Here’s your post to comment on for Acts 4. Love to hear from you.
I was struck this morning by verses 18-20, from the NET version:
18 And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, 20 for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
The translators’ note for the word “impossible” is interesting. The Greek actually says something like “are not able not to”. In English, this double negative would cancel out, but in Greek this makes the phrase emphatic, so the translators chose impossible to express that emphasis.
While that’s interesting, what really caught my attention was not only that Peter and John just had to speak about what they had seen and heard, but they had to speak about what they had seen and heard. The question I had to ask myself is, “what have I seen and heard?” I wasn’t with Jesus like Peter and John, but we’ve just finished reading an account of some of the things Peter and John saw and heard as told by Mark. Do I treat that account in my heart and mind as if I had been there?
And what else have I seen and heard? God has been at work in my life. There are moments that can only be attributed to his hand, to Jesus’ presence in my life. So, am I busting to relate those to others? My answer now is not enough, not like Peter and John. Lord, help make it impossible for me not to share.
About 4 months ago, I made a goal/resolution which relates to what Jim wrote. I noticed that social phone conversations often got on the topic of COVID, RSV, vaccines, the sad state of world affairs, etc. That’s fine. But I decided that to balance that out by doing this: In social phone conversations, I will talk about some way the Lord is currently working in my life. Maybe the way he has divinely orchestrated events, or a special verse, something I heard in a sermon, a song that moved me, etc.
This is much appreciated, Barb. What I hear is that we have to be intentional in our thought and actions. It’s so easy to let stuff impact us in ways that we can easily miss. Share the Lord, share the Lord.
There was a study cited in Prevention (Health) magazine. Three groups: 1) do nothing different 2) write down 3 gratitudes each day 3) write down and SHARE 3 gratitudes per day (via email, text, phone or in-person conversation, letter). In terms of depression/happiness level, the results were 1) stayed the same. 2) A bit happier. 3) Significantly happier than group 2. Conclusion…it is good for your mental health to SHARE your gratitudes with others. I have Two “Blessings Partners”. One is a Christian; the other is not. Several times a week, we email each other 3 blessings (gratitudes). It is positive and enlightening as they share blessings that I have taken for granted and vice versa. I highly recommend this practice.
Example:
Thank you, Lord, today for…..1) the beautiful leaves on my Birkin houseplant 2) my friend went home from the hospital today 3) a letter in the mail from Kristina and boys!
When I do gratitude lists, coffee always ends up on them! 😂
This makes me hone in on verses
29 & 30…where the first believers too ask God to enable them to speak the message with boldness!
It’s crazy to me that while the leaders couldn’t deny the fact of a miracle, they were still more interested in preserving the status quo than embracing what the Lord was clearly doing. I wonder if I do that unintentionally.
Also, there have been two times in my life where I HAD to speak to someone. It was like the words were vomit and I couldn’t hold them in. It was so weird. And the words seemed innocuous – nothing I was embarrassed to say or anything. But clearly what the Lord wanted me to say! I wonder if that’s how the disciples felt.
Last week I spoke to someone – and feel like it didn’t go well and I didn’t convey all the right things 😞. I can only pray God will somehow use it anyway…. 🙏
You spoke! Good for you. The Spirit convicts.