September 26th
Live
Acts 2:46–47 (NLT)
46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Here is the conclusion to the text we began yesterday. In the meeting of the needs of others, it seems there was a deep need that was deeply satisfied in their own hearts. They lived with “great joy and generosity…praising…enjoying…”
I hear echoes of Jesus’ words about “losing our life to find it” in these words from C.S. Lewis…
“The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God. What we try to keep for ourselves is just what we are sure to lose.” (Mere Christianity, p. 213)
We dare not miss the last sentence, “And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
The Journey of Generosity does not end with “live” because when we are living generously the journey starts for others! It is not accident that the fruitfulness of the early church’s evangelism flows out of their generosity, giving their lives away. Living, as we hold in our fifth Core Value, in a way that is “Not About Ourselves.”
I asked you to think about what stirred in your heart watching the “I Like Car” video yesterday. I will tell you what stirred in mine – those who gave to help her get that car got way more than they gave. That car will eventually wear out. But what God did in the hearts of those involved, and to hers…that is eternal. And I’m confident that is not the last time those people let God’s resources flow through their hands.
Let’s all pray this prayer together…
Generous God, as I come and see, give and live…may your abundance through me bring others to yourself.
