the adequate response is…
I’m walking home. I don’t understand the mess I just witnessed.
A man I admired, loved and looked up to… a man I was convinced was sent by God himself was tortured and murdered in the street… and it seemed like everyone was OK with this?!?! How could I possibly stand up against the masses?
A man joined us… still reeling from our thoughts about the chaos… we shared with him, about the man who was just brutally killed. By the end of the day, my companion and I broke bread with the very man who had died.
I commonly hear people discuss about how shameful it was for Jesus’ disciples to deny him, to turn him over to authorities… but what about this journey back home? When I put myself into the position of watching the crucifixion, I can actually view with compassion that there really wasn’t much anyone could have done… besides the fact that it needed to happen to fulfill scripture.
I think what happens, now, after his death and resurrection, is more telling of the nature of the disciples…. and us. They had been witnesses to the greatest story to ever be told. Would they go on to tell it? Would they be safe to tell it? Do you feel safe to share it?
So far, I feel safe to share it.
that’s good news, for sure… would you feel safe on the streets of Bagdad, in the prisons of North Korea, and as we pray for these believer’s in these countries what can we gleen from these stories in Acts?
Cindy,
Good question.
If the Lord specifically says that I need to preach in the prisons of North Korea or on the streets of Baghdad, I’m His man. I’d do it without a moment’s hesitation. Whether I lived or died would not be a problem to me, but rather, I’d want to obey Him.
Now on the way there, my mind would be screaming, “Are you nuts? What are you doing?”
But one thing I’ve learned over the years is that the grace needed to fulfill His commands will be there when I arrive in the prisons or on the streets of Baghdad. It’s His grace which will make me strong, not my muscles.
This is how Paul and Peter and the other apostles obeyed the call of God on their lives. They recklessly obeyed, knowing God would be there in the midst of their battles. All except one of the first twelve apostles died as martyrs. Only John lived to an old age.
I wish there was a ‘like’ button, like in facebook! : )
I would hope,to have the grace needed. I find more each day, how much more, I rely on His grace. Very good piece Cindy.