The Christian's Commitment

By Jared Green
    As New Testament Christians, we often pride ourselves in our desire to restore the first century church to the best of our ability. As a result of this mission, we assemble to worship each Lord’s Day. In our worship, we sing without instrumental accompaniment. We partake of the Lord’s Supper each week. We are led spiritually by a plurality of elders. We do these things (along with many more) because Scripture shows they were done in congregations established by the apostles in the first century. Personally, I am thankful for our desire to have such a Christ-focused church.    While this mission often focuses on corporate aspects, it is also important for us to mirror early Christianity on an individual level. In Acts 2, Luke provides us with insight into what daily Christianity looked like for the first 3,000 Christians. As we continually work to restore the first century church, it is my belief that we should put just as much emphasis on the individual’s role in the body as we do worship, for example. What, then, do the first Christians teach us about the Christian life?    They committed themselves to learning God’s Word. We are told that “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42a). Being freshly converted from Judaism, these men and women understood the necessity of growing their new faith in Christ. As a result of their commitment, they were in awe of what was being said and done by the apostles (v. 43). May we never lose the desire to grow and be awed by the beauty of God’s Word, no matter how long we have been studying it.    They committed themselves to unity. Along with their devotion to study, they also devoted themselves to “the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers” (v. 42b). “And all who believed were together and had all things in common” (v. 44). They were constantly gathered in some fashion, eating together, praising God, and having favor with all the people (vv. 46-47). May we always understand God’s call for unity and the need to be in consistent fellowship with one another.    They committed themselves to sacrificial giving. Luke says, “And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (v. 45). While this was, in part, because some of these new Christians were far from home, having recently traveled to Jerusalem for Pentecost, the principle remains vitally important. As stewards of God’s blessings, we are called to give generously to bless those around us.    With this commitment to a new way of selfless, familial living, the results became obvious. We are told that “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (v. 47b). The gospel of Jesus was being taught, both by word and example, and many souls were saved as a result. May we live with the same vigor and commitment to the gospel today. God loves you, and so do I.

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com