Beginnings and Endings

I always find it interesting when I "see" connections being made. A couple days ago I had written about rebooting this blog and yesterday I had been thinking about some possible entries. Today I decided to check out a new devotional using my Logos software - Connect the Testaments: A Daily Devotional. The entry for today focuses on Acts 2:1-41, the story of Pentecost. As the devotion writer Rebecca Kruyswijk notes, the story is about beginnings. They may not have realized it at the time, but the early Christians who were present were part of the beginning of the new Christian church.

As we spend time this weekend celebrating Labor Day, many people see it as a time of ending. The end of summer, the end of vacations for a while, the end of their time off from school. Many are preparing themselves to put their noses back to the grindstone until the next big batch of holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas - roll around and they get another respite. Likewise, for Jesus' followers, it would have been an easy time to bring things to an end. The reign of the Messiah on earth had seemingly come to an end. Time to get back to being good members of the Jewish community and paying attention to their customary work.

Fortunately, those early Christians did not see things that way. Instead, they tapped into the enthusiasm of Pentecost and began their work of spreading the gospel. We need to do the same thing. As we start the fall season, we can all renew our efforts and excitement in spreading the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ.