Tuesday, November 15, 2011

#222 "Are They Amazed?"

If you browse through the Gospel pages of my old and worn-torn Bible, you will notice that over the years I have circled every instance where Scripture says that someone, or a group of someones, was "amazed" by Jesus. I've never taken the time to count, but there are more than a few. 

My morning readings this month have been from the book of Acts, and I'm excited that my church is also doing a series on this same book. As I was reading from chapter three a week or two ago, I came upon a verse at the end of a story where Peter and John had healed a lame man who used to sit at the gate called Beautiful. (Acts 3: 1-10) This man was now walking and jumping and praising God. This man who used to sit at the gate because he could do nothing more. This man, who by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, danced. The Scripture says that all who saw "were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

Jesus amazed people. His life and miracles amazed the crowds, the religious leaders, and the government rulers. Now "all the people" were amazed at the acts of His apostles and I take liberty to say, they were amazed at the apostles themselves.

Two thousand years later, are we, His apostles and disciples, amazing anyone?

Are we amazing them with our hypocrisy?

Are we amazing them with our unbelief ?

Are our lives indistinguishable from the value system of this world?

Are we more about what we are against, rather than what we are for?

Or...

Are we amazing them with the way that we love?
Are we amazing them with the way that we give?
Are we amazing them with the way we love our husbands, raise our children, handle our finances, and conduct our lives?
Are we amazing them with the way we forgive? 

The way we sacrifice?

The way we stand strong in the storms of life, full of faith and unwavering belief?

Are we more about what we are for, rather than what we are against?

Acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.   (Micah 6: 8)

The suffix "-ians" means "belonging to the party of." 

Christ is the Anointed One and the Messiah. 

Put together, the word "Christian" means "belonging to the party of Christ, Anointed One and Messiah."



"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Gandhi


Lord, let it not be so!
Two thousand years later, Christ is still amazing. He continues to amaze people every day. 
We, His followers, should be amazing too.



28 comments:

  1. What a convicting post. Oh, it makes me look at my behavior in a whole different light!

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  2. hi neighbor...great post...it begs the question...what are people amazed about when they view my life...it sure has been a mixed bag...may micah 6:8 grow in my heart...
    Blessings as we grow in amazing ways:)

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  3. This is the truth! We must be amazing. To be amazing we must dare to be different.

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  4. Hello Donna,
    I like your post...it poses Questions I don't often think about.
    Is my life 'amazing'...I don't think so.
    I would like it to be.
    I aspire to be an 'amazing' Christian.
    God Bless
    Barb from Australia

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  5. sadly i find a lot of truth in the Ghandi quote...def thought provoking and convicting for sure and calls into question what people see when they look at me...i like...

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  6. oooh such a good and challenging post friend... thank you, for making me think. love to you.

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  7. This is sooo powerful and truthful. Thank you :0)

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  8. Very good points...especially this one "Are we amazing them with the way we love our husbands, raise our children, handle our finances, and conduct our lives?"

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  9. I'm stopping by from the Terrific Thursday hop and I'm following you by GFC. I'd love if you stopped by my blog too.

    Lisa
    http://frugalmommieof2.blogspot.com/

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  10. Donna - this is a very challenging post. I know that I need to look at my life in a different light.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  11. Hi, I am now following you through GFC from madamedeals.com please come by and follow me back.

    Thank you
    Amee

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  12. Love this post. I want to be AMAZED. I try to live my life living to see Jesus and stay in amazement but it's hard with the craziness of the world. Thanks for this beautiful reminder. Linking up at Finding Joy. Love yoru bloggy world.

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  13. A wonderful reminder and challenge to us all. Thanks!

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  14. Yes!! We should continually be awestruck by Him and how He Loves. Thank you for linking up!

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  15. Very good. I am often ashamed at how I take the name of the Lord and salvation so casual. I heard of a new Christian today and how excited he is and hard he is learning and sharing. I need more passion and amazement.

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  16. I pray that my life reflects the amazing love of Christ to all I see. I know I fall short often, but this worthy goal is not something to give up quickly. Change my heart oh God!

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  17. So true. He is truly amazing and continues to amaze people through the centuries. It is sad that too many times we amaze people in the wrong way. Too many times they are amazed by our hypocrisy. You have really given a challenge that we need to strive to live up to. Thank you.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  18. There is so much good stuff in the book of Acts. I read with a highlighter, and it takes me forever. I'm always stopping and looking off in to space, amazed by the way the Holy Spirit just shows up and blows everyone's minds.

    Thanks so much for linking up today!

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  19. what an amazing writer you are.. i love this.. i am so glad i got to read this post. .I have seen AMAZING miracles of Jesus this week.. He truly is AMAZING

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  20. Honestly. The only thing amazing about my life is God's Grace and Provision. I hope people can see that. I really dont want to represent Christ--what a huge responsibility.

    Found your site on the Super Stalker Sunday Blog Hop and am now following :)

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  21. It's amazing He puts up with His children. Unconditional love I'd say.

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  22. Anything amazing in us will point to our amazing God. I especially like your thought that challenges us to be more about what we are for than against. Let's lift our AMAZING God for all to see!

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  23. If we're known for what we are for, people will be curious why we're against some things and there will be dialogue.

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  24. Such a convicting post, Donna. Thanks for preaching it real here!

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  25. I don't know why I always feel amazed when He amazes me :). I love it though. My simple mind simply cannot keep hold of the wonderfulness that is HIm. Hugs to you, Donna.

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