As I left a meeting and stepped into the carpark this morning, the lyrics from Bryan Adam's "Summer of '69" went through my head. It was a bit bizarre, as it has been at least a decade since I heard the song! Looking back on his life Bryan sings, "Oh, when I look back now, that summer seemed to last forever.
And if I had the choice, yeah, I'd always wanna be there. Those were the best days of my life." If we go through life looking on how things were with regret, wishing we could "go back in time" like Uncle Rico in the movie Napoleon Dynamite, we may end up living alone in a van somewhere. We cannot go back in time, even if we use the internet to buy a machine - complete with crystals. When we try to live in the past, we'll never embrace the future.
That's one aspect of walking with Jesus Christ I love: He provides the opportunity for new beginnings. We don't need to long to return to a past awakening, revival, or move of God when we can embrace revival today because Jesus is alive! We don't need to cling to old memories of how God worked in and through our lives when God has seen fit to give us today by His grace! Longing for the past will hinder us from embracing our future God has prepared for us. After Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Christ's followers, they did not pine away wishing they could return to the day when Jesus walked among them. The disciples were then equipped, helped, and empowered to bring the Gospel to the world and continue Christ's work. They had fellowship with their Messiah Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit.
The religious leaders responsible for the murder of Christ were not impressed by a notable miracle performed and some of the disciples were arrested. After being strictly warned not to preach in the name of Jesus, the disciples prayed in Acts 4:26-31: "The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.' 27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."
The disciples did not wish they could return to their "Summer of '69" when Jesus walked amongst them. They also were not content with thousands of souls saved and the healing of the lame man at the entrance of the temple. They wanted to go on with God, asking for boldness to preach God's Word, that through God's power they would heal, and that signs and wonders would be done through Jesus Christ. They did not look back, but reached forth to whatever God laid before them. They were filled with the Spirit according to their request, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. God had anointed them with the purpose to accomplish His will for His glory.
Do you look on your past with longing or satisfaction leading to apathy? God has great works for us to do today through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us draw close to God with full assurance of faith, for it is He Who works in us both to will and do for His good pleasure. When we walk in obedience to Christ, our best days are always ahead!
That's one aspect of walking with Jesus Christ I love: He provides the opportunity for new beginnings. We don't need to long to return to a past awakening, revival, or move of God when we can embrace revival today because Jesus is alive! We don't need to cling to old memories of how God worked in and through our lives when God has seen fit to give us today by His grace! Longing for the past will hinder us from embracing our future God has prepared for us. After Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Christ's followers, they did not pine away wishing they could return to the day when Jesus walked among them. The disciples were then equipped, helped, and empowered to bring the Gospel to the world and continue Christ's work. They had fellowship with their Messiah Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit.
The religious leaders responsible for the murder of Christ were not impressed by a notable miracle performed and some of the disciples were arrested. After being strictly warned not to preach in the name of Jesus, the disciples prayed in Acts 4:26-31: "The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.' 27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."
The disciples did not wish they could return to their "Summer of '69" when Jesus walked amongst them. They also were not content with thousands of souls saved and the healing of the lame man at the entrance of the temple. They wanted to go on with God, asking for boldness to preach God's Word, that through God's power they would heal, and that signs and wonders would be done through Jesus Christ. They did not look back, but reached forth to whatever God laid before them. They were filled with the Spirit according to their request, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. God had anointed them with the purpose to accomplish His will for His glory.
Do you look on your past with longing or satisfaction leading to apathy? God has great works for us to do today through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us draw close to God with full assurance of faith, for it is He Who works in us both to will and do for His good pleasure. When we walk in obedience to Christ, our best days are always ahead!
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