Daily Devotional | Week 2 | Friday | Acts 4: 32-35

hello crossroads so good to be with you again today we are in the study of our study of the book of Acts and today we're in chapter 4 I'm gonna pick up towards the end of the book so if you have your Bible or you're taking notes or maybe you're listening to me while you wash dishes that's just as effective - but if you have your Bible it's Acts chapter 4 and we're gonna start towards the end with verse 32 let's jump right in verse 32 Bible says this all of the believers were one in heart and mind no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own but they shared everything they had that's actually a little funny to me sometimes I try to read the Bible with a little bit of humor and I don't know I guess that's just my personality but when I read that I actually think of little children I mean how many moms and dads or aunts and uncles are out there you know what is a child's first word it's not usually daddy or mommy which would be preferable it's usually mine or at least like top three first words and we learn that so little where what we have is mine and I'm gonna keep it and I'm gonna hold it and don't try and take it so when I read that portion of Scripture I actually think about children and how our natural tendency is to hold on to everything that we have and keep it well here in the Bible as the church was being built it says nobody claimed that any of his possessions were his own I mean basically it was just like what's mine is yours what yours is mine me casa su casa that's what was going on and it's a phenomenal time of growth I mean that the church was starting and was being built on this type of foundation let's keep reading verse 33 with great power the Apostles continue to testify the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was given upon them all there was no needy persons among them for from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them brought the money from the sales and put it at the Apostles feet and it was distributed to anyone as he had need we're gonna pause there for a minute just like last week this is a portion of scripture that really challenges me because when I when I think about this not mine mentality and that's very free giving mentality it's very challenging to me as I look around my own home you know and and I gotta be honest with you I think Lord does that mean that that you want me to sell my house and and and take the profit and bring it to the church or you know do you want me do you want me to take this this selfless I mean the epitome of selfless approach that we see here displayed in the Bible it's at the very least challenges meet and I hope that it challenges you so we see that this church was being built people were were giving and others as they had needs they were they were receiving and nobody was needy among them that's just incredible and I know that even today in the present situation that we're in there's so many of you who can say I relate to that you know I'm I'm giving baskets of food to my neighbor I'm taking my kids and I'm I'm drawing sidewalk art and that's encouraging you know anybody who walks by I'm I'm going to the store for somebody who can't go to the store I'm making phone calls whatever it is that you're doing you're giving all that you have to help those around you and and I applaud you in that what this passage of Scripture also does and we'll just take a quick minute and think about this I see the what I see the need I see what they were doing but when I read this I asked the question why and when I asked the question why it makes me think about first Corinthians chapter 13 and for those of you who are listening who are new to church and new to this whole Bible saying maybe you've never even read the Bible and that's super cool that you're here listening we welcome you and we're glad that you're here but if even if that's you and you have no understanding of the Bible I promise you that if you've been to a wedding at the very least you've heard this chapter that I'm gonna reference because it's known as the love chapter first Corinthians chapter 13 love is patient love is kind you know it it doesn't envy it doesn't boast but before it gets to what love is the first portion talks about what love isn't specifically in verse 3 listen to what he says he says if I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love I gain nothing there's the why there's a lot of what that we could talk about but here's the why why were the Apostles doing this why were the believers doing this and why should you and I be willing to give whatever it is that Christ asks of us to one another why because we do it in love we love because He first loved us we're willing to give to one another we're willing to sacrifice we're willing to go without because Jesus first loved us and because of that love that he showed to us we're able to take that love and show it to everybody else around us what an incredible thing so crossroads today this weekend and the days to come as you're doing the what ask yourself the question why make sure that your heart is in check make sure that you're doing it added it out of an attitude of love and selflessness and humility and I promise you it will amount to much let's pray father thank you thank you that we can dive into your word and and you speak truth to us Lord father we are so undeserving but yet we are so grateful we give it all to you and this name come on in the church said Amen we'll see you later

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Length: 6min 50sec (410 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 03 2020