Saving Power
03 October, 2014
Acts 8:15-16
As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Peter and John left their home of Jerusalem with the intent of laying hands on the the new believers to solidify the group’s faith and baptize them with the Holy Spirit. The believers, which were many, were not all purebred Jews, yet Peter and John recognized the Lord’s equal love for all. Peter and John didn’t see a difference between Gentiles and Jews, as all people are created by and for God. The duo knew that baptizing the group with the Spirit would motivate them to stay strong in the faith through hardships.
In my own life, I sometimes look at people and think, “there’s no way they could ever become a Christian.” I see them drinking, smoking, and partying, and I find myself sticking my nose up at their ignorance. I see teen girls idolizing relationships and compromising their bodies. I saw people cheating on their college finals without a second thought. I see people bowing to false idols in sad adoration. Meanwhile, I’m forgetting that I was recently living that same life. If someone had met me before Jesus became my Lord and Savior, they would never have pinned me a future Christian. I was lost without much hope to be found, proving how real and big the miracles of God can be.
I have a lot of non-Christian friends, and I find I doubt the power of God, thinking they could never find true faith. Because of that, I’m sometimes hesitant to invite them to church, mention an upcoming Bible study, or bring up the Lord. I’m nervous they’ll judge me or persecute me for my faith, and I’m paralyzed in worries that if they saw my faith they’d pin me a Jesus freak.
I must be more open to the saving power of God and remember God actually created these friends of mine, knitting them together in their mother’s womb and planning their lives before their parents even had their first date! Inside every heart lies a desire to know the Lord; everyone wants union with their maker whether it’s conscious thinking or not. Therefore, I should be confident in my walk with Christ and translucent with the change He’s done in my life. Why would any of my friends be attracted to Christianity if I’m hesitant to share it?
Accepting Christ is like having an Abercrombie model as a prom date. You can’t help but show them off and introduce them to everyone! In the same way, I should introduce the saving work of Jesus Christ to everyone I know! Why on Earth would I want to keep the key to eternal life to myself? This is kingdom come! The gates to Heaven are wide open, and all are invited in! Come one, come all!
Peter and John were not hesitant to spread the saving power of the Gospel with all who would listen, serving as an example for Christians throughout eternity. In the same way, I need an open heart to show other’s His grace.
