Today’s Reading: Acts 2:44 (NIV)
44 All of the believers were together and had everything in common.
Good morning!
God gave me three incredibly talented, strong opinionated, uniquely different children to love. They share some of our unique characteristics, like their father’s heart, my crazy sense of adventure, and their grandparents’ inherent spunk! It is with great joy that I give God thanks for all three of my children, especially when we disagree with each other. Our unique personalities and critical thinking skills make for an interesting mix whenever we get together as a family.
What is it like in your home? Do you share all things in common with your kin?
It is tempting to get ramped up about our unique differences. We put them on display for the world to see, losing sight of the many things we do share in common. We may not look or think alike – yet, we share a common bond of flesh and blood. We are the heartbeat of humanity. We know what it feels like to go hungry, and what happens to our bodies, minds and souls, when basic human needs are not met. We understand what it feels like to be hurt, and the profound pain that comes from broken relationships. We relish the wonder of inexplicable joy. We experience great love as we hold a newborn baby, say a marriage vow, or celebrate happy moments with good friends. We find camaraderie in laughter. We understand the daily temptations that lead us to make mistakes, to choose the wrong path, and find ourselves falling into sinful, deceitful behaviors. We walk the path of destruction every day, moving far too close to the edge of the pit. Have you ever seen someone slip and fall? Do you know what it feels like to slide down a slippery slope with no branch to grab and hold on to for dear life?
The day the Holy Spirit came, thousands of uniquely distinct and different individuals were instantly filled with Christ’s love. They found the one thing they had longed for – they had found Christ’s amazing love. He is the branch that reaches out and grabs you in the middle of human diversity, freeing you from the sins that are literally sucking all hope out of your life. What once was a gathering of diverse peoples with little to share suddenly became a bunch of believers with everything in common! Jesus had become their absolute everything. And nothing else was more important than Him.
I think we spend way too much time dissecting our differences and far too little time focusing on our everything! My prayer for today is that Jesus Christ becomes absolutely everything to you. He is all that truly matters in this world and in the world to come. He is new life, fresh breath, and offers freedom forever from all that keeps us from the Father’s heart. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the only cure to humanity’s hurt; He brings new life to all who will call upon His name by faith. We have everything in common when we share Christ together.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO
___________________________
© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.
No comments:
Post a Comment