Pastor's Pen

Beloved, the early church was faced with many difficult struggles and issues. They were faced with the threats of the Sanhedrin, the persecution from fellow Jews and the loss of income, yet they held together. They held together because they were united. Their unity stemmed from focusing on those priorities Jesus had left them: (1) selflessly loving each other and (2) reaching the lost world.

They practiced love through the selfless giving of one’s goods to each other. What they had was not “mine” and “yours” but “ours.” They placed God first, people second, and material things a distant third.

The early church also continued to reach out to the Lost. Acts 4:33 says, “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”

The early church had their priorities in order as they committed their lives to Christ and one another. They fulfilled what Jesus had said in John 13:34-35- “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” May we do the same!