[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Tuesday June 6, 2006

[bludwig at zlc-aa.org]

Daily Devotions  Monday, June 5, 2006

This is the week that follows the day of Pentecost. It is the season of the
Holy Spirit who transforms God's people with energy into people of the
Kingdom of God. What does the Spirit breathe into us? This week Pastor
Ludwig will explore that question.

 

Acts 2: 13-20

But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."  But Peter,
standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and  addressed them, "Men of
Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this  be known to you, and give
ear to my words.  For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is
only the third  hour of the day;  but this is what was spoken by the prophet
Joel:  And in the last days it shall be, God declares,  that I will pour out
my Spirit upon all flesh,  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,  and your old men shall dream dreams;
yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out
my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.  And I will show wonders in the heaven
above and signs on the earth beneath,  blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood,  before the
day of the Lord comes.

 

Weird World

Some years after a Sunday worship service  as I was greeting members on
their way out of church, one man said to me, “Pastor, do you really believe
what you said in the sermon?”  I was not certain where this was going but
looking into his eyes of disbelief I answered, “Yes, I do.”  With a pitying
face he said, “Here’s the problem Pastor; unlike you, when I go out this
door, I have to live in the real world.”   Since that day I have often
wondered where parishioners think I live? In the church belfry?  Move over
Quasimodo, Barry’s coming! 

 

The truth is that when we live Pentecost-lives people will often think that
we live in our own weird little world.  The people of Jerusalem thought that
the disciples had retreated into the world of alcohol, as they openly spoke
about the Lord Jesus.  When you begin to live for Christ, there will be many
who will think you are strange. And in truth you will be.  In our world of
instant self-gratification,  you ARE weird if instead of buying that new
Hi-Def flat screen TV you give sacrificially to an after school program for
low income families.  If your personal politics are focused upon human need
more than upon the price of a gallon of gas, you will be asked, “what world
are you from, Mars?”

 

Those who love Jesus, are truly from a different world. They dream dreams
and see visions of a world that is measured by justice and weighed by a hope
that proclaims, “Christ is Risen indeed, Alleluia!”  Today the Holy Spirit
calls you to be in Jesus.  Be  “weird.”

 


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