Just this morning, as Sarah (my oldest daughter) was getting ready for school, she said, “Do you remember those vanilla ice cream bars they used to sell at Costco? I think my school is now selling them in the lunchroom and I’m going to get one today!”
We can save the conversation about a school selling ice cream for another time. What got me excited was how excited she was about vanilla ice cream. She didn’t want the one dipped in chocolate. No sprinkles. No nuts.
She was excited about vanilla.
But it’s so plain. So ordinary. So…well…vanilla.
Quick Side Note: Here’s a tiny – but amazing – thing that happened. I had already planned to base this post on the verse I’m about to share. I normally block out Monday mornings to write. Due to various circumstances, I didn’t get my writing time Monday morning. As I was pondering this post, I was really struggling with how to start it. The mini-conversation with Sarah about vanilla ice cream bars happened on Tuesday morning.
Before sharing the “one verse,” here’s a quick summary of Acts 3:1-4:12…
- Peter and John heal a crippled beggar.
- Peter and John tell the crowd Jesus actually did the healing.
- The religious people don’t like all this “Jesus talk” and throw Peter and John in jail for the night.
- In the morning they ask Peter and John, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
- Peter says, “Hmmm…I think I’m going to go with…JESUS!”
Now for one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible – Acts 4:13 (NIV):
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
I love this verse! It is encouraging, challenging, empowering, and a perspective shift – all in two sentences. Whenever I read this verse, it completely resets my approach to reading and studying the Bible.
First…the perspective too many of us have.
Do you feel like you know the Bible well enough? Or…like so many…do you find yourself frequently telling yourself, “I should read the Bible more. I should know it better. I should be more consistent.”?
I meet very few people who don’t find all these “should” statements entering too frequently into their inner conversation. How about you?
Too often, we think that knowledge will lead to boldness. We believe that once we understand the Bible more, God will be able to use us. Once we have taken a Spiritual Gifts Course, or read a few more apologetics books, then we will have enough answers to speak up for Jesus boldly.
Hogwash.
Second…the perspective we need to cultivate.
Do you see the words and phrases used to describe Peter and John?
“ordinary”
“no special training in the Scriptures”
Don’t quote me on this, but I think the original Greek of the word “ordinary” might be “vanilla.” (wink)
You and I read the Bible and see Peter as a rock or pillar of the early church. We see John as “the one Jesus loved.” We see them as anything but vanilla. But that’s who they were.
Peter and John were regular, ordinary, vanilla guys.
No special training. No educational, financial, or positional clout.
And now the clincher…
Did you notice the last phrase in the verse?
…they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
And there it is. The focus of it all. Being with Jesus.
You are not going to the Word for “special training.” The purpose isn’t to become extraordinary. After all, Jesus is in the business of using our ordinariness to display His extraordinariness. (BTW – I looked those up and they are real words!)
You are going to the Word to be with Jesus. To hang out with Him. To get to know Him. To foster the relationship you said “yes” to 40 years ago – or 40 minutes ago.
You’ve heard me say it before (and you’ll hear me say it again many times): God’s desire is for you to study the Bible relationally…not just informationally.
Hmmm…that vanilla ice cream bar is starting to sound pretty good…
Is your tendency to read the Bible informationally, or relationally? What is one step you can take to develop a more relational mindset?
Great verse and really appreciate your blog post. “The purpose isn’t to become extraordinary….” Yes, if our focus in ourselves, instead of getting to know Him more, I can also see why reading the Bible would become boring, or mundane. (and have experienced that myself). So much in life can affect us one way or another depending on who we are focused on. Or, if we are someone who doesn’t even believe in God, and we read the whole Bible, as a test to see if God exists, it makes sense to me that one wouldn’t see Him. We’re the one calling the test, so the focus is on us, not Him. The step of faith to trust and connect with a real divine being is essential because it’s His relational word. The living word. It’s like reading a book all about your Dad, but denying that your Dad exists at all, and then afterwards saying, “well I didn’t see your Dad in anything that I read.” Right…because you haven’t chosen to know him. We can get information from lots of sources, but true relationship with a real living and loving God in only one place, through Jesus Christ. Doing the 4-month Bible Read Through this year has been wonderful so far – only a week into the year, and I already see change in my life. Can’t wait to see where God takes me at the end of these 4 months!
Can’t wait to hear what you think of the BRT! Praying…
Thanks for this timely word today, Keith. I hope this won’t seem off-topic, but I ‘get’ the reason to read the Word, well mostly. Have really taken off with it since your visit to our town but…I struggle with prayer in many of those same ways–“I should pray, pray more, enjoy this….” And it occurs to me today that this same reason you offer applies also to prayer. It’s not a duty but a privilege of relationship designed to grow us in that relationship—sharing our hearts with the Father and having Him share His with us. Prayer and the Word intermingle in this way, even in our Bible reading times. Does this make sense? Thanks for sharing this today. It’s just what the Great Physician ordered for my soul, today.
