Day 349 "A Public Demonstration of Faith"

 

Passage: Acts 21:5b

 

...and there on the beach we knelt to pray.

 

Devotion:

 

I really like this picture: "All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray." Isn't that cool? All the men, women and children kneeling on the beach to pray with Paul and his companions without regard to what anyone else might think. I wonder what everyone around them thought about this group of people all on their knees together joined together in prayer? What if in your local airport before sending someone on their way--your entire group got on their knees in public to pray? How would you feel about that? Would you lead the prayer, willingly join in, or be embarrassed and self-conscious about what others might think?

 

At our church on Sunday morning there is a special time during the worship service when people are invited to bring forward their concerns and pray before the Lord on their knees. It is always so interesting to me how uncomfortable many of us are when it comes to public demonstrations of reverence and worship of God. If we're having trouble doing it (getting on our knees) in church, then doing so in public would be completely out of the question for you. Some otherwise good Christian people are in many cases uncomfortable with praying before a meal at a restaurant. Why? Why are some of us self-conscious about public demonstrations of our faith? After all the media is not bashful about criticizing Christians, nor is the guy on the golf course sensitive to my faith when he curses over a bad shot by saying "G_ _ D_ _ _ It!"

 

It seems that Christians are more concerned with offending other people over public demonstrations of their faith than ever before. Or is it something else? Has society painted such an unflattering image of Christians that many of us are embarrassed to publicly confess or demonstrate our faith for fear of being ridiculed or pre-judged? Perhaps it's simply a pride issue. Are you unwilling to kneel in worship and reverence before God? If you are reluctant or having difficulty in this area, which are you--embarrassed, self-conscious or prideful? The answer will tell you a lot about the area in which your faith needs to grow--this one comes under the heading of WORSHIP.

 

Questions to Ponder:

 

In a public restaurant do you suggest joining hands to give thanks to God before each meal? We all have problems we need to bring before God. When was the last time you got on your knees before Him? Were you uncomfortable? When we truly understand and acknowledge who God is, being on our knees--face down in the dirt -- is a very appropriate place to be. When was the last time you had a little dirt in your mouth?