Real Hope: Love and JusticeSample

The Simple Things

How do we change our world for God? We can learn a lot from the early church. They didn’t have church buildings or TV shows. They didn’t have books or radio programs. They didn’t have seats of power or a public voice. They just loved Jesus and followed Him.

At first, the people of the Roman Empire thought the early Christians were a bit odd. They were called ‘atheists’ because they didn’t worship the Roman gods and then ‘promiscuous’ because of their ‘love feasts’. But soon they came to be known for their incredible acts of kindness. They began to be seen as the ones who healed the sick, lifted up the lowly, and cared for the widows, orphans, and the poor.

What made the church so compelling, such that even the Roman Empire took notice, is the love they showed for each other. You’ll know them by their love, Jesus said. It wasn’t complicated or clever. It was just doing what they’d been called to do. The same thing we’ve been asked to do. Never downplay those simple opportunities to show kindness that come along each day. This is how God changes the world!

Written by Tania Harris