seize the day
“Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. ‘People of Israel,’ he said, ‘what is so astounding about this? And why look at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power and godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of all of our ancestors who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this.’” Acts 3:12
Opportunity: a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something
My Abba,
At this point in Peter’s life, it seems he was always seizing opportunities to speak truth about you. He saw an opportunity after you healed this man, and jumped right in. I love how Peter posed these two questions:
1. Why are you so astounded?
2. Why are you looking at us like our godliness or power accomplished this miracle?
His questions point to the truth in this situation. If you can speak galaxies into being, it should not surprise me when you give a crippled man the ability to walk. If it does, then maybe I am thinking the person, through whom you worked the miracle, had the power. Please show me when I slip into that deception.
Make me sensitive to the opportunities you give me to glorify you and your Son, Jesus Christ. I know you created me to point to your perfection and that is how I want to live my life. What an extraordinary pleasure it is to bear witness to your power and grace as you do the miraculous - rescuing the brokenhearted, freeing people from devastating patterns, restoring damaged families, and drawing people into eternal relationship with you. (I see those miracles as having more enduring impact than, even, physical healing.)
Please don’t let me be sideswiped by the tyranny of the urgent today. I want to be consumed with the priority of living for your glory. Please give me firm boundaries for the “busy” in my life. Create in me a heart that craves your truth and lives to speak that truth – with my mouth and my life.
I love you,
Mollie
My child,
You know Peter did not always boldly proclaim the truth. Remember before my Spirit filled him, he denied my Son repeatedly. He cowered in fear with the others.
But my Spirit transformed him into a truth teller. No matter what other spiritual gifts I give you, I always want you to proclaim the truth about my love, power and grace to others.
When I work miracles through an individual, I don’t want you to be confused about the source of the power. I give people the privilege of being conduits for my power. Everything beautiful, strong, creative, good and honorable in that person is a gift from me.
When I do something wonderful and supernatural through someone, gratitude and praise for me, the Giver of those gifts, should rise up in you. If you are tempted to worship the vessel I am using, your heart is misdirected.
And when you are the vessel I am using, be vigilant to never take credit. You may not be inclined to do this in public, but pride can be stealthy. I will shine my light on those out-of-the-way secret recesses in your heart where some pride might loiter in the shadows.
Practice gratitude. Gratitude vanquishes pride. If I use you in some way, it is your sacred privilege in our partnership. Seize that opportunity (the circumstances that make it possible) for you to glorify me and live as a grateful witness to the wonders of my love.
I love you,
Abba
Photo: Afzal
mollie@mollieaxtell.com