What Shall We Do?

"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he [Jesus] gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.'" - Acts 1:4

The roller coaster was real for the disciples. His capture, torture, death and finally resurrection was emotionally draining to say the least. After he spends a little more than a month with them, visiting, teaching, reminding them of the task at hand, he vanishes into the clouds. They are left with the question of what they should do? Their response? They wait just as asked. Their reward was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit some ten days later at Pentecost.

Acts chapter 2 outlines the moving of the Holy Spirit onto the disciples. They began to speak in foreign tongues and the people of the city heard them in their own languages! Some were amazed, but others were not. They believed the men to be drunk. it is at that moment that Peter teaches us the first principle of what shall we do?

We Should Stand For Truth

In Acts 2:14 we read that Peter "stood up with the eleven, raised his voice ad addressed the crowd." He tells them that the men are not drunk, but that the Holy Spirit has been given. He explains to them from the prophet Joel that there would be such an outpouring in the last days.

This is the same Peter who was afraid of a little girl and denied Jesus three times. The same Peter who went back to fishing after the death of Jesus. Her though, he stands for truth!

We Should Share The Truth

"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you." - Acts 2:22

 Peter shares the truth of Jesus' miracles as evidence. He shares the truth that he is Lord by the sharing of God's word (David's Psalms). If you have the courage to stand for truth, then have the courage to share the truth. The world may have grey in their morals and in their perspective of truth, but the bible is black and white. There is only true or false. Nature echos this principle: positive, negative; on, off; light, darkness. The truth is the Jesus is both LORD and Messiah. King and Redeemer. We can be sure of this. It will not change.

We Should Respond To Truth

Peter shared the truth of Jesus, his life, his ministry, the prophetic scriptures concerning him. Those who heard him asked the right question. It is the question we must face even today:

"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" 
- Acts 2:37 

We should not be surprised by this response. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that "The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword." It cuts to the heart of things. Jesus did not come to make better people. He came to give us life and that life begins with a new heart!

Takeaway From Today

What will you do when truth is presented? 2 Corinthians 6:2 proclaims that "TODAY is the day of salvation!" So today, what shall you do?