[Re]Vision - Equip | Acts 2
We all have pet peeves—the little things in life that just get under our skin. For me, it’s loud chewing, people talking during movies, folks rushing the aisle when the plane lands, and, worst of all, a crooked picture on the wall.
That last one really gets me. Have you ever hung a picture perfectly straight one day, only to walk by the next and find it slightly off? No one touched it, but somehow it shifted. And what do we do? We make small adjustments—nudging it back into proper alignment.
That’s exactly what God does with us.
The Greek word katartismas captures this idea beautifully. It means “to equip” but carries the sense of making small adjustments toward proper alignment or positioning. And that’s what equipping is all about: God nudging us, adjusting us, aligning us with His purposes.
What It Means to Be Equipped
Ephesians 4:11–13 tells us that Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ… until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, growing into maturity.”
Equipping is about helping us grow in maturity—learning to respond as Jesus would, especially in hard situations. And let’s be honest, we don’t always get it right. Sometimes we’re misaligned. Sometimes we’re off track. But God keeps making those small adjustments.
So how does God equip us? Acts 2:42–47 shows us three powerful ways:
1. Deep, Loving, Long-Term Relationships with God’s People
The early church devoted themselves to fellowship, eating together, worshiping together, and living life side by side. That’s why community matters. Church isn’t just about sitting in rows on Sunday; it’s about sitting eye to eye, knee to knee—walking through life with people who will celebrate with us, challenge us, forgive us, and stay with us even when it gets messy.
2. A Deep, Loving, Long-Term Relationship with God
They devoted themselves to prayer, teaching, and worship. Equipping comes when we spend time with God—listening as well as talking. Sometimes prayer means God whispering, “Slow down, forgive, trust Me, let go of that idol.” In those moments, He’s making those small adjustments in our hearts, drawing us into alignment with Him.
3. A Relationship with Suffering
This one’s hard to swallow. But over and over, Scripture shows us that God equips His people through suffering. Peter and John were imprisoned after healing a man and preaching the gospel. The apostles were arrested for boldly proclaiming Jesus. They weren’t being punished for doing wrong—they were suffering for doing right.
It’s in those moments we might feel duped by God—confined, restricted, maybe even forgotten. But here’s the truth: God isn’t jipping us, He’s equipping us. He isn’t confining us, He’s aligning us. He isn’t distrusting us, He’s adjusting us.
Properly Aligned in Christ
Like a crooked picture on the wall, we’re all prone to shift out of place. But God, in His love, keeps adjusting us—through community, through time with Him, and yes, even through suffering.
It’s not about perfection; it’s about progression. God is at work in your life, shaping you, equipping you, and aligning you with Christ.
So let me ask you: where are you misaligned today?
Are you suffering? Feeling confined or overlooked? Do you wonder if God has forgotten you?
Take heart. Even in the struggle, God is making those small adjustments—bringing you into proper alignment in Him.
