Acts 3
On one of my trips to Haiti I had the
privilege of teaching a group of lay pastors.
Most of them were Lutheran and connected to the pastor we were working
with, but there was one, a young man, who had heard that a course was being
offered and he came. Toward the end of
the week he was missing from class, which surprised me because he was an active
participant. I found out at the end of
the day why he missed.
As we were packing up a commotion arose
and we saw a procession coming down the road of the village. At the head of the parade was the young
pastor. They were dancing, shouting,
singing, and crying, “Alleluia!” Soon
they had all crowded around me and the man began speaking rapidly, and the
interpreter informed me that he was speaking in tongues. Eventually we gleaned that this young man was
saying that God had given him a vision and that I was to take him with me back
to the United States where he was to proclaim the gospel to many people.
I am afraid that I had to disappoint him. The thing he wanted, I could not give
him.
The world often has expectations from
God’s people that are really not what we have to offer them. Much like the beggar that Peter and John
healed, our world looks for us to provide social ministry, care for the poor, and
relief for physical needs. Sometimes parents
bring their children to church to instill morals, surround their children with
positive influence, and to train them to be good. The church contributes mightily in all these
areas and more, but the reality is that these are not the things we have been
blessed with to give.
The greatest thing we have to give is
the message, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted
out,” because God has given us salvation and new life through the death and
resurrection of Jesus. What greater gift
could we offer to anyone than Jesus salvation? We may get distracted from what God has called
us for. While doing good in this world
is important and displays our love for others, God’s forgiveness is what you
have received, and that is what you can give in the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth.
Father, thank you for giving Jesus to save
me. Help me share Him so we may
experience times of refreshment in Him.
Amen.
Comments