Acts 2:46-47 ” Every day they continued to meet together in the Temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved.”

Unity and mutual care for one another…that’s what the early Church did on a daily basis.  With steadfastness and faithfulness to the Gospel, they walked out their lives in very practical but focused ways.  They approached each day with open hands and open hearts…looking for needs and filling them.  The early Church was centered around goodwill towards others…of encouragement and sharing…of loving one another.  And the Lord added to their numbers daily.  For people saw the Gospel being played out in front of them and they wanted what these Believers had.  The world is still looking for that today…for care, and compassion…for love and acceptance.    For the Church of the present has the same responsibility and opportunity to impact the world for Christ as the early Church did…maybe even more.

Colossians 2:2 ” My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love…”

As people waited in the crowded lobby, I over-heard a kind looking elderly gentleman ask the young lady seated  next to him a rather probing question.  She was bent over her phone, oblivious to anything or one around her, when he asked, “What would you be doing right now if you weren’t on your phone?”  His tone of voice was gentle and reflective, which completely caught the young lady off guard and rendered her speechless.  His question though got my mind whirling!  How can we  show the agape love of Christ to others when we’re folded up like a flower over our phones?  How can we be Jesus to those around us when we totally disengaged from our surroundings…detached and indifferent?  This verse says we are to be united in love which takes dedicated  involvement and connection…not self-isolation and selfishness.

Matthew 6: 19-21 ” Do not store for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Ask yourself what you hold dear today.  What is it that’s precious and cherished in your life?  Is it sitting in the garage, or on your wrist, or proudly placed in your house for all to see?  Or are they intangible, incorruptible things that only come from a heart where the Holy Spirit abides?   Jesus tells us that if our priority is gathering up wealth and riches down here on earth…our heart will soon become a haunt of unclean lusts.  But if the things we value are Godly and right, we will have treasures in heaven that will never be exhausted. (Luke 12:34)