Acts 19:1-7 (NRSV)
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Chapter 19While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. Verse 2He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Verse 3Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." Verse 4Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." Verse 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Verse 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied- Verse 7altogether there were about twelve of them.
Devotion
Often scripture is used to argue both for and against infant baptism. While our scripture reading today isn't often one of the passages cited, interestingly, it seems to say that sometimes even adult disciples do not fully understand entirely what baptism is about. Paul asks these disciples, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." I love that their answer is so human and so honestly real. They don't even pretend to understand the mysteries of God.
And yet God can and does act in their lives. Just because we don't totally understand something does not mean that God's hands are tied. It is the same with us. God can and does act in us and through us. We don't have to totally understand the ways of God to be instruments of God. Today may you allow yourself to be utilized by God.
Prayer
God of mystery, thank you for working in and through us even when we don't always understand your ways. Amen.