A New Way

The were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, a crowd came together, and was confused because each one heard them speaking his own language. And they were astonished and amazed saying, "Look, Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, those who live is Mespotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia. Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene: visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs- we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages." They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, "What could this be?" But some sneered and said, "They're full of wine!" Acts 2:5-13

Isn't God good? He brings the devout together and preaches to them in His own magnificent way. As a devout person they would have been seeking the truth and here they were being challenged by something to far removed from that they understood and imagined to be of God.

When you have a heart for God and He brings along something out of the ordinary, a way you did not expect, you are challenged with the prospect of: opening your heart and embracing all that God has, turning and hardening your heart. The last verse said, some sneered and said that the speakers were drunk with wine.

Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church by his understanding of salvation through faith, not works but when he was challenged with the Anabaptists and their discovering of believers baptism, instead of infant baptism, he began to persecute the Anabaptists, until God revealed the truth to him.

Martin shows our propensity to only be open to that which we discover ourselves, when someone else comes along with a new discovery we are inclined to be hard hearted to them. Is it religious pride? A part of our flesh rebelling to the freedom offered? Probably!

A new move of God is coming, I am sure of it. Will we be opened to the how it comes? My prayer is that we are. Amen!

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