And They Did This

Good Morning,

So far this month we have learned that post-resurrection living means being on mission and that the mission is all about the Kingdom. These next three weeks we are going to unpack this a bit more, beginning today with something we find in Acts 1:12-14

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James). They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

The list of who was in the room is interesting. It includes the disciples, Mary the mother of Jesus, Jesus’ brothers, and other women. This last tidbit is interesting given that culturally, women were not viewed as particularly useful in the church. (This should give us an idea about the inclusivity of the Kingdom.)

While who was there is intriguing, what they chose to do is even more so. They chose to pray. Not just a cursory prayer, but constant prayer. Isn’t it interesting that this is what this particular Scripture tells us about their activity? We don’t hear about their strategic planning. We don’t hear about their plan for governance, or how they will sustain themselves. We are told that they prayed and prayed constantly.

Without question, fervent prayer became a hallmark of post-resurrection Christians. They joined together and sought the Lord. When they were confused they prayed. When they were fearful they prayed. When they desperately needed guidance they prayed. And when they waited, they prayed. I once heard a speaker say that “If we can do it without prayer, we don’t need to be doing it.” That certainly speaks to the fervency with which these first-generation Christians prayed.

I can’t help but ask myself, is prayer is that critical to the way I do life? Are we so desperate for God that as leaders of churches, para-church organizations, parents, and spouses we acknowledge the importance of prayer to our success? Friends, may prayer become as crucial to us as it was to those in the book of Acts.

Prayer is more than an act we do in the morning or evening. It is constant conversation with God throughout your day.  It is part of life and living. – Rev. John Boyd

Questions to ponder this week:

1)    What is the condition of my prayer life?

2)    Do I honestly believe in the power of prayer?

Live on purpose,

Ron Klopfenstein, CPLC