Acts 4: 32-37

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.

    When I read this passage it reminded me of a utopian society where everyone works together and actively seeks out ways to better others who may not have as much. I then take a look at our world now and it makes me really sad to see how far we have fallen from what God first created this world to be like. With all the recent events, it has been hard to see the positivity in everything and the news has been extremely overwhelming. First off, we are all in a global pandemic and it has affected all of us in different ways- whether it meant losing jobs, poor health care, or even taking a look at Yemen and how absolutely devastating the situation is over there. Then with the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement and all the horrific tragedies surrounding it, it almost seems like things can only get worse. However, although our world is nothing like what God has intended it to be, He has made a way for us to go back to that perfect world He intended to create. Our hope is in Jesus. 

    That may sound so cliche, but it's the absolute truth. The Bible says in Romans 8:37 that we are "more than conquerors through Him (God) who loved us," we are able to face struggles and adversities BECAUSE of Christ Jesus. Whenever I go through difficult times, I'm always comforted with the thought that I will only fall as far as Christ will allow me and that He understands my hardships because Christ in all His glory CHOSE to become a human and live life on this Earth before dying a gruesome death to save me and to be able to relate to me. Jesus understands hunger and sickness and hatred and racism and He embraced all of that and in return showed love and compassion and mercy. I want to take all this negativity that I am faced with and throw back love because that's what our Savior does.