Good morning. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many
wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had
believed were together (they are the same Greek words that were translated
together on the day of Pentecost - it does not mean that they were all living
under one roof) and had all things in common; and they began selling their
property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have
need. I don’t think there would be too many people who want to go back to the
good ole early days of the church that would like this to happen to them. If
the church had taken care of its own, we would not need the giant government
welfare to take care of them. Day by day continuing with one mind in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals
together with gladness and sincerity of heart. This was true unity. We don’t
even come close today. They were praising God and having favor with all the
people. The joy, unity, and taking care of one another was attractive to those
outside the church. Remember Jesus’ commandment to the disciples – that they
should love one another even as He had loved them and given Himself for them;
and by this all men would know that they were His disciples. And the Lord was adding to their number day
by day those who were being saved. Of course this harmony did not last forever
as we will see. Father help the Church to have the kind of love and unity that
would attract people to Your house.
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me
Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
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