Week 34—Friday Acts 10:39-44
Week 34—FRIDAY
“YOU DIDN’T GET THAT OUT OF A BOOK”
We are considering the Word become flesh as the Word become power.
My granddaughter of sixteen surprised us with this: “This professor talked about a philosophy of life and he had none.” At sixteen she saw through it at once! Another girl said of a professor, “They give us bigger words for what we already know.” She too saw it was the Word become word—bigger words, but the same words still.
On the other hand they see the reality, too. A candy manufacturer, outstanding and influential and generous, came to the conclusion that his spiritual life was shallow and ineffective because he was giving his money to God but not himself. He made his surrender to Christ and became a new man. He called his men together and told them what had happened to him. He said to them, “When you become bitter in soul, don’t pour it into the candy—it won’t taste good. Come and pour it into my ears, and I’ll see what I can do to help you. Moreover, I’m setting up a prayer chapel in the factory, and if you get down and discouraged and upset, go into the chapel and pray—on company time.” When he taught his Sunday school class the next Sunday, one of his class, a young married woman, came up and said: “Well, Mr. Brock, you didn’t get that out of a book.” She saw the difference, felt the difference, and there was a difference—the Word had become flesh. That which was from the heart reached the heart.
In Ceylon, there was a big political gathering. When two politicians came in, each was greeted with applause. But when a Christian lawyer came in, a man noted for his integrity and service, the crowd arose, stood silently with folded hands—an act of reverence. Their respect was too great for applause.
Preaching is for the few. Witnessing is open to all. And you don’t have to be a saint to do it—just a sincere, imperfect follower of a very Perfect Lord.
Dear Lord and Father, we thank you that we have the privilege of being your witness. We don’t need to know much in order to do this—nothing except to know what happened to us. So we shall be your joyful witness. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Anything that meets my need as a person will probably meet the needs of other people.