Eat The Word

They Had Everything in Common

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.

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 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. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts Chapter 4:32-37

1  Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2  Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted awaythrough my groaning all day long.

4  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;my strength was dried upt as by the heat of summer. Selah

5  I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6  Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

7  You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

/ref Psalm 32:6

I’m so encouraged by this passage. David shows me the path to freedom, the path to blessing and hope. He shows me that he’s a man like me, full of sin that needs clearing, burning away. He shows me that the yoke is light, and the burden is easy. I come before my God with nothing, shedding all that I thought was good, and all that I thought was so bad that I could not come before a holy, and wholly good God. With nothing, I have no cover to hide my rags.

“This is who I am”, I say to God. “I need you to clean me again, to help me, because I can’t do it myself. I’ve tried, and it never works, it never sticks”.

With kindness in his eyes, “I know who you are Matthew, I knit you. I named every cell in your body. I know your best, and I know where you’ve fallen short. I know when you’ve utterly blown it. I know you through and through. I made you to know where to come for love, and now your here. You’re at the right place. My love has made you clean, now go and be clean in my love.”

David’s understanding of what God can do to remove the stain of sin from his life, to be truly clean before God constantly amazes me. He may have foreseen the coming of Christ and his work, but he knew the power of the Father’s love before that story unfolded. How much more do I want to be confident in the Father’s love, his sending Jesus to me, his gift of the Spirit for me?!

Proverbs 15

Psalm 6:9

Matthew 5:43-48

(Source: youversion.com)

Hebrews 11:5

(Source: youversion.com)

Psalm 61:1-3

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.

Hebrews 5:1-2

He listens. He’s not just acquainted with weakness, he’s beset with weakness. He is gentle with even our ignorance and wayward ways, not just our weakness that we incur when other’s sin against us. His compassion is boundless.

He even meets us in the prison of unforgiveness, loving us with his compassion, drawing us into forgiveness. His kindness, forbearance, and patience empower us to repent and forgive. (Rom 2:4)

(Source: youversion.com)

Hebrews 4:14-16

(Source: youversion.com)

Hebrews 1:3