One Heart

Acts 4:32-35 ESV
“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.”

Most of us will never see this kind of favor in the Christian community in our lifetime but during the one-thousand-year reign with Jesus as the King, it will return. What happened to cause this kind of response in the first century? Salvation through Jesus Christ and the infilling of the Holy Spirit is the correct answer.

They found a sense of Utopia, if I may use that idyllic notion, or better, a sense of heaven on earth, there in Israel that has never been seen again for the most part. Why has it not returned? Mainly for the same reason that satan was thrown out of heaven and Adam and Eve were driven from the garden of Eden, selfishness and pride.

People and entities like satan always want to be like God and call their own shots and have things their way. Notice the characteristics of the New Testament Church; “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.” That cannot be manufactured, that is the grace and mercy of God on a people that was enthralled with Jesus and full of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, make me settled in my heart to be content, to be gracious and to be aware of those in the community of believers. Teach me to be merciful to others in need, especially those of the household of God.