Actions Speak Louder than Feelings

I've recently been studying in Acts. I love reading Acts. It's like the Bible's version of a rock and roll song, I feel so energized and inspired, like I do when I go to a concert. I feel like I could save the world in a week. Of course we all know what happens after, We settle back into our routines, and soon lose the energy we felt. I often wondered why. Well, I think I found my answer in acts.


All the famous Biblical heroes in Acts got they're rock and roll concert moments, the most well known one being Saul's on the road to Damascus. After such an experience Saul/Paul must have felt that energy that I feel when I go to a rock concert. So how come Paul went on to save thousands of souls from so many different cultures and I’m still just stuck at home, struggling with my own problems, and only one saved soul? Well I think the answer is in the full name of Acts. In the King James Version it says "The Acts of the Apostles", not (this is important) "The Feelings of the Apostles". As I came to this realization, I wondered "okay, so what kind of acts did the apostles do?"

Well, looking at Paul, I saw that he completely left his life behind; he even got a new name. With nothing but the clothes on his back, and a faith on fire, he set out to save the world. And almost did. So then I think "So should I change my records, rent a car, and begin to minister on a crate across the United States?" Well the obvious answer was no. So what now? I'd hit a dead end so to speak. I couldn't just do as the apostles did. Why not?

Culture.

In the time and place where Paul was at, what he did was exactly what his culture needed. However in modern society, I would not get the same result. In fact I would be written off as a lunatic and end up with nothing. You may say that as Christians we should be lunatics to this world. I definitely agree that we should stand out, and not conform to this world, but that does not mean that we throw our brains out the window. God calls us to be as intelligent as we can, to have an answer to every question. And if you complain about that being impossible, I will simply say: God also commanded us to be perfect. If you’re not trying, you're failing. In this culture if you do not present a credible case, you will have little chance of anyone listening to you. You must be in the world.

God has a special calling for your life. It's not Paul's, not Peter's, not Andrew's and not mine. It's yours, and you need to get with it. I am by no means there, not even close, but I know the way, and I hope you'll come with me.



                                                               In Christ's love, Aaron