Profoundly Common
All of my life, I've had this pressing desire to be uncommon—unique and authentic. Psychology says that some personalities tend toward that desire more than others. And lineage proves that it's catchy. You could say, it's common in the Lindstrom family to desire to be uncommon....
My siblings and I have all tried something a little different than most of our peers—starting a business or two, working a unique job, traveling and living in a new place, etc. The drive to be uncommon, somehow carving a new path of discovery, is deeply set within us—and in many other people, too.
One morning this week, as I read by lamp-light in our cozy kitchen, I was suddenly humbled and convicted by a subtle message given in Acts 4....
It was the disciples' commonness that caught the Sanhedrin's attention as Peter spoke the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Peter had just boldly addressed "the rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem" (Acts 4:5). One can imagine his words resonating in the stone walls as he spoke of the Old Testament prophets and the perfect fulfillment of their message found in Jesus Christ. Though Christ's blood was barely dried on the Sanhedrin's clothes, Peter spoke with confidence—brought forth from the Holy Spirit.
The disciples' commonness astonished them, and immediately they concluded that the men had been with Jesus.
That day, commonness radiated glory and praise that could only be offered back to it's Giver. The men were uneducated; who else could receive such credit?
How often I've longed to put on authenticity, hoping that it would be the key to catching others' attention and winning them to Christ. God so graciously reminds His children that it's our commonness that He clothes in His majesty—causing hearts to turn toward Himself.
Now, we pray that others may see Christ through our commonness, "everydayness" and say, "Surely, they have been with Jesus."
My siblings and I have all tried something a little different than most of our peers—starting a business or two, working a unique job, traveling and living in a new place, etc. The drive to be uncommon, somehow carving a new path of discovery, is deeply set within us—and in many other people, too.
One morning this week, as I read by lamp-light in our cozy kitchen, I was suddenly humbled and convicted by a subtle message given in Acts 4....
It was the disciples' commonness that caught the Sanhedrin's attention as Peter spoke the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Peter had just boldly addressed "the rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem" (Acts 4:5). One can imagine his words resonating in the stone walls as he spoke of the Old Testament prophets and the perfect fulfillment of their message found in Jesus Christ. Though Christ's blood was barely dried on the Sanhedrin's clothes, Peter spoke with confidence—brought forth from the Holy Spirit.
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus," (4:13).
The disciples' commonness astonished them, and immediately they concluded that the men had been with Jesus.
That day, commonness radiated glory and praise that could only be offered back to it's Giver. The men were uneducated; who else could receive such credit?
How often I've longed to put on authenticity, hoping that it would be the key to catching others' attention and winning them to Christ. God so graciously reminds His children that it's our commonness that He clothes in His majesty—causing hearts to turn toward Himself.
Now, we pray that others may see Christ through our commonness, "everydayness" and say, "Surely, they have been with Jesus."
LeAnna this is beautiful. I am once again so blessed by your simple profound truths. I am going to try to strive to be a pure hearted common person!
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