Northstar has begun its study of Acts. I have been enjoying this account of the early church. Over the past several weeks, one thing has stuck out to me – awe. Over and over again, we read how the early believers were amazed and filled with wonder.
First in Acts 2:12, when the Jews were amazed and perplexed by the apostles speaking in tongues. Then, at the end of Acts 2 as they fellowshipped as new believers:
And awe came upon every soul . (Acts 2:43)
And again, in Acts 3:10 at seeing the lame man healed:
And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
When was the last time you were in awe of God?
One man who was in awe of God was David. In Psalm 145:5 David writes:
On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
David was in awe of God as the Creator. In Psalm 8:3 David writes:
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place
In Psalm 139:13 David writes:
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
David was in awe of God’s love. In Psalm 86:13 he writes:
For great is your steadfast love toward me.
David describes that steadfast love in Psalm 103:11:
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.
David was in awe of God’s ever-presence. He knew God was with him always. In Psalm 139:7 he asks:
Where shall I go from your Spirit?Or where shall I flee from your presence?
David was in awe of God’s faithfulness. Over and over again David cries out to the Lord. In Psalm 34:4 he writes:
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
David’s words are powerful. Peter uses David’s words in his sermon in Acts 2 to prove Jesus is Lord.
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36)
We read on in Acts 2:37 that the crowd was “cut to the heart” by these words.
Now, the next part of Peter’s sermon is what leaves me in awe. When the crowd asks “what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) Peter replies, repent. (Acts 2:38).
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. (Acts 2:39)
We all have the promise of forgiveness, if we will simply repent. God, our Creator, our loving God, our ever-present God, our faithful God offers us forgiveness through His Son, Jesus.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Jeff spoke about this simple repentance during his Palm Sunday sermon from Acts 3. He shared three blessings that come from repenting (Acts 3:19): forgiveness because of the cross for past, present and future sins, times of refreshing, and a real presence of God
In Psalm 8:3-4 David writes:
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,what is man that you are mindful of him.
The Maker of the stars loves us! He thinks about us. In Psalm 139:18, David tells us that His thoughts for us are more than the sand! He forgives us of all our sins. How could we not be left in awe!
Take some time today to read the Psalms of David. His words that were written so long ago can leave us in awe of our God today, because our God never changes!
Father,
I am grateful for the words of David. When I read his words I am reminded of just how great and awesome You are. I am cut to the heart. My prayer is that we will always be in awe of You. I pray we never go numb to Your love for us. Amen