Scripture: “But the word of God increased and multiplied.” Acts 12:24
Observation: There are several episodes and stories going on in Acts and will continue to the end of the book. One thing that will not be found is the Name not being glorified.
Analysis: The stories of Acts 12 are intriguing. With a little imagination there is more than a soap opera being portrayed.
Take for instance Peter being broken out of prison by an angel and at the end Herod getting so ticked off that he had all the guards killed. Tragic.
And then there is the comedy interlude where Peter shows up at the front door and Rhoda gets so excited that Peter is there, she forgets to let him in.
All sorts of scenes are involved with the playing out the Gospel in everyday life.
I remember that the Father has me to pay attention in two things: 1) the little immediate things, and; 2) taking the long view of discipleship.
The little things are all that pertain to godliness and my pursuit of it. Stuff like the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) and the “Put on’s” (Col 3:12-15). There is so much here to explore. It is the intention of “bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Cor &:1b)
It is also “taking the long view” or simply being patient. If something gets missed, confess, repent, and get back up to bat. There is nothing that God is surprised about or is caught unawares by.
I have a personal conviction that that the game of baseball is closer to picturing the posture of a disciple than any other game. What other game can a player fail 7 out of 10 times and go to the Hall of Fame?
I was on a business trip this past week. Although I knew a lot of folks and there was no trouble, I felt alone quite a bit. I missed the local church and biblical friendships. I wondered if other folks felt the same way when they go away?
Was His Name glorified? I am confident that it was so. Was His Name glorified in me? That, I am not too sure of. The next time I travel, will it be different? I am going to do what I can to make it so.
Prayer: Lord God, may Your Word live richly in me and increase, not only in my life as I look in the mirror, but to the people around me. AMEN.