Fire on my Head

Having waited in Jerusalem as Jesus instructed, Acts 2 begins with the Holy Spirit blowing onto the scene in a powerful and life-changing (also culture-changing) way. The followers of Jesus had responded to His instructions and His love by a surrendered, self-emptyied (kenosis) waiting. As empty vessels, the Holy Spirit filled them to overflowing in Acts 2, and as Jesus told them in Acts 1:8, they became bold witnesses.

One of the greatest joys of my life is to be the father of 2 young boys. The same morning I felt prompted to begin blogging was the same morning I felt prompted to study the book of Acts personally and with my family this summer. I sensed the best way to do this with the boys was to have them act out portions each evening. On the first evening we acted out Acts 1, and they really seemed to enjoy it.

We pretended we had a fire in the living room floor, which we sat around like we do when we're camping. My oldest is 6 years old right now, and we have been reading one of his picture Bibles together since not long after he was born. We acted out Acts 1 as Jesus spoke about the Kingdom and instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came. Then we stood together staring up into the sky as the disciples did, and the youngest got to play the part of the angels. It was at this point that my oldest immediately jumped into the story of Acts 2 when the Spirit falls. He's been through that segment enough times in the past that he began to describe to his younger brother (3 yrs old) what happened next. When he explained that they had "fire on their heads" when the Holy Spirit came, the 3 yr old immediately put his head down into our fake fire in the living room floor. He then got up and began running around the room yelling, "There's fire on my head! There's fire on my head!" It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. My wife laughed so hard she fell off the couch.

What a joy it is to see them loving God's Word. While reading and acting it out together daily is important, I recognize that how I live or don't live kenosis every day before them is just as strong a witness. I must admit that my home seems to be the most difficult place for me to surrender my pride, my rights, and my own desires and to empty myself to the point of really allowing the Spirit to love them through me. This is my desire Lord Jesus. I lay me down and ask You to fill me with Your Spirit. Teach me to love and to lead as You love and lead me.