“God’s Good News was spreading rapidly, and there were many new believers”
Acts 12:24
First . . . let the Good News really be Good News for you
Then . . . . . . . let it leak . . . . . . . so that others want in on it
Pastor’s Reflections
By now in Acts it is at least 44 AD (the recorded date of Herod Agrippa’s death) which means at least a dozen years have passed since that first Christian Pentecost. In other words all that we read in Acts, all the miracles, all of God’s sovereign acts of justice, all the power of the Word . . . . all these are spread over many years. What Luke gives is basically an outline of the early history of the church.
My point is this. There was more going on than just a bunch of believers living in daily awe at the power of God. In Chapter 12 James was killed and Peter became a marked man who now fades from the picture. Life was hard. Believers were ostracized, lost their homes, and were expelled from their towns. Many would have a hard time finding employment. You get the picture.
So for them, certainly no less than for us, there was the necessity of living a life of believing when it was hard to keep believing. The Good News of God’s salvation was in them. They were “happy in Jesus” as the old hymn puts it, in spite of the circumstances of their lives. And it leaked.
So, put two and two together: A + B = C
A crummy set of living conditions + Belief that’s incongruently happy = Contagious faith that “infected” more and more and more people.
Wouldn’t you like the Good News to leak from you like that . . . especially when the miracles seem dormant.?
I know of a woman from a previous church whose burden in life is not being persecuted for being a Christian, but rather in living with the daily pain of having been predeceased by 4 sons and a husband all within the last 10 years (one of which who was murdered in Philly some years ago). In your reflection I am reminded of her continued cheerful countenance and faithfulness to God even in the face of such tragedy. She keeps on running the good race even in her brokenness...Instead of resentment (looking back), she wears the "yoke" to fix her eyes on the future promise to be home with them again one day in heaven. Instead of anger, she chooses gentleness. How can one not be inspired her faithfulness? Indeed, her faithfulness has "infected" many!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 2:
ReplyDeleteMost definitely! I so desire to be "leaky". I so desire to give away all that I've experienced in Christ Jesus to those who need to find that joy beyond their circumstances. In review of Acts, it is a reminder not to whine, gripe, complain about my circumstances but look for God moving in the midst of them. It is a reminder that when we confront opposition, seek God for His plan. When we do, miracles will not be dormant. Just hearing His voice in leading us daily is a miracle in itself. It is disturbing to hear many think miracles are dormant. Guess it all depends on how we look at life and God's hand moving.
I like the old saying "what goes in must come out". Question is what's going in us outside of Sunday morning. Check out Galatians 5:13-26. then ask yourself, what's leaking out of me?
ReplyDeleteGood news, there is lots of people to help but I would go to God first in repentance for sin and then ask Him where to go next. He opens doors and helps us close the ones we strugle with. And do not give up, help is just around the corner!