April 24, 2026 | Be Connected
United in Every Way
Scripture: Acts 4:32-37(NIV)
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Devotional
When I was a college student, I participated in my church’s college-age Sunday School group. We would gather after church on Sunday evenings at one of our homes; and sitting on the floor strumming our guitars, we would join together singing. One of our favorites was "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love.”
We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored,
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love…*
I thought about this song when reading the passage for today where Apostle Luke admonishes us to be “one in heart and mind” as we serve the Lord together. The early Jerusalem church expressed their love for each other by their generosity and unity as they voluntarily shared their possessions, so no one was needy in service for the Lord. Theologian C. H. Spurgeon wrote that being "one in heart and mind" (v. 32) was foundational for serving God. He taught that true unity isn't forced but flows from being united in Christ.
In this text, Apostle Luke teaches on the necessity of a Spirit-filled, unified community that acts as a contrast to the world. But how can such unity be achieved in this world and now? After all, the early church was persecuted and out of necessity believers needed to be unified and “be connected.” I have a few suggestions to consider:
- PRAY for the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us be unified in Christ
- REPENT of pettiness, grudges, gossip, etc. that grieves the Holy Spirit
- FOCUS on the work that God has called each of us to do
- SHARE with others our love, time, talents, life stories
- STAND beside each other with outstretched, helping hands
As Christians, we should make every effort to love one another and be in the unity of the Spirit. It's not always easy, but it is a testament of how we have been transformed by the Holy Spirit to be one in Him.
Rummaging through my grandmother’s prayer books, I found this prayer written by Rev. B. Jenks in 1646. He, too, was praying for the unity of the Church. Part of it reads:
Lord God…make Thy people one. Whatever be our differences, …may we ever realize that we are all one in Christ Jesus. Let not Satan break the blessed bond of union between believers, but may it be strengthened in our own experience… for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
*Author: Peter Scholtes Words & Music Copyright 1966 F.E.L. Publications. Assigned 1991 The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
