What does it look like to be a part of and support your faith community?
Read Acts 2:42-47 and journal your thoughts
Usually when we think about being a part of our faith communities, we think about the time we spend with them on Sundays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays (whenever you go) and maybe keeping tabs on them on Facebook. When it comes to supporting them in tough times we think about things like praying for them, taking them food when they have gone through a major event, or maybe even taking them out to lunch to talk with them about something.
For the early followers of Jesus being a part of a faith community was something totally different. For them it was not just going to regular services, instead they ate together, they hung out together, they experienced God together, and they learned from each other. Not only were they together all the time, but they loved it. They truly loved their neighbor as themselves. They were a family.
Not only were they a giant family of all these different people groups, but they showed extreme generosity towards each other. Verse 45 talks about how they would sell their stuff to be able to provide for anyone in their community who was in need. That is the heart of generosity, when we are able to demonstrate the love of God to others to the point that we are willing to sacrifice to be able to help another. Not only were they willing to sacrifice, but they were willing with “glad and sincere hearts”.
Today pray that God would help you to become a generous person, to the point where you are truly open to give whatever you can to help another.
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