God desires that his people give life to each other.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

I took this picture of Ginger on a very cold day. The sun was up, but the temperature was down. Even though she has Siberian Husky and German Shepherd blood in her, she needed the sun to keep her warm. It just so happened that the sun shone where the gnomes roam.

Ginger loves to hang out with our gnomes, though I’m not so sure they enjoy hanging out with her.

It was better for Ginger to hang with the gnomes and stay warm than receive my love and affection in the shade.

The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Act 2:42 God’s Word to the Nations

Ginger made a choice that she would rather hang out with the gnomes than with me. Her choice was based on the warmth of the sun. What goes into our choices of people with whom we hang out? Do the people we spend time with give life or suck life out of us? Do they value or devalue our friendship?

Immediately after Jesus’ ascension, the disciples gathered together. The disciples to whom Luke refers were more than the twelve apostles. What they did marked their gatherings. What they did added value to each other’s lives.

Together they were dedicated to learning more about Jesus through what the apostles taught them.

Together they talked about what it meant to live as followers of their risen Messiah, Jesus.

Together they shared in the breaking of the bread of Christ’s body and drinking from the cup of his blood.

Together they prayed.

It’s God’s intent that the baptized of Christ add value and give life to each other. Maybe we’ve moved away from the things that give life and focused our attention on something less valuable. Maybe it’s time for us to once again dedicate ourselves to the teaching of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

If we do, maybe we’ll be more like the One we hang out with.

Picture and Text Copyright Douglas P Brauner