Scripture
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.
Acts 2:46-47
Observation
The fruit of the Christian community within the general community was undeniable. As a simple and sincere faith was lived out neighbors, friends, and co-workers couldn’t help but notice something good was happening and it compelled them to investigate further. What they saw was a people filled with grace and, regardless of whether they too believed, it was a gracious response they would receive. They saw a people walking in their gifts and therefore Christians became a gift to the community around them. Grace was on their face and in their face- there was no denying something supernatural was at work. These Jews who had been governed by a law they could not fulfill now found fulfillment in what Christ had done. Whether it was the table or the Temple they no longer gathered because they had to but because they wanted to. They didn’t have to earn this favor they just received it and then shared it. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of a community like this? It was a continuous revival. It started in the upper room and invaded every room. You couldn’t get away from the move of the Holy Spirit because the Spirit was shining through everywhere God’s people moved. When Luke writes that the early church was “enjoying the goodwill of all the people” I stop in wonderment. God is not superfluous. Every word in His Word counts. How is it that “all”, every single person, looked favorably upon these Christians? The word for “goodwill” is “charis”- a gift of graciousness shown through word and deed. God’s people had discovered the grace through Jesus Christ, were gracious to those they knew, and received a gracious response. How I long to see a day like this again.
Application
I grew up in the Pentecostal/Charismatic tradition and I’m grateful to have seen the Holy Spirit at work in such tangible ways. There usually wasn’t a Sunday service that passed by without the gifts or “charis” being manifested in a service through speaking in tongues with interpretation, the sharing of a prophetic word during worship, or ministry time where we would pray for healing and often see it happen. I loved that what I was reading was what I was seeing. As I read through the book of Acts I see that the “charis” wasn’t supposed to stay in the room but was meant to be worked out in the world around us. They didn’t stay in the upper room but went out to address the false accusations of being a bunch of drunkards. Instead of being defensive Peter used it as a chance to share the Good News of grace. I was disheartened as a young man to see the very people who were praying and prophesying on Sunday to be mean, rude, defensive and manipulative with those who believed differently in our community. I wondered how this could be the same person. Of course, I came to understand that God won’t take his gifts back once He gives them. So many who had received gifts by the grace of God had stopped walking in grace of God. Instead of receiving the goodwill of the people I have seen Christians trying to impose their will on those who don’t yet believe. Could it be that we are up in people’s faces with our agendas instead of God’s grace? Could this be why instead of seeing the Lord adding people to the Church on a regular basis many churches are seeing people leaving? Have we forgotten that the birth of the church was a manifestation of God’s grace through a gracious response to those who rejected the faith? That maybe God gave us these spiritual gifts so we could be a gift of grace to those outside of the faith? Instead of becoming a “bless me” club with exclusive benefits for the already initiated, we have been called to walk this grace out with those who don’t yet know Jesus. Bob Goff once said, “Don’t let being ‘right” talk you out of being kind.” No one wants a gift of guilt, condemnation, manipulation, or shame shoved in their face. I don’t want to hand to others the very thing Christ took away from me. If I want people to see the grace of God I must be gracious in my response especially to those who don’t just ignore but reject my beliefs.
Prayer
Maybe the most powerful way I can live out love today is a gracious response to those who aren’t. I want to see the Christian community become a blessing rather than a burden to the community around us! This is what grace lived out looks like: “32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:32-36)
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