Religious

​Meditation
Acts 2:5,6—At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.  When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. (NLT)

On the day of Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection there was a major gathering of devout Jews.  They came to celebrate the Feast of Weeks, in obedience to God’s directive through Moses. Pentecost was a time to give offerings proportionate to God’s blessings in the past year.  But this day’s celebration was unlike any ever held! The Holy Spirit descended upon a group of Jesus-followers all assembled in a house evidently centrally located near the Temple.  As tongues of fire rested upon their heads each believer began speaking in a different language.  God, in one fell swoop, broadcast the truth about Jesus in a way sure to reach foreign Jews. 

God dynamically fulfilled Jesus’ promise made in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   Imagine how incredible it must have been to hear fishermen, tax collectors, housewives . . . ordinary people from small towns each fluently speaking foreign languages to astonished listeners!  The timing, location, language and message were all carefully orchestrated in heaven to coincide with a major religious gathering.  While the Jews focused on thanksgiving offerings, God focused on igniting Jesus’ disciples to tell the world about their Savior.  
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In the midst of rejoicing over Jesus’ triumph from the grave don’t lose sight of what He came to accomplish and commands us to do! God wants to speak through you! He placed His light in you to shine around all you know.  So are you burning bright or is your light hidden beneath symbols and traditions? Easter is not about the bunny and it’s not about dressing up nicely to attend a special service or mass.  It’s not about painting eggs and hanging banners or eating ham or filling baskets with chocolate.  It’s not simply about celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. Religious trappings can easily turn into a Feast of Weaks.   Chances are good that everyday we will meet people who need to hear about Christ so they can be rescued from their sin.  Let’s not ignore them as we travel to our next celebration.  EASTER should be Eagerly, Actively, Sharing, The Eternal Redeemer!
 
Inspiration
We must stop being religious—using religion as a kind of higher culture, and become spiritually real, alert and ready for Him.—Oswald Chambers in So Send I You
 
©2006 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)