“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.’” Acts 2:38a.
The crowd responded to Peter’s message at the Festival, celebrating Pentecost, by asking what they should do. They were obviously under conviction and desired to respond with some sort of action. Peter gives a clear and simple, yet profound, response, saying “repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” It is difficult, though, for us not to get too religious with the terminology in this simple phrase. And my challenge to us today is to try to “unwrap” some of the stained glass mentality from these very practical terms that we’ve tended to make so religious.
What terms, you might ask? “Repent”, “baptized”, “name of Jesus Christ”, “forgiveness”, and “sins” are the terms that I am referring to. And my thought is that we take some time to try to think of these terms in regular-to-life relations. Depending on how deeply you are embedded within the traditions of your church, it may take a great deal of work. Please, do not think that I am attempting to “bash” or bad mouth the church or any local expression that she might have. My heart in this is to help each of us, in this short time, to think of these terms in normal, every-day life and relationships. And my plan is to take a few of these writings to challenge us.
Our first word, “repent”, probably springs up some meaning and, quite possibly, some emotion within our hearts and minds. For me, it refers to a turning around or changing of direction. For example, when I am driving somewhere and get lost, once I realize that I don’t know where I am and find out proper directions, I “repent”; that is, I change the direction of where I am going and attempt to head off in the correct direction. Now, I realize that real men do not ask for directions, but on occasion, I have needed to make those kind of adjustments. Now in the direction of my life, I also realize that I have needed to make mid-course direction changes and adjustments – some major and some less so. I have needed to “repent” more than once. In fact, I have needed to do this many times. How about you?
What does “repent” mean to you? For me, repentance is not just making a mental ascent to something; it requires action. It requires changes in my life and my lifestyle. How about you? Is there something in your life today that you need to repent of? What is stopping you?
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
September 13, 2007
“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” Acts 2:37.
After Peter finished proclaiming the message that God had given him to share that morning, the listening crowd was “cut to the heart” by what they had heard. They were convicted to the core of who they were. Yes, it was the words that Peter spoke. It was, also, the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, who had just that morning been poured out in a new and fresh way. God had given Peter the words to share and the courage to stand and speak, and the Holy Spirit worked on the hearts of his audience. And the crowd’s question was quite natural, out of this convicted heart: “Brothers, what shall we do?” They did not know what response to give. They wanted to respond, but did not know what to do next. That is what conviction by the Holy Spirit does.
When I speak on my own power, which, it seems, I do quite often, it does not cut to anyone’s heart. And I must admit that I am very disappointed. Yet, when I speak, out of obedience, the words that God has given me to share at any given moment, God, through His Holy Spirit, is working – convicting or doing whatever work He so desires. I am certain that most of us, if not all of us, have been “touched” by the power of eloquent words. And yet, it did not move us to any significant change. It may have touched our emotions or “tickled” our intellect, but it did not “cut us to the heart.” On the other hand, most of us have heard a speaker that was moved by the power of the Holy Spirit because of the fruit that God bore in our lives and the lives of others around us. We were “cut to the heart.” The message may or may not have been really eloquent, but we knew that something hit us.
When we share a message, all that we can do is say the words and live it out in our lives. God is the giver of the message in both our words and our actions, and we are called to obey in both. We cannot “cut to the heart” of anyone else, with what we say or do. Only God can do that convicting work. We are called to be obedient, which is all that Peter did: he obeyed.
Take some time today to think about the message that we proclaim through our words and our lives. Are we trying to do the work that only God can do, that is, to “cut to the heart” of those around us? That may come across as too “preachy”. And yet, there are times when we need to stand with courage, just like Peter, and speak as clearly as we can, proclaiming the goodness and mercy of God. How obedient are you in this? And yet, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to “cut to the heart” of those around us, just like He does to our own. It is one of those tensions in life.
After Peter finished proclaiming the message that God had given him to share that morning, the listening crowd was “cut to the heart” by what they had heard. They were convicted to the core of who they were. Yes, it was the words that Peter spoke. It was, also, the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, who had just that morning been poured out in a new and fresh way. God had given Peter the words to share and the courage to stand and speak, and the Holy Spirit worked on the hearts of his audience. And the crowd’s question was quite natural, out of this convicted heart: “Brothers, what shall we do?” They did not know what response to give. They wanted to respond, but did not know what to do next. That is what conviction by the Holy Spirit does.
