June 21
Bible Reading: Acts 4:32-37
Acts 4:32, “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.”
You don’t need me to tell you it is sometimes difficult for us humans to get along. Broken marriages: torn-apart families, communities, and churches; a divided nation—all bear testimony to this sad reality. It’s been that way for a long, long time, ever since the fall of man. Cain killed Abel; we humans have been fighting with each other ever since (James 4:1-3).
Though perhaps not as dramatic or obvious as the preceding miracles, what we find here in our text is just as astonishing. For all “who believed were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32). By this time, there were thousands of those “who believed,” including the 8000 who had responded to Peter’s sermons. These folks, “Jews and proselytes,” were from a long list of various places (Acts 2:9-11). They spoke different languages and came from different cultures. They were people just like us, having their own sinful tendencies. But Jesus had worked to save them, and He had Spirit-united them all in the deepest possible way. It wasn’t just that they shared with each other all that they possessed, they shared a common identity and a common heart and soul.
It was all in answer to what Jesus asked for, when He prayed to the Father, “that they might be one even as we are one” (John 17:22). The oneness we read of in our text was a supernatural work of God by the Holy Spirit, and it bore testimony to the radical change Jesus made in the lives of those who believed. And it is no different today. God has made us one in Jesus. We have much in common (Ephesians 4:4-6). Though it is neither simple nor easy, it is our duty and privilege to remain “eager to maintain the unity” God has established (Ephesians 4:3).
Recently, I was part of a search and rescue effort to find a young boy that went missing. They assigned our team to cover a specific area. Our team leader lined us up, about ten feet apart, and explained that we were to remain so, as we headed out as one team to search in one direction. Occasionally, someone would get too far ahead or behind, so he’d line us all up again and we would proceed. In the spiritual realm, we’ve a team leader in the Holy Spirit. He’s the One that works to keep us all headed in a “Jesus-ward” direction (John 16:14). Galatians 5:25 exhorts us to “keep in step with the Spirit.” It is as we each keep in step with Him that we experience the blessings of the miraculous union we share in Jesus and with each other! By the way… after being lost overnight, search teams found the little boy!
It is as we keep in step with the Spirit that we experience the blessings of the unity we possess in Christ.
OUR GOD HAS MADE US ONE
Our God has made us one
In Him our hearts unite
When we His children share His love
Our joy is His delight
Our God has made us one
His glory is displayed
For as we build each other up
Our love becomes His praise
Our God has made us one
In sorrow and in joy
We share the cross of Christ our Lord
In Him we now rejoice
Our God has made us one
One church to bear His name
One body and one Bride of Christ
And with Him we shall reign
Authors: Niles Borop and Jim Weber. Copyright: © 1984 Meadowgreen Music Co.
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