Everybody loves “Before and After” photos. Photos that show what something or someone looked like before an event.
Unfortunately advertisers know of our love for "before and after" pictures. It’s hard to think of a product where they are not at least subtly working in a before and after theme. (The woman is frowning with her old vacuum, surrounded by filth and dust, then smiling with her new vacuum). The most obvious example is with weight loss products, diet programs and JERED from Subway.
Another product that relies heavily on ‘before and after’ photos, one that I have been looking into recently, are hair regrowth products. Rogain would go out of business without the pictures of a bald guy who re-grew three or four of his hairs.
Home Improvement shows are super popular and everybody loves to look at ‘before and after’ shots of a remodeling project. My favorite are the shows that are based on some form of contest where they can take a kitchen like this and within 24hours and a $50 budget turn it into a kitchen of your dreams. It’s really amazing what they can do.
But actually the BIBLE gives us one of the best ‘before and after’ depictions with the disciples. Throughout the gospels (Matt, Mark, Luke, John) we see these guys questioning, doubting, misrepresenting and ultimately betraying Jesus. In fact, it wasn’t until Jesus left this earth after his death and resurrection, that we really begin to see the remarkable change occur in these men.
In Acts 2 we read about the day of Pentecost where the Holy Spirit came with power upon these men and radically transformed their lives. This ‘rag tag’ group of fishermen and tax collectors became the leaders of the first century church. They healed the sick, took care of the poor, cast out demons, and spoke with so much authority that the only way people could explain it was to say, “Those are the guys who were with Jesus.”
In the Gospels Jesus completely redefined God… In the Book of Acts the Holy Spirit completely redefined what it meant to be the people of God.
In Peter’s sermon he tells everyone that the kingdom of God has finally arrived and that this Holy Spirit led living is no longer just for a select few but that now the Lord will pour out his Spirit on all flesh. Young and old, rich and poor. Everyone now has access to this supernatural power to live by.
This weekend we concluded our series, Holy Spirit Led Living, with a message from Romans 8:9-17 where Paul explains how Holy Spirit led followers of Jesus can expect to have supernatural power in their lives to overcome temptation and live victoriously.
I think it’s helpful for us to take a snapshot of our own lives. What was my life like before I encountered the Holy Spirit? What would it look like after I really learned to follow the leading of the Spirit? Is my life, right now, today, truly Holy Spirit Led Living?
Boy, you are on a roll! I love it! This has been a good, productive weekend!
Posted by: Karen Stewart | May 30, 2007 at 07:49 AM