

Acts 4:32-35 - Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
This picture of the early church is enough to make me sigh and wish it was still this way. A large group of Christians, united in heart and soul ... and with no needy people among them! Apparently as soon as someone had a need, someone else leaped to supply whatever they needed. Now that's a Christian community I'd like to live in!
But of course it didn't stay this way, not for long. In the very next chapter, two people try to lie their way into an honored position in the church. And in the next chapter after that, the church has divided among ethnic lines—and the needy people of one group aren't getting the same care as the others.
Maybe it will always be this way, until the Lord Jesus returns. We can't sustain that level of love and unity for very long. Sin comes in and ruins our unity.
And yet, every time that happened, the early Christians repented and started over. Surely we, too, can find our way back to unity and love, even if we keep falling and repenting, again and again and again.
Because the love and unity we have does not come from ourselves. It comes from our Lord Jesus, who loved us so much He lay down His life for us—not just for the greatest, but for the least. He died for you just as surely as He died for the great and the powerful. He saw you, in your need, and His heart leaped to help you. He sacrificed Himself to rescue you from evil; and He rose from the dead so that you, too, would live forever. This is how He loves you; and this is how He loves the people around you.
Thinking of that, how can we not respond? If Jesus has loved us so much—and still loves us just that much, with His whole heart and soul—how can our own hearts remain cold? Surely they must melt to love the way He loves us.
And we know in our own lives how much it hurts us when two people we love are at odds with each other. Think, then, of what it must be like for Jesus, loving each of us so deeply and seeing us in conflict with each other. I may not be naturally inclined to love the person in the pew ahead of me; but for Jesus' sake, I will learn to love. Because He loves me, and I love Him back, and I want to make Him happy. It can be as simple as that.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, teach me to love Your people the way You love me. I want You to be happy. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is the most loving Christian group you have ever been a part of?
2. How could you see the love in action?
3. What small act of love could you do today for someone for Jesus' sake?
Today's Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 26-27 Luke 7:1-30
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