Acts 2:43-47
Everyone around was in awe—all those
wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived
in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold
whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s
need was met.
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the
Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant
and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw.
Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
People are watching. This
scripture passage once again reinforces that concept. The people were
watching to see how the Apostles would behave. What would they do
without Jesus? How would they conduct themselves? Would they fall
apart and focus on their own agendas? Would they become bitter or
selfish? Would distance develop between the individuals? Would they
blame God?
Clearly, the opposite was true in all of these cases.
Jesus’ Disciples and Apostles worked together, shared meals and
fellowship, and grew closer as a body of believers. They operated in
joy and hope…and praise for God and all that He had done for them.
Surely they were kind and considerate of one another, and one can infer
that they maintained a positive attitude! And my favorite line in this
passage says, “People in general liked what they saw.”
This
is probably one of the most important sentences for us as Christian
disciples. The other verses tell us what the Apostles did…how they
worked together to serve God. But the critical thing to remember is
that what we project to others matters.
People are
watching…but we must be careful to give them the truth. They will spot a
phony a mile away! We’re not out to make ourselves seem superior…what
God offers to us He will gladly grant to EVERYONE who seeks Him. Our
goal is to live in such a way that others see Jesus in us…that they
recognize how we operate under the power of His Holy Spirit, no matter
what is happening in our lives…and they say, “Hey! I like what I see -
and I want this for myself!”
These verses offer great
illustrations of how to live for Jesus…and how to serve Him as genuine
Christian disciples. If we live with care and intention - and genuinely
seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives in each and every situation
and circumstance – others will notice. They will see how God cares for
us and fills us with hope and joy…and they will want to get in on this
for themselves. This brings glory to God, as it should…and helps to
fulfill our mission as Christian disciples who go…teach…and baptize.
People ARE
watching. It is important that when they look at us as Christians,
they like what they see. What – and WHO – are you showing them?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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