believers changed your life? 

Finally, we need to ask ourselves, “Do I gather with fellow believers in the same way it is written in Acts? Do I enjoy gathering together or am I being selfish? Do I need to change how I think about gathering?”