You.

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts two, verse two. I was sitting at the kitchen table reading my bible when the windows began to rattle and shake. At first I thought it was an earthquake. However, the sound of a fighter jet passing overhead quickly dispensed that notion and solved the mystery. The rattling of the windows and the roar in the sky let me know that a jet was present, even though I did not see the plane with my own eyes. This rather common experience brought to mind the passage from acts two that I noted a moment ago. After Jesus had risen from the grave and ascended into heaven, his disciples were alone, or so they thought. But on the day of Pentecost, a big wind came through the house where they were together. To be more exact, it was the sound of a big wind that filled the whole house. What was going on? Well, in impressive fashion, God was making his presence known. Even though the disciples could not see him, there was no doubt that he was present in that place with them. Part of our mission as christians is to rattle the windows and make enough noise in our neighborhoods that it makes people ask what's going on. Too often we leave the discovery of God up to chance. If people find him, they find him. And if not, well, that's life. But Jesus didn't command us to go into the world and be silent. He commanded us to go into the world and preach the gospel. And we can't do that without making some noise and rattling some windows. The disciples needed the sound of a mighty wind to realize that the Lord was present. And perhaps the people in our world need us to make some noise and rattle some windows and shake some things up in order to get their attention and help them realize that God is just as present in our world as he was in the days of the disciples of old. I'm not suggesting that we stage demonstrations or pound on people's doors at all hours of the day and night. But I am suggesting that we get serious about preaching the gospel with our lives so that the people around us will be better able to recognize that the Lord is present in us and can be present in them as well.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.