Once again I find myself looking into a mirror that reveals the necessity for change. It is encouraging that when I open God's word that it is truly alive and active, pointing out the areas in my heart that are still darkened by sin & selfishness. But at the same time it is disheartening, it seems like I will never fully become like Christ.
When I read through these two chapters the obvious is the miracles; salvation for the gentiles and Peter's incredible escape.
What I see in chapter 11 is awesome, we see the circumcised believers criticizing Peter for telling the uncircumcised about Christ. In our world that is just an odd picture, how would you determine who has been circumcised or not, maybe I haven't been circumcised but I tell you that I have; who's checking? That's not the miracle, but what is the miracle is that men were willing to accept others that were not like them. The loved and lived in such harmony that they were willing to live life learning.
Romans 15:7 says "Accept one another, then, just as Christ has accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
In chapter 12 we see Peter's great escape take place, now that's cool, but what I love about the story is that the one's that were at home praying, were praying so intensely that when the prayer was delivered, literally at their doorstep, they didn't even recognize it. They were so caught up in seeking God that they told Rhoda that she was out of her mind.
Imagine being so lost in God's presence that what you started praying for was no longer the reason why you prayed. They loved God! They experienced a movement of God that had completely revolutionized their lives. They were living in a time when miracle's were common, salvation was expected, freedom was known, provision just happened. They trusted God; He was the source, He satisfied, He open's prison doors, He sets the captive free, He is!
Which lead's me to my final thought.
When is the last time I sought God not for what He can do, but for who He is? When is the last time I worshipped with abandonment, not so that I could gain something but just because I love Him?
These men and women learned to live life continuously learning. God make me a learner!
I see how even in good and bad situations God is in control. It says that those that were scattered by the death of Stephen started preaching to others and telling them about Christ. Even though the death of Stephen was horrible it Brought the good news about Christ even further.
ReplyDeletePersecution drove the church to go where they didn’t think possible and to whom they never imagined. It was after this that they begin to be aware that God has a BIG plan and a big heart for all of humanity. The church was facing opposition, famine, bad government, death and yet the Message would not stop! These men and women were dangerous b/c they were willing to do anything (even part with their previous religion and current customs) to see God’s will be done. There may be no bigger threat to Satan than a person who believes that Jesus is everything and views life through the scope of eternity. I believe this kind of living is what I and we (the church) are called to. What’s it going to take? Everything and nothing less will do.
ReplyDelete"The biggest problem with Christians today is that no one wants to kill them anymore." – Soren Kierkegaard
In these passages we see that the infiltration of God into the lives of the believers was irresistible. They could not resist the need to tell people about Jesus and what He had done for them.
ReplyDeleteThe adverse conditions just fortified their resolve by giving them a reason to press on. It seems that when those who have a strong belief in something, opposition only makes them want to believe even more and tell others, or act on that belief.
That's what we see here. Nothing was going to stop the believers; not prison, not Herod, not in-fighting, nothing. They were determined to move forward, telling all those who would listen.
Lord, give me that unstoppable determination.
JV