Thank You, Father, for the wherewithal to get through so much in my preparation for Sunday’s service. Even in the middle of the demands of life, You enabled me to focus on important things, and manage some not-so-important things as well.
Acts 2:37-41 (<<click here to read the passage)
Karen, who teaches 1st Grade, has had as many as 24 students in her classroom to handle on her own, striving to motivate them to learn and grow throughout an entire day. Currently, she has 18, which is lower than usual, but she still has her hands full.
Before Massey was born, she taught music at a Christian school in the Columbus area. She had individual classes of manageable numbers but when they were combined for Christmas programs, she had well over 300 students with which to work (and did an absolutely marvelous job, by the way!)
At present, I could have as many as 42 elementary students on my bus, give or take a few. My bus is designed to seat 72 if I had three in every seat! At that point, I would imagine things would get a little crazier than they already are some days! (Some of our drivers have quite a few more students than I do.)
Keep in mind, the majority of our buses (except for pre-school and special needs routes) have one lone adult – the driver! So, we are managing X-number of students while driving a multi-ton vehicle over hill and dale, in all kinds of weather. We also have to contend with the inpatient drivers of other vehicles, deer crossings, potentially fallen limbs, and occasionally wandering livestock, just to name off a few of the extra challenges we have! But we do it every day!
When we read verse 41 of today’s passage, it is quite astonishing!
So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. AMP
That is absolutely awesome! But…the situation in which those in leadership found themselves was to train up 3,000 people in the teachings and mindset of Jesus, the Messiah.
Acts 1:15 tells us that there were about 120 believers gathered in an upper room when the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost. With a group that size, I’m sure there would have been a wide variety of talents and abilities. Equally, there would probably not have been an even dispersion of Biblical training among them – and remember at that time their “Bible” would only have included what we would consider the Old Testament. Some would have followed Jesus, heard His teachings, and seen Him work amongst the people, from the beginning while others more than likely came along as time passed.
Even if you divided the 3000 evenly amongst the 120 that would have been 24 people apiece. From a strictly human standpoint, it would have been nigh impossible, but in and through the Holy Spirit it was accomplished! And in just a few short days, with a further proclamation on Peter’s part, the number of men who believed…totaled about 5,000! (Acts 4:4) And the Holy Spirit still worked in their midst and great things were accomplished on behalf of the Kingdom!
Though we often do, followers of Christ really should pay no heed to the word impossible, and we think some situations are more than we can handle. If we are in line with God’s will, there is certainly nothing that cannot be done!
Jan 10th, 2022, Mon, 7:23 pm
