"And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,..." (Acts 1:15)
Going through Acts again. I have noticed something about the Book of Acts. It tells us of the "super stars" of the faith, but very little is said about the "average" Church member, the person like you and me who love Jesus, go about our daily lives, many of us going to places of employment, raising children, enjoying grandchildren, paying bills. There is a phenomenon in modern Christendom among the "super stars," however, which subtly (or not so subtly) leads people to believe that all Believers in the Early Church were running all over the "Empire," preaching every day, on endless "mission trips," seeing multitudes saved, healed, demons cast out, called to go to a centurion's house, etc. I have no proof, but I sense that was not the case.
Then we go through the "post persecution" centuries of the Church, the Middle Ages. Of course there were groups of those who saw the Church straying from its Biblical roots, prophesied to the Church, and were subsequently persecuted. Then there was the Reformation, which ushered in a whole new era in Christendom, viz., more and more division. What are we to make of all this? What was the daily life like for the "average" Follower of Jesus? Perhaps it was not unlike ours. Now I know some would say, "Well, we need to get our act together and see people, 'added to the church daily,' and meeting together every day, and attend more conferences, and...."
Until then, we live for Jesus; obey His commands; "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Pray and live, "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven." And keep our eyes and hearts open to humanity around us. We pray for and look for the opportunities to serve Jesus to them. I'm sure, "the number of names," which are not mentioned in our text, "the number of names," of the people in Colossae, Thessoloniki, Philippi, were not a whole lot unlike you and me, humble folk, going about daily life, walking in Jesus, "The Light of the World," Who said to you and me, "You are the salt of the earth....You are the light of the world." So do.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I don't want to conform to the image of the "super stars," just, "conformed to the image of [Your] Son," Jesus. Amen.
****************
Obama's State Department rips on PM Netanyahu's speech at the UN: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