I couldn’t agree more Dawn. The relational mindset absolutely applies to prayer as well. I think prayer is particularly difficult because most of us don’t “do quiet” very well. I have found the more I practice silence, stillness, and prayer the easier it becomes and the more I long for it.
Great reminder Keith! Thank you. Our church has just finished studying the book of Eph. And I never realized/always glossed over the words “the Spirit” in “…& the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” -Eph. 6:17 ESV
The Spirit/God’s presence/Jesus Himself (part of the trinity); which Jesus gives us full access to by what He has done for us & us continuing to focus on what He has done for us; is what Helps us know Him/the Word, love the Him/Word, gives us power to be changed by the Him/Word & to change others by Him/the Word.
So being with Jesus is everything for us personally & our ministries… (& it’s A-MAZing!) 😀 The best relationship I’ve ever known!
Such a cool thought Brandon. I just shared Ephesians last night at a church here in Seattle. They’re doing 12-week series. Ephesians is one of my absolute favorite books in the whole Bible. Love the focus on IDENTITY for the first three chapters before diving into application for the last three. Thanks for sharing Brandon.
Yeah it is awesome.
Your welcome; thanks for writing.
Speaking of Costco, here in Vancouver there is a man named Teddy who works primarily as a greeter. He landed there when Goodwill placed him there. He fits the description of ordinary only in the sense that (I don’t think) he has had any special training in religious studies. But he stands out because he tells everyone leaving Costco that he loves Jesus – either by saying “God bless you, sister/bother” or telling you you have a great smile, or singing a hymn, and if you engage him he will tell you about his relationship with Jesus. He spots the Believers in the crowd and gives them special messages. Everyone walks out of there with a smile on their face.
A few years ago, he got sick. Someone started a facebook page. The page swelled with posts from people all over the county telling what an inspiration or angel or messenger from God, or kind person he had been to them. Believers and non, they all remarked on how happy he made them feel. This is a vanilla guy being the hands and feet of Jesus every day 🙂
Amen Jona! Our church’s “motto” is “Ordinary people living the extraordinary way of Jesus.” Sounds like Teddy is doing this every day!
I have read through the Bible a number of times and this year I am concentrating on the New Testament. When I fall behind a couple of days I always worry about catching up; almost as if I were doing it for someone else or because I am SUPPOSED to do it.
They thought that I am doing it to “Spend time with Jesus” changes that. Now if I fall behind I hope that I have the attitude “Great, now I get to spend more time with God today.”
I hope that is the case as well Greg! God is not “disappointed” in us when we miss that time. He just wants that time to happen! (Rumor has it, He kind of likes you!) 🙂
Keith, this is great! I love that this verse highlights how it’s our being with Jesus that enables our ordinary humanity to be a channel for God to do the extraordinary.
Thanks Jon. Seems weird to say this, but even as the words “Jesus is in the business of using our ordinariness to display His extraordinariness” I felt like God was writing those words not just through me, but FOR me. I’m so glad they were helpful for you as well.
Thank you. Great insight, very helpful.
So glad to hear that Helen.
I think your daughter’s comment was a God appointment.
Thank you for highlighting these verses for me as they are also perfect for showing those who think that you need a gift to evangelize that ordinary people, with no Scriptural training, can speak of Jesus – I’ll use them when I’m teaching people how to find the guts to share.
Now to your question – thank you for asking whether I read informationally or relationally. Sad to say it’s probably mostly the former. You’ve opened my eyes to that now and things will change.
God bless you for this post, Keith.
I couldn’t agree more Bobbie. I have a friend who calls coincidence “holy happenstance.” I definitely feel like Sarah’s words were exactly that. I’m so glad it was an encouragement and blessing to you as well.
Well said. Yes. We are ordinary. And yes we just need his presence. Getting ready to deliver a eulogy for a 25 yr old man who is our dear friends son and needing God’s extraordinary power working through me. Lord have your way in our ordinary and show your power! Thanks Keith.
Sarah…As someone who has heard you process grief, healing, words of comfort, and the ministry of “presence,” I already know that God will use you to be an agent of His grace and His healing for everyone present. Go boldly, sister.
Thank you dear friend. I needed that.
I love this verse, too! Thanks for the perspective this morning as I head off to start a new year of teaching. It can be so easy, for someone who imparts worldly knowledge for a living, to forget that it’s not about the knowledge at all. GREAT way to start my first day back! Thank you.
Thanks Kendra. Press on. I think you know I’m married to a teacher and I used to be a school counselor – so I have a soft spot in my heart for educators!