The Passover celebration as was the Feast of Pentecost that is being celebrated by the disciples in Acts 2, were visible times for the Jews. Everyone in the community knew that they were celebrating that they had once been slaves but that they were freed from Egypt by God when they celebrated the Passover for a week. It impacted their work, their family time and their free time. It changed the normal rhythm of their life and the life of the community. If someone needed a bagel from the bakery it may have been closed. People would ask “Why is your bakery closed?” and the owner could have told them.
Because their devotion and consecration was obvious their behavior generated questions from others and gave the Jews an opportunity to explain why they were doing what they were doing. Behaving in ways so to generated questioning from others is a Spiritual Mandate. Peter says this, “Your heart should be holy and set apart for the Lord God. Always be ready to tell everyone who asks you why you believe as you do. Be gentle as you speak and show respect.” 1 Peter 3:15 This Peter you remember is the one who rushes out into the streets and begins preaching to the crowd in Acts 2. A very visible time for the disciples, praying in tongues and such, in the streets.
So the question is, “What are you doing that is so obvious that the people around you are asking you why you are doing it?”
Some examples:
- The celebration of baptism. We invite our friends and families to our baptismal service. Because we are teens or adults they ask, “Why are you getting baptized?” And then we tell them.
But being baptized is a once in a lifetime event. Are there other ways to generate questions?
- How about making choice in your business that lowers your profit level but provides justice for your employees, clients or maybe even your competitors?
- Or could you pray at lunchtime?
- Could you read your Bible during a break?
- What about inviting the socially awkward, friendless person in your school, workplace, neighborhood or church to your home for a meal?
- One man told me they go shopping with their wife as an expression of their devotion to God.
- I know of one person who decided to quit their job so that a coworker would not get fired in a down time. They took the hit so that another person would not. They did that because they felt they were following God’s Spirit (which many times is simply acting according to the character of God) in a particular situation.
These are the kinds of things I am talking about.
[quote author="- Harry Jarrett"]One thing that we know is that visible devotion and consecration by adults in our everyday walk around world leads to visible devotion and consecration by our children and our neighbors in those places as well. Models and mentors are God’s idea and are central for spiritual development in faith communities.[/quote]
So are you concerned about our youth today and the choices they are making? You can make a difference by living in ways that people notice that you are following God’s Spirit in every situation.
Part of 3 things we know – 4 we might not Series
