Last weekend we visited my in-laws for a birthday catch up. They have a large gravel driveway and with the recent rain, it had developed some substantial puddles. It took up to 10am on Saturday morning before the girls were inexplicably drawn to the puddles. Within seconds they were wildly running through them. And in a few minutes they were covered from head to toe in muddy water as was Uncle Michael's car! It was such a beautiful moment of pure bliss in the eyes of Jessica and Emily. Completely unaware of the issues around their little lives they simply enjoyed the moments pleasure of splashing water and having the sensation of sloppy gravel squelch between their toes. How I wished I could learn to live in the moment too instead of rushing off to get my next job done. Can you relate?
I see this truth in the book of Acts. As the Apostles fearlessly preached the good news of Jesus, it spread profusely through people's hearts and across the nations. When Paul and Barnabas were preaching in Antioch in Pisidia, the people's response was, "When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God - they honoured God's Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region". (Acts 13:48-49, The Message).
New believers in Christ are witness of 'living like you mean it'. They are so full of the Holy Spirit and brimming with joy and excitement of finding and accepting the truth of Jesus in their life that you can't help but be warmed and touched by their love and awe of God. What an amazing experience it would have been for the first Apostles watching hundreds of people being transformed as they accepted Jesus as Christ. To live in that moment would have been extraordinary. But those moments were not just for the early church, they are for us too.
I remember when I became a Christian. After having been lead through Christianity Explained through a person of Student Life at The University of Queensland, I was attending a service at Caboolture Uniting Church when a visiting minister called for anyone who wanted to believe to come to the front. It was time. Years of God whispering to me a had come to this moment and on shaking legs and with a racing heart, I found myself getting up from my seat and out the front. I was the only one who had come out. The minister lead me in my prayer to accept Jesus into my life. And as soon as I did I was overwhelmed by the Spirit. It was a profound and amazing experience for me. I will never forget that rush and joy of making that decision and I am always thankful to God for his love and grace.
I know that many of you that you don't have a definite moment that you can say that's when you became a Christian or the process in becoming a Christian was very gradual. But perhaps you can recall a moment of re-dedication to God or a time when you felt the close presence of God that was pivotal to you. What was that experience like for you? Did it get you fired up for God?
As the years go on I have often forgotten that sense of awe, wonder and love of God I had at first. I had forgotten to live life like I mean it and to live it for God. Do you feel the same? Pray with me in asking God to give us renewed hearts and passion for him.
Dear God,
You are the eternal God, all honor and glory are yours. Because of your great love for me you gave your son Jesus to die in my place for my sins. You endured the suffering of the cross so that I might live and have eternal life through faith in Jesus. Forgive my hard heart that is so easily lured away from you and for the subtle ways I try to control my life. Please give me a longing to be with you and to read your word with renewed passion. By your Spirit, transform my thinking and habits so that it falls in step with your will. Guide me in your ways that I would serve you and build others in faith. Teach me to keep my eyes on you and not on myself. Thank you for loving me. Amen.
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