When I speak on my own power, which, it seems, I do quite often, it does not cut to anyone’s heart. And I must admit that I am very disappointed. Yet, when I speak, out of obedience, the words that God has given me to share at any given moment, God, through His Holy Spirit, is working – convicting or doing whatever work He so desires. I am certain that most of us, if not all of us, have been “touched” by the power of eloquent words. And yet, it did not move us to any significant change. It may have touched our emotions or “tickled” our intellect, but it did not “cut us to the heart.” On the other hand, most of us have heard a speaker that was moved by the power of the Holy Spirit because of the fruit that God bore in our lives and the lives of others around us. We were “cut to the heart.” The message may or may not have been really eloquent, but we knew that something hit us.
When we share a message, all that we can do is say the words and live it out in our lives. God is the giver of the message in both our words and our actions, and we are called to obey in both. We cannot “cut to the heart” of anyone else, with what we say or do. Only God can do that convicting work. We are called to be obedient, which is all that Peter did: he obeyed.
Take some time today to think about the message that we proclaim through our words and our lives. Are we trying to do the work that only God can do, that is, to “cut to the heart” of those around us? That may come across as too “preachy”. And yet, there are times when we need to stand with courage, just like Peter, and speak as clearly as we can, proclaiming the goodness and mercy of God. How obedient are you in this? And yet, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to “cut to the heart” of those around us, just like He does to our own. It is one of those tensions in life.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
September 6, 2007
“’Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’” Acts 2:36.
In continuing his speech to the crowd that Pentecost morning, Peter gives this incredibly broad picture of God’s plan. He is proclaiming to “all Israel” – not just the audience present that day or even all Jews during his life time – from beginning of their history down through our present time (and beyond), that God made this Jesus, the Nazarene, the long-awaited Messiah. There was no need to wait any longer. God sent Him, He had done what He was sent to do, and now Jesus was lifted up by God, the Father, to be “Lord and Christ”, the Promised One, the long-awaited Messiah. Peter did a wonderful job to clearly and succinctly state this sweeping plan of God. And, as we have seen thus far in our walk through the book of Acts, and as we shall continue to see, Peter lives his life in harmony to this plan, as best that he can. He doesn’t just give the talk; he does all that he can to live with integrity the plan that God has laid out for him.
As I think about Peter, living his life in a consistent manner with the plan of God, I consider whether or not I, too, live with consistency the plan of God in my life. Unfortunately, I come up wanting. I see that there are inconsistencies. I see that, on occasion (probably more that I care to realize!), my plans run in conflict with God’s. The positive side of this is that I have plenty to identify and to work on.
We may have our intentions; we may have our plans, but God will have His way and His plan. As for Israel, they are still looking for the Messiah after 2000 years, and yet God has displayed His Messiah for the whole world to see. That was how their plans conflicted with God’s plan and activity. And Peter was clear in pointing out how God was going to have His way, no matter their plans. The same is true with you and me. What do you suppose is going to happen when our plans do not line up with His?
Take some time today to think about the plan(s) of your life. How do your plans line up with God’s? What are your intentions, and are they consistent with what God is doing in your world? What are you doing to make sure that you are seeking His plan and following through with it? It is important for each of us to not just think about how to think right, but to process just how it will affect our actions. How will you live out your life and walk out each day?
In continuing his speech to the crowd that Pentecost morning, Peter gives this incredibly broad picture of God’s plan. He is proclaiming to “all Israel” – not just the audience present that day or even all Jews during his life time – from beginning of their history down through our present time (and beyond), that God made this Jesus, the Nazarene, the long-awaited Messiah. There was no need to wait any longer. God sent Him, He had done what He was sent to do, and now Jesus was lifted up by God, the Father, to be “Lord and Christ”, the Promised One, the long-awaited Messiah. Peter did a wonderful job to clearly and succinctly state this sweeping plan of God. And, as we have seen thus far in our walk through the book of Acts, and as we shall continue to see, Peter lives his life in harmony to this plan, as best that he can. He doesn’t just give the talk; he does all that he can to live with integrity the plan that God has laid out for him.
