City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42–47 (NASB 1995)

Reflection

“Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe . . . “

The movement of time seemed to slow, as if hurrying might cause something to be missed. The sound of someone shifting in their seat, a quiet breath—the faintest noise carried weight. It felt wrong to move too quickly, wrong to speak too loudly. Smallness and stillness were the only fitting response, not because they were insignificant but because something greater was present.

I felt that same sense of awe the night I was born again. The people around me faded into the background, and the room went quiet. Everything before that moment was out of focus. Then the aperture turned, and the images came sharply into view. He was everything. I was small and ashamed. There was only one thing to do — repent and surrender to the God who had given His Son for me.

That sense of awe is not a spiritual phenomenon, a born-again one-off, or an historical anomaly reserved for the post-Pentecost disciples. It is what happens at the intersection where we meet God, also known as His presence. He fills the room, and we become small. 

Application

That intersection is not hidden away in a secret place or at the end of a lengthy fast. It is not reserved for pastors and priests. It is found in His Word, in prayer, and in worship. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). We meet God in His word because that is where He has chosen to reveal Himself. We meet God in prayer because that is where we communicate with Him, and we meet Him in worship because He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

Because we call these “spiritual disciplines” it’s easy to misunderstand their purpose, to see them as notches in our spiritual belts. We make the same mistake when look at the medieval monks, ascetics, and those who spent hours in prayer, and conclude they were just trying to impress God.

Probably, they were junkies for God’s presence. They sought Him continually because they wanted to experience the same sense of awe as the post-Pentecost disciples. They wanted it so badly they shunned worldly desires to spend their time seeking it. They wanted more of Him.

That same awe is available to you and me. It’s available in His Word if we will seek Him there; it awaits us in prayer if we will meet Him there; and it is abundant in worship if we will praise Him there—in His presence.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for making Your presence available to me through Your Son. Amen.