That Feeling After Being Read

    In Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost, Peter was tasked with speaking to a group of people who were comfortable with their lives. These people gathered together had been there 50 days ago on Passover when this guy from Nazareth had been handled by through the Roman method of execution, crucifixion. He was claiming to be son of God and King of the Jews. To some people in attendance on the Festival Day of Pentecost he was probably deserving. These people were not the casual worshippers of course. The traveled from distant lands to come to Jerusalem. They were not your Sunday morning only worshippers. They were the akin to the type of Christians who never missed a Bible study, program, or Vacation Bible School program. They were devout! And then the strangest thing happened. Peter got up to speak and was talking about the man who broke the Law. This was not what they expected to hear. He even mentioned the name of the crucified man in the same breath he mentioned the GREAT king David! These folks had to have had the stink face! Some had to for sure had to think that they were going to see another man crucified on another Jewish Holy Day. And then it happened! Peter told them that THEY had killed Jesus Christ! (Acts 2:23) These were the type of folks that did not just have the bumper stickers on their mini van, they LIVED it! They had just been read (past tense). (This is a coloquilism used by folks much younger than myself but it fits here). Peter had just told them about themselves. He revealed about them what they could not see! And their response as Holy people is key. The Bible states that they were pricked to their hearts! This is to say that they were greatly troubled in their minds. But their response is not one that is anger. They did not call for the head of Peter. They did not throw a pity party about their present state. No! These Holy people sought change! They asked Peter what it was that they needed to do to change. When we see talk of Acts 2 it's usually to describe Church origin or baptism. But what we can see from these folks here is how to accept rebuke. Rebuke is defined as an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism. Peter did not beat around the bush and neither should we as Christians with each other. We need to rebuke in LOVE so that the masses can be saved. We need to be humbly accepting of rebuke. If you are blessed to have a Christian brother or sister in your life to hold you accountable be thankful! Be Blessed C.W. Stephens