Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Word
“And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” Acts 2:44
Meditation
Today’s meditation is written by Julianna Shults.
I love a good Venn diagram. Yes, the diagrams with the overlapping circles. No, I was not joking when I said I was a nerd in my bio. I am so nerdy, in fact, that for those reading this devotion, I have included my current favorite Venn diagram, the product of a meme popular on Twitter a couple of years ago, showing the overlap between the things said by bank robbers, DJs, Preachers and Moms taking off your sweater. At the center is the phrase, “Put your hands in the air.”
One of the things I enjoy about my job is that I am tasked with looking at lots of different research and helping identify how it can impact youth ministry in our church. While most research charts are designed to show differences and contrast, a Venn diagram is special in that it shows commonality. It pulls different groupings together.
There are lots of ways that we can define ourselves. We each have roles, responsibilities, skills, life experience, passions and even catch phrases we use. If I’m a circle in a Venn diagram, there is an endless list of labels I could put inside, some more important than others. The same was true for the members of the early church. They were a diverse group from many places, backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses.
Sometimes we idealize what the church looked like in Acts. We imagine a Venn diagram almost completely overlapped where everyone acts as a servant and everything is shared in the name of Jesus. But throughout the New Testament, we see differences in politics, socioeconomic status, food, work, responsibilities of the church, and more. Yet, through faith they are drawn together in the breaking of bread, prayer and God’s Word. The Holy Spirit gathered them as it gathers us today.
If we were to create a Venn diagram of the church, it would show one overlap of ultimate significance. At the center is the cross of Jesus. Through the Spirit in our baptism, God brings all people back to Him and gives them this singular common ground. Philippians 2:10 says, “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
We may be separate or overlap with others in many ways, but God’s Spirit gives us the same unity we read about in Acts, a commonality found in Jesus alone. God connects us within the congregation and draws churches into the whole Christian church on earth. A Venn diagram of believers through the gifts of God so that all may know salvation in Jesus.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you made each of us unique and loved. Thank you for sending your son so that despite our differences, we can be brought together in the cross of Jesus. Help us to look for how you bring us together in unity in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for the Spirit in Those Around Me
- For the Spirit to work faith in the hearts of those far from God, especially for my family and friends who do not know God as I do. I name them now . . .
- For the fruits of the Spirit in me and those I know: that my roots grow down deeper that fruit may sprout up. For more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
- Fill us when spiritually empty, strengthen us when weak, compel us when doubts conspire against me.
- For more people to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Amen. (Rom. 15:13)