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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
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.
Acts 4:23-31
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
One of the biggest complaints you hear in today’s society is the matter of disunity and inequity. It seems like we can’t come together in agreement on anything and there is more than a growing sentiment that we’re becoming a nation of those who have against those who don’t.
These feelings seem to start in politics and then move on from there to infect and infest the general populace. We would be led to believe it’s a racial or social equity problem when the truth is that it’s really a Jesus problem, meaning that we have more and more become an apostate nation, self centered instead of Christ-centered.
If you don’t believe that, ask yourself this question:
Where do people turn in these times when they seek answers and solutions to the societal problems we face today?
If we’re honest, the answer isn’t Jesus for if it was the answer, we wouldn’t even be asking the question for we wouldn’t have issues if we were all like minded because we were all Christ-centered.
Before you discard this thought as impossible, I present to you evidence that it’s not just probable but completely doable because history shows us it is. Consider what happened in New Testament Jerusalem after a large group of people decided to place Jesus first in everything. We read about it in the closing verses of Acts, chapter 4. Look again at those words here:
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.
When a person chooses to place their belief and hope in Jesus as Savior, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. No one is ever exempt from this anointing and we see what happens when a collective group comes to Jesus and are of one divine Spirit, a Spirit bestowed upon them by God. The scriptures tell us that the Jerusalem Christians were “one in heart and mind”, and one means one. There was total agreement among the people because they were all Christ-centered and not self centered or centered on worldly influences.
This Christ-centered unity spilled over into the way the believers behaved, especially in the way of charity and generosity. We read where there were “no needy persons among them” and no means just that. There were zero people in need. Let that sink in for a moment and then ask yourself if this isn’t a kind of culture you would like to be a part of. People weren’t waiting for the government to step in and offer solutions or resources. No, God had provided the people all they needed and the people saw that what they possessed truly belonged to God, not themselves. And with that realization, the people shared everything they had. Those who had much made sure that others who didn’t were helped.
How far did this extend?
It went far beyond just giving some food to someone or throwing out some token money to the poor. For the scriptures tell us that some of the richest people in Jesus’ day, those who would be able to own homes and land, would sell their property and give the proceeds to the apostles so it could be distributed to those who had need.
Friends, THAT’s sacrificial giving, selfless giving grounded and driven by a Chris-centered attitude.
Friends, THIS is what happens when a society focuses on Jesus and Jesus alone. For when they do, then God’s grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit works powerfully in the hearts of everyone, resulting in a society that is beautiful and united and refreshingly charitable.
It’s a kind of world that’s totally obtainable but it’s going to require everyone to focus their minds attention and heart’s affection on Jesus and Jesus alone. It’s my prayer that we get there one day.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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