Day 249 - Unity
📖Daily Reading
Acts 1-4
Join me on my morning walk as we rise and shine together by walking through the Bible daily and learn a practical applicable coaching nugget from the ultimate life coach - our creator (whatever that means to you). No judgement zone here, all are welcome, we are all on a spiritual journey because we are after all spiritual beings having a human experience.
📝 Reflection
Acts: 4:32-37
“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.”
Unity as I am intending to discuss it; is to be united in oneness for a single purpose, mission and/or goal.The verses above are an obvious example of how the early believers in Jesus and
‘the way’ knew they needed to pull together in this way if the message was going to spread. It wasn’t just a message. They had to be living proof, examples and role models that living from this transformed, new way was worth giving up your ‘old’ self for. Not just your old self, but your possessions, land, roles etc. They went all in. There was no room for holding back.
The last vs 37 in particular caught my attention. This is a very significant detail the text includes here. Barnabus from the tribe of Levi sold a field he owned!! Wait, what? The levites are the tribal branch of the Israelites that are the priests and typically they don’t own land. So we have someone that is either a Jewish priest himself or of that ‘order’ or tribe and he owns land. So he not only surrenders his identity as being set apart as a Levite to join this band of believers in a ‘rebel’ king of the Jews, but he also sells his land. Land that was probably very precious to him as it was a very rare thing for a levite to be able to own land. Barnabus was also a nickname meaning ‘son of encouragement’.
That is a triple threat, trifecta, or … maybe even a ‘trinitarian’ representation. Joseph a jew, from the tribe of Levi, and a landowner so endeared in the community that he is given a nickname meaning ‘son’ of encouragement…. Very, very interesting and very significant. He gives it all up in unity to spread the gospel and join this band of people that will become the church.
Up next in the beginning of chapter 5 we are given an example of a couple who seems to want to go all in, wants to be included but they hold back. They indeed sell all of their possessions and land, but the hold some back for themselves. But they decide that this isn’t a problem or a reason not to join the community and doesn’t block their ability to be unified. But God doesn’t see it that way. They are dishonest and tell the disciples that indeed they had given it all to the community. They both died. The problem wasn’t that they didn’t want to give all of their resources, the problem was the deceit.
“But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.” (5:1-2).“Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!””
On a practical level, I think there are some very applicable take always for us as individuals in our everyday lives. How often to we want to go all in with something, someone or with ourselves but we hold back. We justify it, we don’t see the conflict or the problem. We are not only lying to ourselves but we are lying to others and compromising the mission or overall goal by our lack of commitment. We not only are doing ourselves a disservice but possibly doing harm to others and the bigger picture that requires unity to be accomplished. This happens internally when we really want to do something, but we hold back, spread ourselves to thin, over commit, people please etc..
Unity requires sacrifice, pushing through fear for the greater good, taking risks, letting others possibly be disappointed, risking failure, a lot is at stake either way. Lack of unity and a divided mind or heart though guarantees that a mission will not be accomplished. How can it? I am encouraged today by Barnabus and these earlier believers to lay it all on the line, go all in, give up my prior identity, set my ego aside for a great purpose. I am a daughter of encouragement! We often have many hopes, dreams, talents and gifts but we need singular unifying focus on a broader purpose.
Although they were all unified in spreading the gospel and message of Jesus Christ, they all had varying assignments within the body. They used their unique gifts and talents within the larger body and community. Don’t mistake unity for uniformity - God doesn’t expect us to be robots, cookie cutter versions, copy cats etc.. Go boldly in your uniqueness for a larger purpose, from this vantage point we can begin to encourage each other and let go of competitiveness. There is no one that can do what you do the way that you do it - therefore no one to be afraid of and no reason to hold back! Unity not only provides focus, but clarity which ultimately provide freedom.
✍🏼Daily Journal Prompt
Is there an area of your life that you want to go 'all in' on but are holding back? Do you feel scattered, spread too thin or overwhelmed and unsure of where to focus? How can today's reading help you gain clarity? Open yourself and allow God to show you.
📖Tomorrows Reading
Acts 5-8
Coaching Opportunity
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