Good morning, everyone.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 2:29, “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.”
I think I have mentioned here before the habit of some to use the phrase “bless his heart” when they are speaking of someone they care about in a less than flattering way. For example, “He has the sweetest of intentions, but bless his heart, he can’t do anything right.” Those words seem to grant the speaker, at least in his mind, the permission to disparage the other person without any real intent of offense. Another odd catchphrase that gets tossed around is “I’ll be honest with you.” I hear this one throughout that day at work as I overhear salesmen on the phone discussing their orders or situations. It usually gets dropped in somewhere along the way when the intent is to express some difficult truth about the agreement or circumstances presumably beyond their control, so as to hopefully sidestep any responsibility of negligence or poor performance. You might hear, “I’ll be honest with you, I’m going to have a hard time filling any of my orders because supplies are so tight.” Unfortunately, when you hear someone preface their remarks with that phrase often enough, it can make you wonder how much truth they are speaking all the other times. In Luke’s case, he is about to proclaim the risen Jesus as infinitely more supreme than the great King David, who just happens to still be dead and buried, so he wants to be completely frank with them. Which leads me wonder how frank you might be with yourself?
To speak freely with you, how real and honest with yourself are you where Jesus is concerned? We heard from the pulpit a couple months ago that a “regular church attender” in American churches now shows up only once or twice a month. We’ve seen a church with a bunch of employed, successful people struggle and fail to meet its budget. Bible study and prayer time is offered, but who wants to come? Relationship is available, but who is investing? Jesus is being lifted up, but where are your eyes and heart? If they are fixed on Him, then I praise God with and for you. If not, if the season you are in or the habits you have adopted have you elsewhere, I pray that you will come to Jesus and come to be with His people.
As we seek Him today, let Jesus speak freely to you because you want to know Him more, and confess any half-heartedness that may have a grip on you.
Have a devoted Tuesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
