So continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with
gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the
people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2.46-47
I am challenged by so many aspects of the testimony of the
early church. I look at these folks at the very start and I wonder how they did
it a world that was totally unfamiliar with Christians and the church. Of of
what the church would be and what it would do was contingent on their beliefs
and actions.
We saw already how they continued steadfastly in fellowship
and sharing. While they did so they lived in gladness and simplicity and they
praised God and had favour with the people. And people were being saved.
I just want to look at two of these aspects of the early
church today - they praised God and they were favoured with the people.
Praising God is something I think we do a pretty good job of
as whole. Sure, we get down in the dumps and maybe even get discouraged at
times, but I think most Christians have some attitude of praise in their lives.
I hope that we can praise God for what He does for us and never forget to
honour Him.
But the 'favour with the people' bit? That be a little but
tougher can't it?
It is hard to know how far we go to have favour with the
people isn’t it? I think however can put it pretty simply. We should never
compromise in our walk with the Lord. We should never compromise when it comes
to declaring our faith. We should never compromise when it comes to standing
for truth and right. But we don’t have to be jerks about it.
People may not agree with us, and may even oppose us, but if
we stand firm in a kind loving and compassionate way we will gain respect. We
need to stand without personal attacks or name calling, even if we are
provoked.
When we are attacked and reviled we need to return a
blessing. We don’t have to win the fight, our goal and desire is to win the
person.
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