(I’ve decided in order to keep a song in my heart and out of love for my NY theatre community,
I should name my blogs after showtunes. So for all three of you who will understand their references, enjoy
J)
Cameron’s thoughts on recent Bible study discussions and general stream of consciousness…
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4: 31)
… Well, maybe it was easier to be bold in Peter and John’s time and not care what people thought of them. Today people won’t stone me for proclaiming the Gospel (at least not in this country), but they sure won’t think I’m intelligent or “cool”. Peter and John were revolutionaries and saw people saved by the thousands, so of course it was easy to be bold with that kind of return for your work!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel…” (Romans 1:16)… But by the way I live my daily life, it would seem as though I am. And why? Why does it seem easier to reach out to the broken and lost in other nations, but down right uncomfortable and terrifying to share the love of Jesus to the woman who serves me coffee every day or the stranger at the table next to me or the friend I see at work every day?
“With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them: ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.'” (Acts 2:40) Peter, an
unschooled,
ordinary man, stood up in front of a crowd of
thousands and gave account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. He even threw in scriptures and prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. Peter didn’t worry about being intelligent enough, being well versed or speaking properly. He didn’t use lots of analogies, tell jokes, or have all the answers. He just got up there and
told his story (Acts 2:14-41). He simply stood in front of the crowd and gave a chronological account of
Jesus’ life. And “about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (v. 41)
Three thousand?! Why do we not see these kinds of wonders today? Do huge revivals and miracles and healings still exist? Of course! I challenge you, if you wonder why “religion” as we know it today seems so unreal, so lifeless; read the book of Acts. God desires today’s church to be just as empowered and alive as it was then, and He can use even ME and YOU to reveal His love to the world and see three thousand lives, even more, change at once! I don’t even have to have all the answers (because Lord knows I still have so many questions!). All I have to do is get up and tell His story, my story.
Be bold. Be obedient. Be real. Just…be.
…
do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:11)
“And he touched me
And I let him love me
So let that be my story”
