After The Work

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. -Acts 2:42

What are we devoted to today in our culture? Entertainment? Work? Keeping up with the Jones’? It is as if we run a race to fill our homes with every nice object and opportunity. As C.S. Lewis mentioned “We have become men without chests”, not standing behind anything but living in quiet desperation and general disregard for our fellows. It doesn’t matter what we do, so long as we survive, thrive, and get mine.

What if the secret to our peace is not found in our 401k or our social media clout? It as if we are missing a key element in being human these days. Belonging. We can wander to work, then back home, eat dinner, and be alone with our possessions. We can walk in crowds and not feel a part of any. We can sit and watch television next to another and not hear a word that is spoken.

So we go out for a party or we go on a vacation. We shake things up, start researching the latest health craze. We pay for therapy and dig into our past to discover we are alone. We begin to ponder if it is all worth it or perhaps have another drink. We believe we are the ones to rescue ourselves, but cannot hear the call while our head is underwater.

The disciples enjoyed the Spirit. They connected with the great Other that Jesus offered. It was a surrender to win. It was letting go to receive. It was spiritual paradox, to surrender our lives to receive them back again. They committed themselves to the Teaching and enjoying one another’s company. They had community–belonging.

They ate together and prayed together. The disciples were united around Something greater than themselves. They were not devoted to some great man who boasted and spoke what their itching ears wanted to hear. The disciples came from many walks of life on the outside of community, finally arriving to belong.

How do we begin? It is surrender to win. We lay ourselves before I Am and ask Him in. We have to put our trophies down, that which we hang our hat upon for esteem. We confess where we have fallen short and ask Jesus to forgive. It is an event and a life-long process, a paradox again.

“Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am” Jesus reminded us. Gather with those with his love in their heart, those who help the orphan and widow. Look for those who show respect for all they speak to, people who “see” who is in front of them. “Ask for anything in my name, and I will do it”. Ask Christ into your life and show you the way. You will see that you already belong to Him, and others will join in.