So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (Acts 2:46)
You cannot help but be struck by the consistency of these new believers. Their faith was not a part-time endeavor. It was an all-in kind of experience. They were at the church every day and visited one another’s homes for meals on a regular basis. They had a joy and gladness that was evident to everyone.
It is the last little phrase of this verse, however, that causes me pause. Luke records that these new Christians did all that they did with “simplicity of heart.” The dictionary gives the following definition of simplicity – ease, plainness, humility, guilelessness. There is something to be said for keeping it simple and not complicating our faith. The first church did not have a hidden agenda. They simply enjoyed the fellowship and wonder of their newfound faith. It is apparent that this unscattered, focused, singleness of heart had much to do with the stability of their group when you consider the admonition of James:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:5-9 NKJV).
By maintaining a simplicity of heart, they were able to stay single-minded and enjoy a growing, stable, relationship with one another and the Lord.
How much of my faith is complicated by my own agenda? I need to keep the main thing the main thing so that I do not become double minded and miss the stability that is produced by a simplicity of heart.
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