Continually in the temple

“And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.” - Luke 24v53

As the book of Luke comes to a close the disciples are finally convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead. When he ascends to heaven in their midst the Bible tells us that they went back and were “continually in the temple” and that as they did so they were praising and blessing God.

Clearly the early church met in the Temple. Historians and archaeologists tell us that there were meeting rooms around the Temple that Jews could use for various purposes. The disciples met there, from this context, continually to praise and bless God.

It seems that the disciples set a pattern that was followed by the church as they met together day by day to break bread and learn doctrine. To the early church the question seems to have been not, “How often do I have to go to church?” but “How often do I get to go to church?”

How have we lost this mindset? Where has it gone? We use the excuse that life is so busy and so hectic today that we really need a break to just “chill.” That doesn’t seem to be God’s plan. The disciples and early church had no supermarkets, no electric appliances, no microwaves, and no cars. Living was a full time job, but they still found a way to be in the Temple continually praising and blessing God.

Perhaps we should re-evaluate our priorities?