Day 515 - November 12 - Something Special

I've been reading the Book of the Acts of the Apostles (that's "Acts" if you use the vernacular title) recently, because I want to see what kinds of things people who were unarguably human did when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. You'd be amazed at some of the things these guys did, so I suggest you go read it again and check it out. In the meantime, I have been pondering something about myself, something which I suspect affects each of us to some degree or another, and I found an interesting observation into it in the Book of Acts. This, by the way, doesn't have much to do with Connor's situation except obliquely, but bear with me...

The thing I think we all deal with at one time or another is self-image, to use the current psycho-mumbojumbo. I'm talking about how we perceive ourselves, and I've been thinking about it particularly in light of how we approach God in prayer. I told you last time that I wanted us to be more fervent in our prayer life, and how I want to be earnest and fervent in prayer rather than locked into "meaningless repetition", as Jesus called it in Matthew 6:7.

But how often do we feel unworthy to bring our requests before God? Yeah, we all know how we're supposed to "approach the Throne of Grace with confidence", and all that, but really - do you ever feel like you're not going to be heard because of who you really are way down deep? I do sometimes, that's for sure. And what I'm really saying in my heart when I feel that way is "I'm not worthy enough for You to listen to me".

Now, as far as that goes, it's actually correct; I'm not worthy to be in the presence of God - except for that one teensy-tiny detail; that Jesus' cleansing blood, spilled on the cross for us, makes us worthy to be there. But knowing something is true, and acting on that truth are two different things. You, with all your baggage, have direct access to the presence of God on His throne - but we feel too dirty and common to use that access. Imagine, if you will, that you are a beggar on the streets, a homeless bum, your ragged clothing covered in dirt, lice, and fleas, and you are told that you now have unfettered access to the ear of the King. Not just to one of His lackeys; you can go into His throne room and talk directly with Him, and He'll listen to you. Just as you are. Wouldn't you feel just a bit uncomfortable because of your dirtiness?

Now take it a step further - what if you're a reasonably well-to-do merchant who's told the same thing? While your reaction might not be as severe as the beggar, you would still reasonably be nervous about approaching this Person who reigns over all of your life and livelihood, wouldn't you? I think you would, and the British can tell you why - it's because the King is "royal", and you're just a "commoner". There's a gap between the two of you.

So now, back to prayer. If my analogy holds up, then the reason we feel like we do when we're praying can be chalked up in the simple concept that God is massively royal, while we're massively common. And that makes us just a bit uncomfortable, follow me?

OK, so that brings me back to the Book of Acts. I know most of you are familiar with the story of Peter's dream, where the sheet comes down from heaven with all the animals in it and God tells Peter to kill and eat, right? That's in Acts 10, if you're interested. Peter doesn't want to eat from the animals because he's never touched anything that's unclean, remember? And you know the outcome - God ends up convincing Peter through that dream that he is to begin reaching out to the Gentiles - you know the story.

But here's the interesting thing for the day - when God overrides Peter's objections, look at the words He uses, out of Acts 10:15 -

"What God has made clean, do not call common."

I don't know about you, but I always saw that in reference to eating food, or that God was kinda saying "Yeah they're Gentiles, but they're special to Me because I say they're special to Me, so go to them". I have never seen that verse for what it says - that what God has cleansed isn't common anymore, so don't call it that.

Wait a second - didn't God cleanse us with Christ's blood? Haven't believers been "washed in the blood of the Lamb"? But that would mean...

...that we aren't common anymore?

And that would mean...

...we're...

...royalty?

I think it's time to let that sit and sink in for a bit.

----------------------------------------
Print This Page