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One Body and One Heart
One Body with One Heart
The early chapters of Acts give us a great picture of the unity of God's people that should prevail. Jesus prayed for such unity (John 17) and said that by loving one another the world would know we are disciples (John 13:35).
Many of those that were in Jerusalem at this Passover feast would have come from all over the Roman empire. They were said to be "Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians" (Acts 2:9-11). Having come to Jerusalem as pilgrims they found the eternal truth that Jesus was the Son of God. They found in the apostles teaching the truth that leads to eternal life. Rather than leaving and going home, they stayed and continued steadfastly in the apostle's teaching (2:42).
This would have left many of them in a precarious situation and would have caused them to be in need. They couldn't just go to the local ATM and get money. They couldn't just use their Master Card or write a check. How would they live?
Instead of being a problem this became the opportunity to bond them together. "All who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts" (Acts 2:44-46).
Hence: "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 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need" (Acts 4:34-35). It wasn't that there weren't those in need, but the brethren refused to let them stay in need. They fulfilled the need and THUS there was not a needy person among them. This continues through chapter six where we see them making daily distribution to the disciples in need.
Such should be the love and unity of a local church. We may not have the same situation of need but we do have needs. Are we being diligent to make sure those needs are taken care of? How far would you be willing to go to make sure your needy brother was taken care of? Do we know which brothers have needs and what those needs are? Do we even know the brothers? Brethren, let us love one another with a pure heart, fervently! (1Pet. 1:22). In the words of the Hymn:
1. How sweet, how heav'nly, is the sight,
When those that love the Lord
In one another's peace delight,
And so fulfill the Word.
2. When each can feel his brother's sigh,
And with him bear apart;
When sorrow flows from eye to eye,
And joy from heart to heart.
5. Love is the golden chain that binds
The happy souls above;
And he's an heir of heav'n who finds
His bosom glows with love.
(219 in Hymns For Worship, How Sweet, How Heavenly) Hugh DeLong
