The other day I talked with someone who doesn’t like chocolate. Her taste buds must be broken. That’s the only explanation. I also don’t understand why my friend Connie doesn’t like coffee. In fact, how did we even get to be friends?
Different people have different likes and preferences regarding food, clothing, decorating, entertainment, and a host of other very subjective things. I get that – sort of. People also respond differently to God and His activity. That’s a little harder to understand. Here’s an example from the book of Acts.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? —we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Acts 2:1-8, 11b-13, NIV
The Holy Spirit descended on Jerusalem and filled the believers, enabling them to speak languages they had never learned! Wow! Thousands of Jews from around the world witnessed God’s powerful and dramatic activity. But they all did not respond the same way.
Some were filled with wonder and amazement. Others mocked the believers. Same God, same activity, but different responses. Both wonderers and mockers. Believers and doubters.
The wonderers believed God was the source of the miraculous happening. The mockers attributed the occurrence to too much wine.
Most of us probably shake our heads in amazement that the mockers could so easily reject the divine. Yet if I’m completely honest I know I sometimes do it too. In fact, so might you.
For instance, do we ever give credit for physical healing to the doctor and forget that God is the divine healer? Do we thank God for the new job or attribute it to our resume?
When I fail to notice God’s hand and give His credit away, I’m like those mockers in the second chapter of Acts. I pray I will be more sensitive to God’s activity so I can respond with wonder and amazement. And give Him the honor He deserves.
Let’s give God some overdue credit today! I’d love for you to share some God activity with us today!
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