“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47 ESV).
The first-century church was marked by explosive growth. Around 3,000 became believers after Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost and after that the Lord continued to add to their number every day. According to the book of Acts, the early church was also marked by its devotion to “to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). This Spirit-filled devotion meant that they were steadfastly attentive to and continually focused on being the church, which is the body of Jesus Christ of which he is the Head. As they were committed to being the Church, the Lord was busy building the Church.
For the Lord Jesus never called believers to build his church. Indeed, after Peter rightly confessed him as the Christ, Jesus declared, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:17-18).
So let us devote ourselves on bearing witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Let us lift up the name of Jesus in every area of our lives. For as Jesus said, “If I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). In other words, if we will BE the church, Christ will BUILD the church!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we devote ourselves afresh to You and to the fellowship, which is the body of Jesus, the Church. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we might be empowered to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. Enable us to BE the church as You BUILD the church. In Jesus’ name, amen.