Goodwill

Acts 2:43  Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44  All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45  they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46  Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47  praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Luke opens this second chapter of his story by telling his readers of the blessing of the Holy Spirit. We all know that when Luke wrote this passage (80 years after Jesus) the Christian Church was not like the church described above:  Christians were sharply divided over whether true followers of Jesus ought to adopt the Jewish ritual laws or not. For this reason Luke sets out the dream. This is a stylized account of what the Christian Church ought to be – this is the setting of a goal for the church.

We continue to go back to this passage today – because in the midst of our own Christian divisions we need to be reminded of what God’s church can be. As Pentecost Sunday approaches, let us pray for the healing of the Church of Jesus. Perhaps this prayer ought to begin with a personal prayer: “Let there be goodwill on earth – and let it begin with me”.     

Song

Let peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry breath I take, let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally!
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!

Words by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson

Pentecost

29 The Church of the Spirit

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Rueben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 184.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.