Fulfillment

The day before we had stared out windows that revealed wet snow falling. With every snowflake I became sure we would have to reschedule the project. I was feeling discouraged. How do you demo and rebuild in wet, muddy conditions? But the day of the project dawned bright and sunny…and the perfect temperature for outdoor work. I felt God’s pleasure. Some of us assembled had never met but it didn’t matter as we held hands and prayed for God to bless the work of our hands and hearts, for he had already established it. (Psalm 90:17)

The need was obvious ~ a rotting deck, with preschoolers in the house, needed to be torn down and replaced with something safer. Everyone got to work, some tearing down rotting wood, others painting new wood, and the yard being cleaned up. I listened to the chatter and laughter mingling with power tools and paint brushes and couldn’t help but smile. What a perfect day! This had the appearance, the sound, the feel of an early church community. In Acts 2 they are described and I imagine that God allowed us a glimpse into their community to encourage us to continue in their model ~ fulfilling both physical and spiritual needs for one another. (verses 42-47) By all accounts verse 46 indicates that by fulfilling both kinds of needs the Body was encouraged, edified, and fortified to continue in worship and service.

As I looked around that day at the work and fellowship happening simultaneously I recognized God’s presence on the Body of Christ. That day as people packed up and left, leaving behind a family grateful for the work done, I knew we had received so much more than what we had given that day.

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:12-15 (NIV)