Isn’t it interesting that the first believers in Jesus “became stronger because they lived in the fear of the Lord”? Not only did that early church in Jerusalem grow in numbers, but very quickly those disciples took this “Good News” to neighboring towns and then to the Gentiles (people who were different from them). It is quite an amazing story. It makes me think that the outward evidence of their inward faith and hope in Jesus was both attractive and admirable. It was surely powerful and persuasive. It was convicting and contagious. It was clearly the Holy Spirit at work, using the people of God to make known the His love demonstrated through His one and only Son, Jesus. May it be so in my life and in community at this time in history, too.
