Message from the Pastor's Desk

READ ACTS 4: 1-13

While Janet and I were shopping in a department store some years ago, we happened to run into a fellow I hadn't seen in years. We had been rather close friends in high school but had lost touch after we both headed off to college and our lives began moving in different directions. As soon as we made eye contact we recognized one another and immediately exchanged a friendly embrace. "Wow, it's great to see you" I said. "You too", my old friend replied. I introduced Janet and she went off to shop some more and my friend and I started asking each other questions to get reacquainted. "How are you?" and "What have you been doing since high school?" we each asked the other. Other questions and answers followed; it was wonderful seeing this old friend. Then he said something I'll never forget. He said, "When I saw you from a distance I immediately thought you were your Dad". "You look just like your father" he said.

How does this happen? How can we resemble our parents so much? Well of course, it's because of our DNA, Deoxyribonucleic Acid, the genetic instructions that formulate the development and function of living organisms is the dictionary definition. DNA is the blueprint, the recipe or code that defines our make-up and shapes our appearance. DNA is what causes me to look like my Dad, or you; to resemble your Mom.

If there were a spiritual DNA, Peter and John had it. Following Pentecost the two disciples were changed men. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit changed their DNA patterns. They were different than before Pentecost. They acted different, sounded different even appeared different. As they stand before the Sanhedrin, the high ruling court in Judaism defending their public witness for Christ, Dr. Luke tells us in Acts 4, that simply by looking and listening to Peter and John, the counsel recognized that Peter and John "had been with Jesus". They were filled with Jesus' spiritual DNA.

Unlike, however, the DNA transmitted genetically from one generation to the next, spiritual DNA takes work on our part. As with Peter and John, we must yield our lives to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. With them, we must devote ourselves to prayer, God's Word and worship. We must be committed to growing in our relationship with Jesus, striving to become more Christ like in our attitudes and actions each day.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone you encountered each day looked at you and said: "Wow, when I saw you approaching at a distance I thought I saw Jesus coming towards me". May we devote ourselves to developing, with the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, our spiritual DNA that as people look at us they will see Jesus! How are you working to build your spiritual DNA?

Yours in Christ,

Pastor George Kaden