Christianity Should Look Pretty Amazing
Acts 3:7-11 (NLT)
“then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often . . . they were absolutely astounded! Acts 3:7-11 (NLT)
Pastor’s Blog
What is there about Christianity that astounds the people you know?
I think this is a really humbling question to consider. Frankly, there are times when I can’t think of anyone on the outside who is particularly impressed with what they see of God in me or in the Christian church.
The instantaneous healing of the lame man was really impressive. Anyone would be impressed seeing a cripple suddenly begin to dance around. Because of this, the now healed man was really, really happy. He joined Peter and John for church! Everyone who knew him now knew both the before and after. He was lame and now he could walk.
Somehow each of us and all of us together should keep in the front of our minds what our “before God’s salvation” looked like and what our “after salvation” now looks like. We ourselves should be able to see some difference, be really, really happy about it, and then let it show. The overflow of the lame man’s healing touched many others.
Does your life have an “overflow” aspect to it? If not, do not fall into self criticism, rather take this observation to the Lord, believing there is something more he wants to do in you.
(to post your thoughts, anonymously if you wish, simply click on “comments” below)
The Good News: Only my wife knows the me “before God’s salvation”.
ReplyDeleteThe Bad News: Almost everyone else knows the me “after salvation” and so they see no benefit in Christianity.
My Dilemna: Must I talk about the me “before God’s salvation”? I really do not want to go there ever again.
At Sunday School after the 9 AM service, one man asked why we see so few, if any, "signs and wonders". Another man said that the first part of Acts 2:43 required a fear-in-the-soul which he said was a reverential awe of God and that was mostly absent. Another said because we have made God into only a Friend. Another man said because we are grieving the Spirit . . . another said grieving the Spirit as a nation, in politics, in media, in business, in school, at home (TV, movies, etc), everywhere! If all this is true, is America going the way of apostate Europe? And so what has to happen to turn around?
ReplyDeleteWhy should we even try to understand why there are not 'signs & wonders'? Seems ludicrous and arrogant to me to question this.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it wise or beneficial to think we should presume first of all that there should even be 'signs & wonders' in this age, or to try and guess why we aren't clued into them.
It seems to me the thoughts above come from a negative way of thinking. Why?
And seeing God 'only' as a friend? Jesus gave His life so we may advance into brotherhood with Him, if this isn't supposed to be where we set our hope and 100% of our 'awe', something isn't right. Maybe this thought is coming from a human, distorted view of 'friendship'.