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In more than three decades of my Christian life, I have been blest by 2 types of Daily devos'
(matter not exceeding 500 words) in universal Christian literature. Not only those Devos'
which have a different theme everyday but also the ones which revolve around a certain
theme over a period of time, say a fortnight, have richly edified me. In fact, both
styles have their own inherent advantages. If the former style caters to the varying
spiritual needs of a christian from day-to-day, the latter aims 'to ground'
a child of God in a certain subject in order he derives the full benefits of the
deep insightful study of a certain topic, spread over a fixed span of time.
In my Daily devo page, I have consciously tried to go in for 'a blend of both the
styles' whereby within a constant theme, I would be aiming to focus on different
facets of it which admittedly is a closer imitation of the 'Constant theme' style
than the 'Varying topics' one.
Having dwelt on the topics
- “The Christian journey”
- “ The Conquest of Canaan” and the
- “Lent season”.
in the previous months, now in the months of April and May, considering that
post resurrection of Christ (one of our concluding themes’ you would remember
in the meditations of March, was Resurrection), birth of the Church was a
landmark event in Biblical history, I want to cast the spotlight on the Book of
Acts (which records the birth and growth of the Church). This would ensure to a large
extent continuity of thought albeit under the ambit of new subject.
Once again, let me wish you a happy and an edifying read…
Suresh Manoharan
April 17th
“Sacrificial” fellowship
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”-
Philippians 2:4
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For one more day, we shall reflect on the fellowship factor, which made the Early
Church a body oozing vim, vigor and vitality.
That the fellowship of the Early Church members transcended mere “socializing over a cup of coffee”
after a Church service can be gauged by their sacrificial giving. While in a local
congregation like Jerusalem Church, we see the members willing to dispose even
their properties to help their brethren in need
(Acts 2:45), in the case of the
Macedonian Church (in northern Greece), we see the congregation rising above its
impoverished condition and sending financial help to the mother Church at Jerusalem
(going through rough times because of famine), cutting across geographical and ethnic
borders
(II Cor 8:1-5).
How were the members of the fledgling Church in the First century able to rise to such
high levels of sacrificial giving and “live their faith”
(James 2:14-17)?
We need not go beyond our Lord’s words recorded in
Matt 6:19-21 for an answer
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy,
and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” –
Since the Early Church members first stored words of their Lord in their hearts,
they were in a position to store their treasures in heaven too!
Prayer:
Father, the sacrificial giving of the Early Church members inspires us even today.
By storing your words in our hearts, enable us to rise to such high levels of
sacrificial giving. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
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