Thought for Saturday, Janaury 14th

January 14, 2012

Be Daring

    And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,  Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.  So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

Acts 4:5-21

Quote of the Day

“Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.”

-          Basil King

Today’s Thoughts and Insights

“Now will saying ‘yes’ get you in trouble at times?  Will saying ‘yes’ lead you to doing some foolish things?  Yes it will.  But don’t be afraid to be a fool.  Remember, you cannot be both young and wise.” – Stephen Colbert

Through out scripture we find evidence of God calling on what would appear to be ordinary men to do extraordinary things.  He told Noah to build an ark and it had never rained.  He told Moses to defy a King and lead an entire nation across the Red Sea into a land of Milk and Honey.   He told Gideon to go into battle with a miniscule number of soldiers.  He sent Joshua marching to bring down the walls of Jericho.  He sent twelve rag-tag disciples out into the world to teach a new doctrine and to present a new covenant to the people.  And God also sends common, ordinary folks like you and I out into the streets and stores to make a difference in sometimes, extraordinary ways in a world that is filled with despair, darkness and unbelief.

Paul was probably one of the most daring of the examples we read about in the New Testament.  He braved doing what many said couldn’t be done.  Today God calls many of us to do what society, the world and sometimes even others within the fellowship of our churches say, can’t be done.  But remember this, “With God all things are possible to them that believe, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.”

How daring are you?

Are you ready to be extraordinary for God?

Today’s Prayer

Father, may you be high and lifted up; exalted and glorified in all things.  Help me to be bold; courageous; and when necessary even daring to do great things for you in extraordinary ways that will bring hearts and lives closer to you.

“To play it safe is not to play.”

-          Robert Altman

“Let my Lifesong sing to You”

- from ‘Lifesong’ by Casting Crowns