Fanatics

Fanatics

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 5:42

A fanatic is someone who cannot change his mind, and will not change the subject. We admire the diehard sports fan. He wears his team jersey every game day. He has his team’s logo tattooed on his calf. His vehicle has the team logo, and support stickers all over it. We say, ‘He’s a fan!’ ‘Fan’ is short for ‘fanatic.’ The Apostles were fanatics. It is strange that it is acceptable to be a sports fanatic, but not a fanatic about the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.  What was it that made the Apostles ‘cease not?’ Was it merely that they had found a new fad to follow? Was it that they were seeking by their constant preaching and teaching to establish little kingdoms or followings for themselves? Absolutely not. They were simply excited about Someone Who had utterly transformed their lives. This was not about gain or personal aggrandizement in any way. Christ makes an exciting difference in the life of those whom He touches. Whether we point to the woman at the well, or the man born blind, or the maniac of Gadara, everyone of them were excited by what Christ had done for them. They were excited enough to tell everyone they knew about this Wonderful Person and His Amazing Grace. So it is really with us. Once we have beheld first-hand the Powerful, Transforming Christ, He becomes our unceasing subject; we are fanatics, and Christ is our constant subject.

Our most Powerful and Transforming Christ,
we give honor unto You today,
for the way in which You have changed our lives thus far,
and that You shall not cease Your work in us until
You have conformed us completely into Your own Great Likeness.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning