Who makes the rules?

The first two chapters of the book of Acts include the activities of the followers of Jesus, after the Lord had been crucified, buried, and raised from death.  The disciples were hanging around in Jerusalem, where Jesus told them to wait for the promise God was going to give them. A replacement was selected for Judas, the Holy Spirit had come upon the apostles and the strangest thing happened.

It had been seven weeks since the resurrection and believers were meeting together in one place. Then there was a sound from heaven like a mighty wind storm. What looked like flames or tongues of fire settled on the apostles.  All were filled with the Holy Spirit and started talking in languages which were previously unknown to them. Those who were listening, people from all around, were able to hear and understand in their own native language. 

Peter preached to the crowd, and we know this first gospel sermon resulted in three thousand being baptized. They were joined with the other believers in fellowship, teaching, prayers and breaking bread.  The Lord's church was born and was off to a powerful start. 

Acts 3 comes along and tells the story of Peter and John meeting a crippled man who had to be carried to the gate of the Temple every day to beg for money and food. Through their conversation and encounter with this man, he was healed and could walk and run and jump.  Everyone around the Temple was surprised at this event and stood in awe that it had happened. 

Peter used this as an opportunity to preach.  Here is what he said, “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."

I'm still amazed after this demonstration of the power of God through his messenger, Peter, there were still those who chose not to believe. I do understand how these new things came along and replaced a law of strict rule keeping and adherence to former traditions, with  the concept of a God who loves us, extends his grace and forgiveness to us, and wants us in fellowship with him. Some were obviously more interested in the "control" they had over those around them. 

We still have those self-appointed guardians of the truth among us today, still holding us to a truth of methods and rules, while God is calling us with the love of a father. While rules and methods may be important, our God says he just wants us to love him.  He knows when we love him as we should, the rules and methods will fall into place, not because we earn our relationship with him, but because he welcomes us into his presence. 

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