Act 2:14-36

In this passage, Peter addresses the crowd at Pentecost. The apostles had been speaking in the Spirit, such that everyone heard their words in their own language. Though some had marvelled, some had also said the the apostles were drunk, implying they were just babbling. When Peter stood to refute that mockery by the ones who did not believe, he didn't argue with worldly wisdom. He didn't say something was true because it was his opinion. What he did was quote from Scripture, from the words of David and of Joel. And he let that Scripture make the argument. God has promised us that His word does not return void. When we are speaking to unbelievers, especially, we should have Scripture ready for an answer.

However, we can't do that if we don't know Scripture. If we haven't read our Bible, we don't know what's in it. If we don't have any passages memorized, how can we possibly use them in a conversation? If we don't actually know what the Biblical principle is on a matter, how can we express it to a friend who comes to us asking for advice, whether they are a believer or not? In that case, we can only offer our opinion.

Peter's 'opinion' did not lead to about three thosand souls being added to the believers' number on Pentecost. The power of God and the Word of God did.

If we were called on to speak to someone today, whether one person or a crowd, about what we believe, could we do so effectively? Could we bring Scripture to back up our argument so that it is not just our opinion.

Challenge for Today: Find a verse that is particularly meaningful to you that you do not have memorized already. Memorize it and meditate on it today. Commit it to memory until it is "written on the tablet of your heart". Whether that takes a day or a week, make sure it sticks. What verse did you choose?

14. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the
crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to
you; listen carefully to what I say.
15. These men are not drunk, as you
suppose. It's only nine in the morning!
16. No, this is what was spoken by
the prophet Joel:
17. " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my
Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will
see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
18. Even on my servants, both
men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will
prophesy.
19. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth
below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20. The sun will be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day
of the Lord.
21. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.'
22. "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man
accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you
through him, as you yourselves know.
23. This man was handed over to you by
God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put
him to death by nailing him to the cross.
24. But God raised him from the
dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death
to keep its hold on him.
25. David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always
before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
26.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in
hope,
27. because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your
Holy One see decay.
28. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will
fill me with joy in your presence.'
29. "Brothers, I can tell you confidently
that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this
day.
30. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that
he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
31. Seeing what was
ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to
the grave, nor did his body see decay.
32. God has raised this Jesus to life,
and we are all witnesses of the fact.
33. Exalted to the right hand of God,
he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what
you now see and hear.
34. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he
said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
35. until I make
your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
36. "Therefore let all Israel be
assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ."
37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said
to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38. Peter
replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
39. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far
off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40. With many other words he
warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt
generation."
41. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about
three thousand were added to their number that day.

Proverbs 18:2

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

We live in an age where self-awareness, self-esteem, and personal experience are viewed as the pinnacle of things to be desired. From drugs to New Age religions to psychoanalsysis, people are encouraged to "expand their horizons", "get in touch with their inner self", and find their own truth, which is true (of course) simply because they believe it. That is not wisdom. People earnestly seek after that kind of worldly wisdom, even though it is, according to this Proverb, folly.

What we as Christians should be trying to discover is not our own heart...but the heart of God. Then, only after we have a as clear a picture as we can grasp of that, do we look to our own heart and find in how many ways it does not measure up. If people today would spend more time worrying about "am I right WITH GOD?" and less time worrying about "what seems right TO ME?", many people who are seeking purpose and not finding it would do find it. And many of us who are running around trying to find something fulfilling would find ourselves satisfied.

We, as Christians in particular, are looking in all the wrong places for fulfillment. Why don't we stop looking for fulfillment in the latest entertainment, the biggest house, and the outward show of religion and start looking for it in knowing God's heart, giving Him praise, and doing His will?

Challenge for today: Seek God in such a way that you stop seeking yourself and your own desires. As the old song says

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of Earth will go strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace."