Some people have accused Christians of living boring lives. If we lose touch with the Jesus of the gospels and of the first church in Acts, then yes I think we can lapse into formal religion…but as I read through Acts 14 it was far from boring!
Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time in Iconium speaking boldly for the Lord and he confirmed their message of grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. (v3)
Even with the signs and wonders the people of the city were divided. Their was tension in the air! (v4)
A crippled man in Lystra had faith to be healed. Paul didn’t pray for healing, he simply looked at him and called out “Stand up on your feet!” (v9)
The crowd were so impressed that they wanted to sacrifice to Paul as a God. (v13, 18)
Suddenly the crowd turned on Paul and stoned him, thinking he was dead (v19)
But Paul “got up and went back into the city” (v20)
Following Jesus is not an easy road (“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God”– v 22) but once we fully surrender to this path it is anything but boring!
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An eight week journey of seeking God as we read.think.pray.live our way through the gospel of John
An Invitation
Please join us during this lead up to Christmas 2009 by doing the four things listed below. Anyone can join at any time throughout this 8 week period although obviously it would be best if you can begin with us on the first of November 2009.
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
2 comments:
A Real Roller Coaster ride! People flocking to hear you one minute - stoning you the next..
The parallels with the Bakers story are there.
I was not surprised to read that when they finally got back to Antioch - they stayed there with the believers for a long time. Resting up no doubt!
Hi Andrew, thanks for your comments; this Blog has been a real lifeline while I've been out of circulation, and the ruminations Gemma and yourself have been a real blessing.
As for the boring Christian life, I think it comes about when we accept Jesus as our Saviour, but not our Lord; we love being redeemed, but don't want to be a living story of redemption ourselves. If you like, we have our boarding pass all ready (thank you, Jesus!), but instead of getting on-board we spend all our time in the departure lounge. Exciting trip with Christ? Or are we happier just to hang-out buying-up the duty-frees?
As Brendan Manning ("Ragamuffin Gospel")puts it, " We secretly admit that the call of Jesus is too demanding, that surrender to the Spirit is beyond our reach. We start acting like everyone else. Life takes on a joyless empty quality."
For me, Acts 14 shows Paul trusting in the Spirit so much that he, “... got up and went back into the city” (v20). He was not content to be bored, but went back into the fray even to the place where he got a quilting for preaching the Word.
Holy Spirit, cause me to become engaged in this world in Your power!
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