So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.  And they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.  Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.  They sold their property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.  Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house.  They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all people.  And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.   Acts 2:42-47  HCSB

Thanks for reading my blog today, but today I want you to pay special attention to the scripture passage.  I want you to get a deep understanding of what was going on in the days after the Pentecost.  Jesus had been crucified, died, and was buried.  He had risen from the dead and walked among his disciples for a period of 40 days.  Just before Jesus ascended into heaven he told the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and told them that it will not be many days from when he ascends into heaven that this will happen .  Jesus told them that they will not know when the time will be.  He told them that until this happens, to witness to those in the most remote parts of the earth. (Acts 1:3-8).

If this sounds familiar, this is because this is what we are called to do while we await Jesus’ return or His second coming.  We do not know when He will return, but we are to go about His work while we wait here on earth.  But my question today is how far are you willing to go in doing His work?

Now the book of Acts goes on in Chapter 2 to describe how these people came together at the Pentecost or the Jewish Feast of Weeks.  It was the fourth of the annual feasts and was named the Feast of Weeks because it came seven weeks (or a week of weeks) after the First Fruits.  This Day of Pentecost marked the beginning of the church.  Our scripture passage gives us a glimpse of what the first church looked like.  Now, remember, the church is not the building.  You can have church in a house, in a tent, or under a tree for that matter.  The church is the people.  So, let’s take a look at what the people looked like.

First, they were in awe of the many wonders and signs being performed through the apostles, not by the apostles, but by Jesus Christ through the apostles.  Then it said that the believers were together and held all things in common.  There was unity in this first church.  There was no bickering over what color the carpet in the sanctuary was supposed to be or how the fellowship hall should be decorated, there was unity.  They came together and had all things in common.  I don’t believe that this means that they were robotic creatures with no personality, but it simply believes that their focus was on God and they were allowing God to lead them.  When everyone is focused on God and what He wants, voila’, you have unity!  So they were focused on God and God’s will.

Secondly, they sold all their possessions and gave to those in need.  Now tell me, are you willing to sell even one thing you have to give to those in need?  Did you read that and think, “wow, that’s crazy!”?  It doesn’t say that those in need were begging for money, but they were all together.  They were all in one accord.  They knew each other’s needs.  They knew the ones that had needs and they did what was needed to fulfill those needs. They gladly did it, they were joyful, not grumbling. You see this is what true brotherly love looks like.  I am telling you this, because in today’s society it is entirely possible that you have never seen something like this.

They devoted themselves daily to worshiping and fellowshipping together.  They were joyful and humble and constantly praising God.  They were not grumbling about having to sell their toys to help others.  They were happy and they were praising God.

This sounds like a Utopian society, right?  It sounds as though it is as close as heaven as one could possibly get here on earth.  So, wouldn’t you like to have that in your home, in your neighborhood, in your community, in your town, in your state and in our country?  So, again, I ask you how far are you willing to go?

Are you willing to take the focus off of yourself long enough to get to know your family, friends, and coworkers and know when they have a need?  Are you willing to put your smart phones down long enough to have a real conversation with someone and find out what’s going on in their life?  Maybe they need your help.  You can’t very well witness to someone when they are starving because don’t have money to buy food.  We need to meet their basic needs first and then through our taking the time and effort to help them, they will se Christ through us. We may not know that they have a need unless we spend some time with them and show some genuine concern. If you find that they have a need, are you willing to try to help them with that need?  Are you willing to help even if it means selling something to help them out?

How devoted are you?  These people were excited about their Christianity.  They were focused on God, they were devoting every aspect of their lives to Him.  They weren’t just Sunday morning Christians, they were seven day a week Christians.  They were 24 hours a day Christians.  Are you willing to devote yourself to God?

They had a joyful and humble attitude.  Are you willing to stop grumbling and complaining and be thankful for what God HAS given you?  Are you willing to drop your foolish pride and develop an attitude of humility?

If we were all willing to go that far, I have no doubt that  we could see our homes, our communities, and even our country look a lot like this Utopian society described in our scripture passage today.  How awesome would that be?  And of course, the last verse says that they were finding favor with all people.  There was no arguing and backbiting.  But best of all it tells us that every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.

We say that we want to see our loved ones get saved, but how far are we willing to go?  Are we willing to love the unlovable?  Are we willing to give what we have to help those in need?  Are we willing to take the focus off of ourselves and focus on God and others?  Are we willing to devote ourselves daily to worship and fellowship with fellow Christians?

Often times we want that slim, toned body, but we are unwilling to diet and exercise.  Often times we want that job, but we are unwilling to get the education and put the years in that it takes to get the experience.  We want to see others saved, but we are unwilling to help them and show them God’s love and forgiveness.  Today, I encourage you to think about how far you are willing to go.  I also ask you to remember this, no politician can make America great again.  Only God can do that, he needs you to do your part.  Are you willing to go that far?

Have a great day!