Devotion - Tuesday, August 25

The Book of Acts, or the Acts of the Apostles as it is sometimes titled, gives us a much needed insight to the birth of the Church.  The names and events spoken of here will continue to figure into the other books of the New Testament.  Acts allows us to track the movements of Paul, as he shared the good news throughout the rest of the region.

It also recounts a time when the members of the Church were much more open to being "lead by the Spirit."

We in the western world of Christianity have become much more comfortable with the theological statements of the Church.  In the eastern part, there was a greater emphasis placed on what the Spirit was saying to us.

This evening I will lead a Bible Study on the Letters of Paul.  I will be concentrating on the insights and wisdom and instructions Paul leaves for us.  Might I also acknowledge Paul's on-going and active exchanges with the Spirit through prayer and visions.

This may be an area where we can aid one another.  Within the safety of a group where we are known well and know each other we can risk acknowledging the times when we made a life-choice based on the urging of that which cannot be fully understood.  We might be able to speak of where the Spirit is leading us, particularly when it is leading us to places we might not otherwise go.  The Spirit is active in our lives; the activity which is lacking is our speaking of it and acknowledging how powerful is its influence on us.