Daily Devotions – The Jubilee lifestyle

Daily Devotions – The Jubilee lifestyle

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32-37 (ESV)

They Had Everything in Common

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

For a short time at the beginning of the Christian Church, God gave an extra blessing of the Spirit that caused the first Christians to be extraordinarily holy. An important part of this was that they lived a jubilee lifestyle, so that they shared all that they had, and there were no poor people among them. The way they were living on earth was giving others a glimpse of what heaven would be like. Because of sin, no church has been able to live like this for more than a short time. However, when we believe the Gospel, and trust that all of our deepest needs are met in Christ, we can begin to share with others, and live to bless others, rather than living to get more and more for ourselves. When we do this, God is glorified, and our Christian witness becomes much more credible