Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Called Together

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common

—Acts 2:44                                                                                 

There is nothing in this world quite like Christian fellowship.  We know that the early church worshipped and prayed together.  They studied the Scriptures together.  They ate together.  They gave their tithes and offerings together.  They shared the gospel together.  They helped one another and stuck together.  In short, they loved one another.

The word that describes this phenomenon is the Greek word koinonia, which is usually translated “fellowship.”  But it is also translated into the words “communion,” “distribution,” “contribution,” or “partnership.”  This means there is something wonderful and supernatural that people in the church experience.  It’s the bond that we have in which we love one another.

God has a unique purpose and place for the church in the world today.  Paul tells us that we Christians are “the called of Jesus Christ” (see Romans 1:6).  God’s people are called out of a world system that is hostile to the teachings of Scripture.  As Jesus said, “You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19).

This doesn’t mean we are to isolate ourselves from the world, because Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (see Matthew 5:16).

We are to be salt and light in this culture.  But at the same time, we are called out of it and warned that we are not to love it.  And not only are we as the church called out of the world, but we are also called together. 

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to  www.harvest.org .

Copyright © 2007 by Harvest Ministries.  All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.  Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.