April 27
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).
First of all we have to learn to wait for God’s time. We have to wait patiently, for God has a time for every work, and He works in His own time. We must not move until we have received clear marching orders from the Lord; and certainly not at the command of men.
In the beginning, the question the disciples raised was: “We are too few!” But here in the second chapter it is otherwise: ‘We are too many!’ Now the second obstacle faces them: How to shepherd them; how to keep order; how to keep discipline? Then next verse gives the divine answer, and it has ever remained the governing principles upon which God works: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (v. 42).
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine”. It was the pure Word of God. For this reason, we compel people to read God’s Word, and not so many other books. The believers must become familiar with the Word of God. They must learn of God’s plan through His Word. Then comes fellowship. The apostles encouraged true fellowship; fellowship is a strength to the believers. By sharing together of God’s faithfulness, we encourage each other, and grow spiritually. Then the apostles began the breaking of bread straightaway. We have found to our joy, that in the villages where we have begun worship gatherings only a short while ago, the believers are progressing happily and spiritually. At first, they could not even read the Bible, but now how they pray! how they worship! and they have learned to give joyfully, even though they are so poor! This is because they have first learned the secret of worshipping the Lord. They also testify boldly in the open air; simply because they have seen the Lord in worship.” Similarly, they learn to pray for each other, and with each other.