My New Clothes
The next day I will totally rearrange my whole outfit just so I can wear this new item.
Reference: At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20 NIV)
Explore: Whenever I buy a new piece of clothing, I can’t wait to wear it. The next day I will totally rearrange my whole outfit just so I can wear this new item.
Every other piece of clothing in my wardrobe pales in significance as this one item takes precedence over everything else. The whole experience is tipped off when someone notices that I have a new article and compliments me on it.
Application: It’s funny how keen we are to parade something new. Whether it’s a new purchase, a new piece of knowledge or even a new story to tell, our enthusiasm is almost tangible.
When Saul had a direct encounter with Jesus, which we read about in Acts, he could not contain himself. He was more excited than I am when I buy a new piece of clothing.
He couldn’t hold it in and the scripture says he began ‘at once’ to share his good news.
Often when it comes to sharing my understanding of God I am not so quick to reveal like I am with a piece of clothing. I worry that I might say it wrong, or I may have the information incorrect, or even that others will disagree with my beliefs.
Not Saul. He was so changed by his encounter that nothing, not even a threat on his life, could hold him back from sharing this incredible new revelation.
I am truly inspired by Saul jumping in ‘at once’. So often I will wait until I have everything sorted out in my head, every ‘i’ dotted and ‘t’ crossed. But this often leads to missed opportunities.
As I develop in my faith I am pushing myself to be more like Saul. Let us not hold back on sharing our faith, but wear it as proudly as we would a brand new piece of clothing.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we shy away from proclaiming Your name. May we draw inspiration from those who have gone before us, jumping at every opportunity to declare Your greatness. Amen.
How can you share what God has done for you today?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.