Friday January 8th, 2016 Acts 8:14-17
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. (verse 14)
Most of us have built support systems around ourselves, friends and other trusted people in whom we confide, sharing joys and sorrows, our good news and our worries.
This verse indicates that early Christians created intentional support systems around new believers. When “Samaria had accepted the word of God, [the apostles] sent Peter and John to them.” (verse 14)
Peter and John probably had many responsibilities during that visit: to meet and establish relationships with the new believers; to ensure that the new believers were developing firm foundations in their faith; to strengthen the new believers’ ability to converse with God through prayer. But perhaps their most important responsibility was to invoke the presence of the Holy Spirit upon these new believers. In effect, the intentional support system of Peter and John was introducing the greatest support system to these new believers: the Advocate who is always with us. (John 14:16)
We pray: Come Holy Spirit, come! Amen. — BW
Contributed by Support Systems
Most of us have built support systems around ourselves, friends and other trusted people in whom we confide, sharing joys and sorrows, our good news and our worries.
This verse indicates that early Christians created intentional support systems around new believers. When "Samaria had accepted the word of God, [the apostles] sent Peter and John to them." (verse 14)
Peter and John probably had many responsibilities during that visit: to meet and establish relationships with the new believers; to ensure that the new believers were developing firm foundations in their faith; to strengthen the new believers' ability to converse with God through prayer. But perhaps their most important responsibility was to invoke the presence of the Holy Spirit upon these new believers. In effect, the intentional support system of Peter and John was introducing the greatest support system to these new believers: the Advocate who is always with us. (John 14:16)
