I'm starting in Acts for a few reasons. One it is a book I have always talked about reading and never have actually gotten around to, so why not now. And two I want to get a full picture of Paul, his story; start, conversion, finish.
In 1:7 Jesus says "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority." I think for this summer (and really always) this has been something I particularly struggle with. I like to be in the know. I'm a list maker, a planner, a slightly obsessive compulsive need to know whats going on type person, and so verses like this, they don't sit well with me. It would be so much easier if God could just give me some signs. An email? Maybe a text message or two? Just a 'not to worry, I've got this really'. But that's not the promise God made us. Like He told the Israelites in the desert, He gives us enough for each day, and any amount of me hoarding manna is not going to change the end result.
I see this even when I read His word. I LOVE how God always has a message for us in His word that is unique to the moment that we are in. As I was reading Chapter 2 yesterday I loved David's prayer about the Lord is always before Him, but I wasn't connecting any other dots (am I foreshadowing, hmmm we'll see). When I read Chapter 3 though, I was so struck by how this man begging outside the temple was named Beautiful, Why was he called this? It's not the first name that comes to mind for a man that is crippled. So I went and found my commentary that is packed in one of my many boxes in my room, prepped for the move in a week (the mess is driving me crazy by the way), but unfortunately it didn't have anything to say about this interesting name. bummer.
HOWEVER, it did tie in that pesky chapter 2 that I basically skimmed over. It talked about how yes the Christian community had no problem selling any of their possessions to support one another and so one should have expected Peter and John to definitely give Beautiful a monetary donation, but they didn't. They didn't because they knew that they had something so much better. Peter gave the wholeness that comes through faith in the name of Jesus. I think that wholeness is something we (read I) are always searching for on this earth. And at times we may catch glimpses of it, but that wholeness, that Shalom, I'm waiting for it to hit me like a wave when Jesus takes my hand in heaven. BUT waiting for it doesn't mean I can't have the same insight that Peter had when he knew that he had something better to give than money. And so I pray that through Christ I can help bring that wholeness with me to my new roommates in Maryland, to my new workplace, and to my new community.
The other part of this chapter that I loved was Peter's sass to the crowd after Beautiful got up and walked (I like sass if you haven't seen that theme yet). he asks them (3:12) "Why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we made this man walk?" and today I just felt like he looked into my soul and spoke that to me. Savannah why are you so surprised that God made these last three weeks before you start work so busy? No that wasn't of your own doing, that was done by a loving God that knew if you had too much time on your hands you would drive yourself insane with worry.
Even though God and I didn't talk most of this summer, even though my faith isn't perfect and will never be on this earth, God knows His people. (3:19) "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord". God knows exactly what we need for refreshment in the time we need it. For me this week it was a way to connect with Him (hello Paul and this blog) and some quality time with by best friends in the next few weeks.
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