Acts 5:13-14 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

I don’t remember when, but certainly a long time ago this passage struck me very strongly. The Church didn’t grow through evangelistic meetings or “crusades,” but rather through the daily interaction of believers with their neighbors. There was certainly the factor of supernatural healings, but they didn’t hold “healing meetings,” they just lived life and made use of the opportunities the Lord opened up for them to share Christ. (Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 3:5) We try to organize and program everything, forgetting that the Body of Christ is an organism, not an organization. The New Testament has many references to Christ being the Head, but in practical terms we tend to forget it, reducing His status to figurehead, rather than the true source of all authority and direction. That’s not to say the Church doesn’t have organization because it does, just as our biological bodies do, but it is to say that we need to stop trying to take the place of the Head, and instead focus on obedience. We’ve all experienced times of our physical bodies not doing what we tell them to. Such times increase with various diseases, or simply age, but the point is, they aren’t indicative of health. In a truly healthy body each part cooperates with the others, and all are obedient to what the Head tells them to do. If we will live like that, then more and more people will be convicted of their own disobedience to God and so repent and believe the Gospel, and society as a whole will be changed because God’s children will start acting like citizens of His kingdom, instead of slaves to sin and to human government.

I didn’t expect this to go in this direction! There is indeed a lot of junk going on in the world, and I get worked up over it at times. I need to focus on my Head, listen to Him and do what He says, not being anxious about anything else. There are countless people I would like to bring into God’s kingdom, but I certainly can’t do it myself. God has made me a pastor/teacher, and I am to fulfill that calling with all His strength that works in me. (Colossians 1:29) I am to teach the believers to live as God’s children, and all that that means. If we will do that, then indeed, miracles will happen.

Father, thank You for this encouraging Word. Help me not just accept it as objective truth, but live it out in daily faithfulness. I feel like I have taken far too long to get to this point, but nothing is too difficult, or too late, for You. After all, Moses started his ministry at 80! May I be the servant, the instrument, that You desire, so that Your kingdom may come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!