Thought for May 9

 History:

• 328: Athanasius elected Patriarch Bishop of Alexandria
• 1788: British Parliament accepts abolishment of slave trade
• 1868: Reno Nevada founded
• 1887: Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild Wets Show opens in London
• 1914: Woodrow Wilson proclaims Mother's Day
• 1941: Alan Turing breaks German codes after capturing Enigma Machine
• 1945: Baseball adopts balata ball--50% livelier
• 1958: "Vertigo"released
• 1961: Television called a "vast wasteland"
• 1980: Liberian freighter hits Skyway Bridge in Tampa-35 die
• 1980: "Friday the 13th" released
• 1992: Final episode of "Golden Girls"
• 2012: President Obama officially states his support for same-sex marriages
• Born: Dante Alighieri ["Dante's Inferno",  "Divine Comedy"], John Brown [Harper's Ferry], Harry Vardon, Henry Kaiser, Hank Snow, Mike Wallace, Pancho Gonzalez, Albert Finney, Glenda Jackson, Ralph Boston, Candice Bergen, Billy Joel, Tony Gwynn, 
• Died: William Bradford [Plymouth Colony], C.W. Post [cereal], Tenzing Norgay, Bob Devaney [Nebraska], Vidal Sassoon, Lena Horne, Little Richard, 

Katherine Hankey died on this day in 1911. She wrote "I Love to Tell the Story," and "Tell Me the Old Old Story." She taught Sunday School and led a Bible study for girls in her London neighborhood [known for its abolitionist position]. Became ill at age 30 and told to stay in bed for a year. While confined, she wrote a 100 stanza poem called "The Old, Old, Story." In 1887, a portion of the poem was read at the international convention of the YMCA as part of a sermon. William Doane heard the poem and wrote the song we sing as "Tell Me the Old, Old Story." Later, William Fischer set another portion of the poem to music we sing as "I Love to Tell the Story." 

Thought:

Interesting that today I am looking at Acts 2. As your read above, Katherine Hankey died on this day in 1911. Her poem, "The Old, Old, Story" inspired two hymns that we all know. In Acts 2, Peter is telling the crowd in Jerusalem the Old, Old Story of Jesus and His love. I have marked several words in verses 22-36. Yesterday, we looked at Christ's command to us to be witnesses. Today, Peter gives an example of how to bear witness for Christ. Notice:

• If you are in Christ, He has poured out His Spirit on you. [2:17] Peter tells us this was prophesied by Joel and fulfilled at Pentecost. With the Spirit we have power, strength, and the words to say.
• We have a message [2:21] Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Here is the gospel. There is salvation in only one name--Jesus. A judgment is coming [19-20]. If you want to be saved, there is only one name that can help---Jesus.
• Why Jesus?
• God proved Jesus was the Messiah by His miracles [2:22]. No one but God Himself could do the things Jesus did.
• Everything that happened was part of God's plan for redemption [2:23] Life is not happenstance, it is the plan of a sovereign God. Nothing surprises God or catches Him unprepared. 
• No one can change God's plan [2:24] Man may try to change God's plan by killing Jesus, but God's plan for redemption overpowers the forces of darkness and death--resurrection power raised Jesus from the dead in victory. 
• Jesus is with the Father, returned to His throne [2:33]. He is exalted--just as the Word says--humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you at the right time. 
• Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to empower His followers to fulfill His commands [2:33]
• Our sins crucified Christ--but God exalted Him as Lord and Christ--Savior, Redeemer. 

It is an old, old story. But it is true, and real, and the only story that has salvation as its end. 

So sing today, I love to tell the story, will be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old, story of Jesus and His love.

Blessings

Larry