Amazement: Part 1

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                          Acts 2:7

Amazement: Part 1

by Robert T. Cooper

Nothing much seems to amaze people any more. Even technological innovations are expected 3 or 4 times each year. We have raised the bar so many times and it is so high that average has become a failure.

Even the word “amazing” has been cheapened, along with “awesome” and a host of other words that used to be superlatives. There simply aren’t any true superlatives left.

So, what is called amazing today? Something having to do with mazes. A reality show, The Amazing Race. Even though the song “Amazing Grace” is still popular, folks no longer contemplate that grace and why it was called amazing all those years ago.

Still the crowd that came from at least 15 nations, and each one heard the 120 speaking in his own language, was amazed, but not by what you might think. They were amazed that those they heard speaking the languages were all Galileans.

You have to understand, Galileans were not the sophisticated city folks of Judea. They were good ol’ boys and girls from the country up north. Why, they may have been Jews but they lived on the far side of where the (pesky) Samaritans lived! Just about everyone in those days could speak Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin, and Koine Greek at a minimum. But the heart languages of people from all those 15 countries? A Judean might have learned one of those languages, but no one could imagine a circumstance in which a Galilean would.

Those foreign visitors on Pentecost didn’t know what we have perhaps learned: God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are. (I Corinthians 1:27 – 28) Amazing!

So don’t look down on those who seem foolish, weak, lowly, despised, or nothing. God is just likely to use those folks to accomplish His purposes.

Please comment on experiences in which God used the foolish, etc., to accomplish His purposes. Personal illustrations are welcome.

Quo Vadis?

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                          Acts 1:8

Quo Vadis?

by Robert T. Cooper

Quo vadis? Where are you going? The quote comes from an old novel about the life of the Apostle Peter. You might want to look it up and read it. Peter had a mission, a place in life God was taking him. He knew where he needed to go and what he needed to do. Yet, as God is wont to do, it was a difficult mission, one that could only be seen through to the end with the Lord’s help. Peter started to leave so he would not have to continue to the end of his mission. Only God wouldn’t let Peter do that. He confronted Peter. When Peter confessed and repented, the Lord gave him the strength he needed to see his mission through to the end.

You and I have been brought into the Lord’s mission, the mission to take the Gospel to everyone everywhere. When we placed our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, He gave us His Holy Spirit to live within us. When the Holy Spirit came upon us, we were commissioned to be witnesses to the saving power of Christ. We are to be witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” That is commonly interpreted as starting where you are, and then moving outward to neighboring areas until the entire world is reached.

Is this out of the comfort zone of most? Yes! Can anyone do it in his own strength? No!

So we are confronted with the questions of where we are going and of what are we doing as we go. Are we being witnesses where we are? Are we witnessing to ever-broadening areas as guided by the Holy Spirit? Do we witness to our social media “friends”? How is the Holy Spirit using us to get out the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ?

Don’t let yourself off the hook. Ask the Lord whether He is satisfied with your faithfulness to the mission. Ask where and how He wants you to witness today. Who knows? Perhaps you will be amazed at the places He will take you.

Questions:

1.      Are you a witness where you are?

2.      Are you witnessing to ever-broadening areas as guided by the Holy Spirit?

3.      Do you witness to your social media “friends”?

4.      How is the Holy Spirit using you to get out the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ?