“Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, ‘Rulers of the people and elders,.. let it be known… that by the name of Jesus Christ, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—this man is standing before you well. Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you… And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. They recognized that they had been with Jesus… They conferred with one another,.. ‘Let us warn them to speak no more in this name.‘ So they… charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.'” Acts 4:8,10-13,15,17-20
Filled and ignited by the Holy Spirit, Peter addressed the curious, annoyed rulers with biting truth: It was by the name of Jesus, the One they’d crucified, that the lifelong lame beggar had been healed. He’d been raised from the dead. Him they’d rejected. In Him alone was salvation. There was no turning back for these disciples trained and transformed by Jesus. They could not help but proclaim the gospel, show forth God’s wonders, and make disciples. Their all-in devotion expressed itself in faithful obedience that became bold, holy compulsion. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 3:1-8)
While we’re constrained by certain parameters of necessity, we do what we choose to do. Driven by demands, pressures, or desire, mostly we speak and act of our own accord. We say we cannot help habitual reflexes, over-indulgence, usage of certain language, expressions of temper, anger, or weepy emotion. I’m wired this way. I can’t turn off the drive. This is who I am. What if every compulsion were infused with and directed by the Spirit of God?
How might our capabilities be used to spread His good news? How might daily living make an eternal difference? How might the Lord transform our mundane and ordinary into spiritually, everlastingly extraordinary? Would we ask to be filled with His spirit and that He direct our paths? (Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 5:18)
What’s my primary passion? Are my energies directed Godward or self-ward?From what could it be said I cannot be held back, for what message can I not be squelched? (Philippians 1:21-25; Colossians 3:23)
“Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.” ~Frances Ridley Havergal (1874)
Lord, define my daily living by attitudes and actions that cannot help but magnify Your gospel and glorify You.
As the rain and snow 