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Wednesday, November 7th (Day Twenty-Four)

Read:
Acts 2:42-47

And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Reflect:
For much of the twentieth century, if you wanted to ruin a man's life, you would accuse him of being a communist. A person in the middle of the century could be removed from any position of power or prestige just by having such an accusation leveled against him. For this reason, it is a little surprising to hear Luke report in this passage that the believers "had all things in common." Were they communists? Is the Bible advocating communism?

Well, no. The Bible advocates a lifestyle of radical generosity that meets the needs of others. None of the believers in Jerusalem were in need because the church (the organic gathering of the followers of Christ) would not allow them to be in need. They considered the collective good of the church to be greater than their individual level of comfort and gave radically for that purpose.

This sounds a little naïve doesn't it? What good could that possibly accomplish? Luke reports the results in the last verse: "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Generosity is attractive. Generosity results in the extension of the kingdom of God. Generosity is, therefore, vital to God's mission in his world.

Apply:

1. How does this passage challenge you to see the needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ?
2. How is generosity attractive? What could happen at Christ the King if we all cultivated a lifestyle of radical generosity?

Pray:

1. That the Lord would give our church the courage to express the teaching found in this passage.
2. That the Lord would add day by day to the number of those who are being saved, and that he would be pleased to use Christ the King as an instrument to this end.