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THE BOOK OF ACTS CONTINUES
The Interests of Others

A Commentary by Constance Vanides

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)

My husband and I enjoy sharing a wonderful experience we encountered several years ago when we were in Texas. We were privileged to worship at a church we had long heard about.

This congregation met "in the round" in a large building on the outskirts of Houston. We were met that Sunday by a downpour of May rain. However, blessings inside also poured down and over the congregation, answering needs in a concrete, as well as Spiritual way.

The Pastor had ended his sermon and an usher presented him with a note. It was a call for help from a woman who had just lost her job as secretary. (The business climate at that time was depressed.) He scarcely finished reading the note aloud when a man in the congregation spoke up and offered the woman the secretarial position that was available with his company! It didn't stop there.

For a half hour or more, it continued, those who needed employment were being matched with employers who had the jobs available! A modern story of the Book of Acts played before us! "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need." (Acts 2:44, 45)

THE CHURCH UNITED

They met together,
men and women of the Church.
Lifted they their voices in praise,
shared sorrows as well.
They spoke of concerns,
and each responded
to one another's cries of help.
Because they met in
unity of the Spirit,
Jesus was in their midst.
It was His compassion,
His love that showered upon them
and gave them peace for the day.
For those moments of time
they were not of the world,
but rather, one with Jesus,
filled with His word and comfort
and fullness of joy.

© Constance Vanides

Jesus continues to care, and rains His compassion down upon the Body of Christ to act with Him in their midst.
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