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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.Eph 2:9 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :Sharing Among the Believers Bible Verse:Acts 4:32-37 (ESV) "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." Message:
The first followers of Christ practiced an early and extreme form of communal living. All assets were held in common under an agreed leader; those with private property sold it and contributed it to the general fund. Nobody was allowed to go hungry, but it appears that none of them retained any valuable property, such as houses.
Early Christians
It was different from a monastery. People had families, and there is no record of the vows, particular garb, or formal hierarchy that are typical of a monastery. They were so filled with the excitement of the Holy Spirit that they simply didn’t want to be burdened with property. They automatically adopted Christ’s teaching to the man in Matthew 19:21.
Is it a requirement to live like this, to be a “real” Christian? The Bible doesn’t really answer the question, although it steers us in that direction. (E.g., Mark 10:17-27.) Love of money, however, is the root of much great evil, and this lesson provides a good opportunity for us to examine our own feelings about possessions and money.
Christ promised that God will provide us a basic living. It is helpful to read Matthew 6 (or at least the last section) from time to time; it is one of the most important parts of the New Testament.
Craving after expensive possessions is a sin — one that I pray to be forgiven for often! Christ never said that we could not have them. But he clearly said that we could not love them, and he also said that we must look after our poor brethren. If we have food, and clothing, and a warm dry place to live, we should give thanks for it and remember that it is sufficient for earthly happiness.
Meditation : Prayer : God of mercy, swift to help: as my lips pour forth your praise, fill my heart with the peace you give to those who wait for your salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord............Amen |
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