“27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius. 29 So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. 30 They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.”

Acts 11:27-30

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From the beginning, the church has been concerned with serving others and helping to provide for people in their need. From Acts 2 & 3, we see them giving out of their means to each other as they had need, and here, as they grow and as they spread out, they still make a point of caring for those who would suffer. This interconnectedness is a beautiful thing, and we are reminded of our joining together in Christ as we partake of communion each week. We see that physical distance, racial and cultural barriers and anything else that you might think of, do nothing to separate us from one another. We also see, from these earliet examples, that the church has a redefined priority in regards to wealth, time and effort. 

 When you belong to the body of Christ, you have a new understanding of what really matters. It’s not about personal comfort, it’s not about getting your way. It’s not about building up security for yourself and it’s not about making a good impression as the world understands things. Instead, it becomes a matter of seeing others brought comfort, peace and security through whatever means you may have. There is a re-direction of the heart, a new mental focus and a greater understanding that reveals a deeper priority in your heart. Today, time is almost more closely guarded than money, but no matter the resource, to follow Christ means to GoLove people in their need, to step beyond what is comfortable or easy, and into what really and truly matters. 

Compassion redefines us. An understanding of mission redefines us. Our sense of community with one another redefines us. Communion through Christ redefines us. There are so many ways that God has provided for us to stand out as distinctive and different from the world, and it is in these ways that people will see and begins to grasp that we have something together that they lack on their own. That we have a hope, a joy and a purpose that they just cannot manufacture for themselves. And as we live our different, distinctive, redefined priorities, we need to do it knowing that even how we use our time, talent and treasure stands as a marker to a hurting world, a testimony to the goodness of Christ Jesus.  That’s why we care for the widow and orphan in their distress, provide food for the hungry, shelter for the cold and care for the sick…because Jesus made them a priority and told us that whatever we do for one of them, we also are doing for Him. We see things differently and seek to make a difference. 

Make a difference for widows & orphans by clicking HERE.

Provide water for the thirsty HERE.

Provide care for the sick HERE.

Help those in distress HERE. 

Find opportunities right where you are today and let those redefined priorities begin to speak out loud in your life. It’s not for our personal glory, but for bringing praise, honor and rejoicing to God Himself.