In simplicity

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

Religion is usually a mess. Religion can get cumbersome and burdensome and and very, very, very complicated. It can be such a mess that it takes the place of a relationship with God and each other. It is such a mess that it leads to wars and conflicts and divisions.

The early church though didn’t have these problems. They visited and shared meals from house to house. They ate their meals with gladness and with a simplicity of heart. They praised God and had favour with their neighbours and people were being saved.

It’s that simplicity of heart that struck me. These Christians just lived that simple life that appealed to so many through the centuries. No glitz, no glamour, no big shows – just a simple life.

What a difference that made in those days. As others watched these Christians they just went about their daily lives living for Jesus and talking about Him.

Our biggest impact today is not going to come through great shows and productions and lights and glitz and glamour. Those might grab attention and God can use anything, but our impact is in how we live simple lives from day to day faithfully loving and caring and sharing.