As I think about Peter, living his life in a consistent manner with the plan of God, I consider whether or not I, too, live with consistency the plan of God in my life. Unfortunately, I come up wanting. I see that there are inconsistencies. I see that, on occasion (probably more that I care to realize!), my plans run in conflict with God’s. The positive side of this is that I have plenty to identify and to work on.
We may have our intentions; we may have our plans, but God will have His way and His plan. As for Israel, they are still looking for the Messiah after 2000 years, and yet God has displayed His Messiah for the whole world to see. That was how their plans conflicted with God’s plan and activity. And Peter was clear in pointing out how God was going to have His way, no matter their plans. The same is true with you and me. What do you suppose is going to happen when our plans do not line up with His?
Take some time today to think about the plan(s) of your life. How do your plans line up with God’s? What are your intentions, and are they consistent with what God is doing in your world? What are you doing to make sure that you are seeking His plan and following through with it? It is important for each of us to not just think about how to think right, but to process just how it will affect our actions. How will you live out your life and walk out each day?
Saturday, September 1, 2007
August 30, 2007
“’Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.’” Acts 2:33.
Peter, in his discourse during the Pentecost Festival, attempts to explain the unusual events of the morning, with its strange languages and many tongues expressing praises of God. He states that what has happened is that God has sent His promised Holy Spirit, now that Jesus, His Son, has returned to the Father’s right hand of Kingdom Rulership.
This verse is really full of thoughts for each of us to consider. Here are a few that will, hopefully, help you with the process. For instance, consider what is the significance of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God? Would the Holy Spirit have been released otherwise? What is the significance of the Holy Spirit being released throughout the world?
As for me, I believe that Jesus’ return to His Father is very significant, even crucial, in that He fulfilled every expectation that the Father had for Him, in His mission among humanity. Jesus provided the most perfect way – “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” – for every person to return to the Father. His obedience and submission to the Father, and His plan, provided this way. While Jesus provided the way to the Father, the Holy Spirit provided the means to the Father, by virtue of His presence anyway and everywhere, and at all times. Jesus, Himself, said that it was better for Him to return to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could now come to do His mission. The Spirit is the presence of the Father and of the Son with us at all times, circumstances, and situations. God is ever-present and ever-personal because of the Holy Spirit.
I realize that this is a terribly unjust over-simplification of God’s activity in the world through the Holy Spirit. My purpose is to get us thinking about the third person of what we call the Trinity – the Holy Spirit. Here is my bottom-line question for us to consider today: What are you doing to enable the Holy Spirit’s activity in your life? Take today to consider how you are partnering with the Holy Spirit in your world.
Peter, in his discourse during the Pentecost Festival, attempts to explain the unusual events of the morning, with its strange languages and many tongues expressing praises of God. He states that what has happened is that God has sent His promised Holy Spirit, now that Jesus, His Son, has returned to the Father’s right hand of Kingdom Rulership.
This verse is really full of thoughts for each of us to consider. Here are a few that will, hopefully, help you with the process. For instance, consider what is the significance of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God? Would the Holy Spirit have been released otherwise? What is the significance of the Holy Spirit being released throughout the world?
As for me, I believe that Jesus’ return to His Father is very significant, even crucial, in that He fulfilled every expectation that the Father had for Him, in His mission among humanity. Jesus provided the most perfect way – “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” – for every person to return to the Father. His obedience and submission to the Father, and His plan, provided this way. While Jesus provided the way to the Father, the Holy Spirit provided the means to the Father, by virtue of His presence anyway and everywhere, and at all times. Jesus, Himself, said that it was better for Him to return to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could now come to do His mission. The Spirit is the presence of the Father and of the Son with us at all times, circumstances, and situations. God is ever-present and ever-personal because of the Holy Spirit.
I realize that this is a terribly unjust over-simplification of God’s activity in the world through the Holy Spirit. My purpose is to get us thinking about the third person of what we call the Trinity – the Holy Spirit. Here is my bottom-line question for us to consider today: What are you doing to enable the Holy Spirit’s activity in your life? Take today to consider how you are partnering with the Holy Spirit in your world.
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