Narrow Minded
by Cristy Williams
I was talking just recently about what Church would’ve looked like in those first few days after Pentecost. Peter has come back in full swing with Jesus’ authority to speak truth, thousands of God-fearing Jews are together, and the first Christian revival happens! Jesus’ disciples must have been awe-struck!
What was the lead up to the Holy Spirit’s first introduction? Jesus' disciples were together in constant prayer, waiting as Jesus commanded them to. They had ‘singleness of heart’ in their obedience. You could say the apostles were ‘narrow-minded’ in the task at hand. They had been given directions from their Lord to stay in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit and so ‘that was that’. This mix-matched group of disciples knew that Whoever this promised Holy Spirit was, He was going to be for their good and for the good of generations to come. We read about the immediate results that came from their obedience, setting the church in motion in Acts 2.
Later on in Acts we see this narrow-mindedness in Paul. Paul is brought before the Sanhedrin and almost torn apart by the teachers of the law. It’s then that the Holy Spirit tells him to go and testify in Rome. Paul is so narrow-minded about this assignment that he appeals to Caesar in his court case, when he could have been freed! Rome was the one thing on his mind.
Our western culture uses the term ‘narrow minded’ as being a negative, self-centred way of thinking. However, in light of the apostles, we need to walk a narrow road both in our thoughts and actions. Being Christ’s disciples means living by ‘One Way’, setting our course to God’s spoken destination. Without accurate directions, we’ll get lost every time. But with single-hearted determination, we will find life like we’ve never known.
‘Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it’ Matthew 7:13-14.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to us as our direction-giver. I choose to align my footsteps with Yours and go where You tell me to go. It is my joy to set my course on Your perfect destination for my life. Give me Your mind to stay the course. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Cristy Williams has been working for Ellel Ministries Canada since March 2008. She is the centre’s administrative assistant and is currently training in prayer ministry and teaching. She has a real passion for Quiver, Ellel’s Young People’s programme and leads on the Quiver vision team. She also enjoys leading worship with her hand drum.
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