Acts 4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
When we were children, my brother and I loved watching the original Star Trek series on television. We looked forward each week to a new, action-packed episode with the swashbuckling Captain Kirk, the stoic Mr. Spock, the unflappable Scotty, the wry Dr. McCoy, and the rest of the crew as they daringly tackled new challenges and dangers in outer space with courage and fortitude. Every show was sheer excitement, suspenseful, and, yes, gratifyingly humorous, but the one thing we could count on to happen was the fulfillment of William Shatner's (Kirk) voice-over at the inception of each episode: They would always "boldly go where no man has gone before".
That phrase could confidently be applied to the actions of the apostles and the early followers of Christ Jesus in the Book of Acts. Faced with hostility, threats, persecution, stoning, flogging, imprisonment, and even death, they bravely forge a new frontier for The Way and for the spread of the gospel. Armed with the truth of the resurrection and consequent salvation through the Lord, they boldly go where no men or women have gone before, leaving behind a legacy of Christian communities throughout the known world that will thrive in hope and flourish in grace. Nothing can separate them from the love of God and the knowledge of redemption through Christ; no one can stop them from boldly proclaiming the word of the living God.
Where will you go boldly for Christ today?
Readings
Psalms 63:1-8 (9-11), 98 or 103
1 Kings 12:21-33
Acts 4:18-31
John 10:31-42
okay – I'm a little bit of the Trekkie – not the dress up in costumes and go to the conventions type Trekkie – but I heart Star Trek. So naturally I smiled when I saw the picture. The one and only best Star Trek Capt. – James Tiberius Kirk. ((( smiles))) and how brilliant this new statement – "These are the journeys of the gospel of Jesus, our ongoing mission to spread the gospel to strange new surroundings, to seek out new lives, and new situations, to boldly take the gospel were no one has brought it before.
ReplyDeleteThis is so brilliant Martha – I smiled all the way through! God bless you and keep you my friend.
Craig, thank you so much! You know, I thought about paraphrasing the voice-over intro when I was preparing to write this, but it simply took another turn. I love how you did this! I did manage to get the word "frontier" in there as in "Space, the Final Frontier". Glad there are other Trekkies still out there!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, too, today and everyday! :)
I like your style of using parts of the culture to reach others for Christ!! WOOHOO!!! You said more in a few paragraphs than a sermon I heard this morning in Church!! :-))
ReplyDeleteAMEN!! As the president of a regional Men's ministry, I have this vision for boldness since assuming the role a month ago...and it is based on our ministry's foundational verse from 2 Timothy 1:7 " For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline"....
Now go take on the week!! God bless you Martha!!
Love that you're a Star Trek fan, Martha. I'm a HUGE fan myself. In fact, I've incorporated The Next Generation into several of my blog posts myself. I like how you've woven the series into your blog here.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I LOVE about reading all these blogs is how the writers weave their loves into their own writing. I think it's fascinating to watch wordsmiths write about TV, Books, Movies and find a way to meld these disparate things into spiritual blogs, into positive blogs.
All the blogs I read all have a face behind them and a talented face at that. I'm always impressed, always surprised, always wondering what I'll come across next.
Love how you correlated Star Trek to the Apostles. See? This is what I mean about talent. Not many people would see the correlation to Boldly going...
...But you did. Kudos to you, Martha!
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Chris
Bernie, I can't thank you enough for your encouragement; I am positively humbled. Yes, boldness is so crucial, especially in reaching the hearts and spirits of men - I love your vision! Yes, I will take the week on and go boldly!
ReplyDeleteChris, Hooray! Another Trekkie! I think, as writers, it is essential to incorporate what we confidently know about with what we hope to convey. With the devotional, I have found that the more I take personal experience and connect it to scripture, the more my readers remember and respond positively and there is no exception here! It doesn't always happen, but I am certain that God is working in me to grow me in perception of His word and writing creatively for Him.
God bless you all and know I will be thrilled to see your latest blogs when you post! I learn so much, too, from the creativity and wisdom of others like you. You are blessings and God-sent
Great post! I also enjoyed watching Star Trek as a kid! I don't get too much time to watch tv these days butI always like revisiting past episodes from time to time ;)
ReplyDeleteI like the comparisons you drew. May we all maintain the courage the Spirit provides within our hearts, to boldly live out the message Jesus taught us.
Thanks, Jessica, and forgive me for not getting back sooner!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked the comparisons; we must boldly go into each day, into a hurting world that needs the redeeming love of Christ.
Blessings!