Random Reflections
I just finished my journey thought Acts. Here are a few reflections. There was such a "sense of urgency" for these early believers. There was nothing passive about the way they approached life or God. I had never noticed it before, but the jailkeeper in Acts 16 who was assigned to guard Paul and Silas didn't just get saved...evidently he and his family got baptized in the middle of the night. What does that say about the importance of baptism? They didn't even wait till daybreak! That is intriguing to me.
Acts 17:16 says, "While Paul was waiting for them (Silas and Timothy) in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols." He could have viewed his waiting as "down time." He could have kicked back. But Paul impacted the city of Athens because he didn't view "waiting" as non-productive time. I'm sure he could has justified non-action. I deserve a break. I'm going to "lay low" until Silas and Timothy show up. But Dionysius and Damaris are among those whose lives were changed because Paul redeemed the time he had to wait for Silas and Timothy to show up. What if we viewed all of our "waiting" as opportunities to share our faith? What if we viewed waiting in line at the store or waiting in the doctor's office or waiting at the airport as opportunities instead of inconveniences. Just a thought that has challenged me today.
Acts 18:18 and Acts 19:19 are two keys verses in my spiritual praxis. Acts 18:18 says, "Before he sailed, Paul had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken." I think we've got to find creative and meaningful ways of making and keeping vows that challenge us spiritually. It is a way of keeping it fresh and mixing it up! I think that is a vital part of spiritual growth. The reason it's so meaningful to me right now is because I'm experimenting with spirtiual disciplines this year and we're in a ten day "experiment" called our "Pentecost Fast." I can actually see this Pentecost Fast becoming part of my annual rhythm--a season each year where I'm focused on being refilled with God's Spirit. I know it's a daily thing, but we also need special seasons set aside to seek God. I feel more full of the Spirit and more sensitive to the Spirit because of this fast. And I think that is what Pentecost is all about. Here's the bottom line: when you're full of the Spirit ACTS happens!
I love Acts 19:19 too. "A number who had practiced scorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachma." I did the math a few years ago and I think it equaled about $50 million in today's money. I think we've got to find ways to physically symbolize what is happening spiritually. We try to do that with some of our club events and retreats. We want "physical rituals" that make spiritual experiences more memorable!
Acts 19:18 says that those who repented "openly confessed." Can I make an observation? I say this every time someone has the courage to confess. Whenever someone confesses sin in their life I always tell them that my respect always goes up not down. Most people are afraid of confessing because it might "change the way people think about them." I've been around long enough to know that everybody has secret sins. Everybody has things they feel shame-full about. So when someone confesses sexual sin or harmful choices they've made or bad attitudes I'm never surprised. It doesn't lessen my opinion of them. It increases my respect. I think the enemy wants us to suffer in silence and shame. Confession breaks the power of the enemy!
Acts 17:16 says, "While Paul was waiting for them (Silas and Timothy) in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols." He could have viewed his waiting as "down time." He could have kicked back. But Paul impacted the city of Athens because he didn't view "waiting" as non-productive time. I'm sure he could has justified non-action. I deserve a break. I'm going to "lay low" until Silas and Timothy show up. But Dionysius and Damaris are among those whose lives were changed because Paul redeemed the time he had to wait for Silas and Timothy to show up. What if we viewed all of our "waiting" as opportunities to share our faith? What if we viewed waiting in line at the store or waiting in the doctor's office or waiting at the airport as opportunities instead of inconveniences. Just a thought that has challenged me today.
Acts 18:18 and Acts 19:19 are two keys verses in my spiritual praxis. Acts 18:18 says, "Before he sailed, Paul had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken." I think we've got to find creative and meaningful ways of making and keeping vows that challenge us spiritually. It is a way of keeping it fresh and mixing it up! I think that is a vital part of spiritual growth. The reason it's so meaningful to me right now is because I'm experimenting with spirtiual disciplines this year and we're in a ten day "experiment" called our "Pentecost Fast." I can actually see this Pentecost Fast becoming part of my annual rhythm--a season each year where I'm focused on being refilled with God's Spirit. I know it's a daily thing, but we also need special seasons set aside to seek God. I feel more full of the Spirit and more sensitive to the Spirit because of this fast. And I think that is what Pentecost is all about. Here's the bottom line: when you're full of the Spirit ACTS happens!
I love Acts 19:19 too. "A number who had practiced scorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachma." I did the math a few years ago and I think it equaled about $50 million in today's money. I think we've got to find ways to physically symbolize what is happening spiritually. We try to do that with some of our club events and retreats. We want "physical rituals" that make spiritual experiences more memorable!
Acts 19:18 says that those who repented "openly confessed." Can I make an observation? I say this every time someone has the courage to confess. Whenever someone confesses sin in their life I always tell them that my respect always goes up not down. Most people are afraid of confessing because it might "change the way people think about them." I've been around long enough to know that everybody has secret sins. Everybody has things they feel shame-full about. So when someone confesses sexual sin or harmful choices they've made or bad attitudes I'm never surprised. It doesn't lessen my opinion of them. It increases my respect. I think the enemy wants us to suffer in silence and shame. Confession breaks the power of the enemy!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home