43Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. 44All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. 45They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. 46Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread [d] together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, 47while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.
The Holy Spirit wants all of us…every nook and cranny…every insignificant detail. This is how he works. And, the evidence is clear as we continue to see the results of the Holy Spirit empowering the disciples.
First it was Pentecost, accompanied by undeniable natural power (fire, wind and tongues). Next, it was Peter’s sermon saturated with unbelievable spiritual power (3,000 people saved). Today we witness a personal transformation that is just as amazing.
The world is filled with reluctant servants…who comply only because the situation demands it. They are not happy people but they get by. Many people view the Christian life this way. It’s not what they want to do but…they know who the boss is.
It’s quite another thing to find a life that has been transformed to the point it loves everything about servant hood. When we see it…it’s a mark of the Holy Spirit. We see it here with the first church. As their daily lives began to take shape a remarkable personality shift became evident. The focus among the believers shifted from personal needs (always our default position) to communal needs (always God’s default position). But, that’s not what’s amazing. Most amazing is the attitude with which this change occurred. They sacrificed freely and happily…
Occasionally I can sacrifice freely and happily. Most often I feel diminished. I’m best at it when people tell me how wonderful I am for doing it. When the Holy Spirit is behind it we quit paying attention and just enjoy it. After all, we don’t need to keep score. The outcome is already settled.
Live boldly out there today…
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