all believers together and a new van

About two weeks ago we got a new van.  But we didn't go somewhere, pick it out, take out monthly payments, or test drive anything.  No, I turned and looked out my front window one evening and there it was.  Sitting, shiny and bright, in my driveway.  And our friends said to us, it's yours.  

Someone anonymously gave us a van.  Gave. Us. A. Van.  A brand new off the lot 2014 Honda Oddessey.

We were and still are slightly dumbfounded by it all.  Amazed, humbled, thankful...these words hardly scratch the surface of what we've been processing.  I think the only words out of my mouth, through tears, for the first couple of hours were, 

"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!  Who gives someone  a van? Oh my goodness!"

And repeat.  

One beautiful Scripture God has brought to mind as we've been reflecting on this new van is from Acts 2:42-47,

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." 

As we pondered in awe over and over again, who would give us a van?, I found my answer in these verses.  All the believers were together, had everything in common, sold and gave to anyone who had need.  

It is simple and beautiful and in a hard and dark world people are living and breathing the life of Christ with others.  

It makes no difference who has what, who needs more, who has more.  What these believers had in common was devotion to their Savior.  Stuff was interchangeable and dispensable.  The love of Christ was filling their lives.  And it was so clearly evident to others and people were drawn to follow Jesus daily.  And they lived together with glad and sincere hearts.  No comparison, no jealousy, no shame for having less or pride for having more, no "faking" it.  

Sincere, loving, generous hearts.  

Somewhere out there, someone has shown this kind of living to us.  This kind of sincere, loving, and generous heart.  We didn't do something to deserve this gift; just as we don't deserve the kindness and mercy of God towards us.  But He is Good and He is Love.  And so we thank Him and ask that we might live our lives with sincere hearts that seek more for His glory than worldly pleasures.  

And to the one who gave us a van, we say thank you.  Thank you for your gift and thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to us.