After the Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples, they “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4b NIV84). The people who heard them were Jews from various parts of the then-known world, and as they listened, they were both “bewildered” and “amazed”. They knew the Disciples were Galileans, largely uneducated, and what we might call “country bumpkins,” so to hear them speak in various languages seemed utterly preposterous.
Even so, they understood enough to recognize that the Disciples were praising God. Some of the people said, “…We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11b NIV84). However, they had no idea what it all meant. There were others in the crowd who were hecklers. They weren’t about to believe, no matter what the Disciples said. They even claimed that the Disciples must be drunk.
We’ve all probably experienced similar reactions to the miracles of God in our own lives. When God moves in mighty ways, some marvel at His power and praise Him for His goodness, while others scoff at His power and credit humans with His miracles. The latter are the ones who not only doubt but attempt to humiliate those who believe in His power. They may not call us drunk, but they won’t hesitate to call us Bible Thumpers, or Goody Two-Shoes, or Holier-than-Thou, or fanatics. Unfortunately, some of us probably fall somewhere between these two groups.
My questions for myself and for you are: Are you actively looking for the power of God in your life? You may not see Him cause people to speak in other languages or cause a crippled man to walk, but be assured that He is working in power in mighty ways. Do you purposely look for answers to your prayers, or do you credit His healings to the medical experts? When hecklers challenge your faith, do you stand firm, as Peter did, or do you hang your head and slowly slip away, hoping you won’t be noticed?
Those are questions that can only be answered between each individual and God. The Psalmist, David, said it like this, “Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. …I wash my hand in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 26:2 -3, 6 – 7 NIV84. We can be amazed at the power of our mighty God, or we can sneak away when faced with the unbelief of hecklers. It’s our choice!
Read: Acts 2:4 – 13 & Psalm 26
Food for Thought
- When you pray for God to move in your life or the life of others, do you look for where He is working? If not, what do you need to do differently?
- How can you respond with the love of Jesus to those who “heckle” your belief?
Musings from My Sun Porch 
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