Acts 4:32-37
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
Can you imagine for a moment, the entire body of believers united as one, one heart and one mind, and so united that they didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions? No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. What a picture of deep and radical unity! Let’s do a short recap of what has led up to this moment. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preaches to a crowd in Jerusalem gathered for the Feast of Pentecost and proclaims Jesus, who died and rose again as both Lord and Christ. All of a sudden, 3,000 men, convicted by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, repent, believe, and join the original followers of Jesus. And God is adding new members daily. Not long afterwards, Peter preaches again, and another 2,000 men join. When the leaders try to stop this new movement, all these new believers come together with one accord to pray, and again the Holy Spirit comes in power. Today’s scripture describes the incredible way all these people, newly joined together, are changed. Wow, God can change even an entire community.
With a “gift-giving” holiday upon us, I’m taking a hard look at my giving and my sharing of possessions and my motivation for it. Do I give or share to be affirmed or popular? Do I give or share to impress others or give out of obligation? Are any of my actions a witness for Christ? I should be giving and sharing selflessly and out of a sense of unity and belonging. Umm... that is not always easy to do — to keep the feeling of belonging. It is challenging enough in a family. How much more difficult then to feel a unity and belonging in a church where people of varied backgrounds come and go, have families of their own and other groups to which they belong? No, it is not easy, but the very act of giving helps to nurture the spirit of belonging. When people give and receive out of a sense of belonging to one another, they nurture that bond. Let’s be united in praying together that we would be filled with boldness that leads to generosity and that we too could be like this church in Acts, sharing possessions not because we’re better, more disciplined, more sacrificial, more spiritual than everybody else; just doing it simply because of the great grace of Jesus.
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
Can you imagine for a moment, the entire body of believers united as one, one heart and one mind, and so united that they didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions? No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. What a picture of deep and radical unity! Let’s do a short recap of what has led up to this moment. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preaches to a crowd in Jerusalem gathered for the Feast of Pentecost and proclaims Jesus, who died and rose again as both Lord and Christ. All of a sudden, 3,000 men, convicted by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, repent, believe, and join the original followers of Jesus. And God is adding new members daily. Not long afterwards, Peter preaches again, and another 2,000 men join. When the leaders try to stop this new movement, all these new believers come together with one accord to pray, and again the Holy Spirit comes in power. Today’s scripture describes the incredible way all these people, newly joined together, are changed. Wow, God can change even an entire community.
With a “gift-giving” holiday upon us, I’m taking a hard look at my giving and my sharing of possessions and my motivation for it. Do I give or share to be affirmed or popular? Do I give or share to impress others or give out of obligation? Are any of my actions a witness for Christ? I should be giving and sharing selflessly and out of a sense of unity and belonging. Umm... that is not always easy to do — to keep the feeling of belonging. It is challenging enough in a family. How much more difficult then to feel a unity and belonging in a church where people of varied backgrounds come and go, have families of their own and other groups to which they belong? No, it is not easy, but the very act of giving helps to nurture the spirit of belonging. When people give and receive out of a sense of belonging to one another, they nurture that bond. Let’s be united in praying together that we would be filled with boldness that leads to generosity and that we too could be like this church in Acts, sharing possessions not because we’re better, more disciplined, more sacrificial, more spiritual than everybody else; just doing it simply because of the great grace of Jesus.
Posted in Devotional