Cut to the Heart... and you're to blame!

Acts 2:37 "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

When you read Acts, you can't help but see a different Peter after the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and what you see of Peter in any of the gospels. There's no doubt that the person of the Holy Spirit iMpActs our lives in ways that cannot be accomplished any other way.

Years ago John Bon Jovi wrote the song Shot Through the Heart (bonus question: when was it written?).

Shot through the heart, and you're to blame
Darling, you give love a bad name
I play my part, and you play your game
You give love a bad name

As the Church, we represent the ultimate name; Jesus Christ... Love Himself. Unfortunately, many people (and at times me) have given Jesus/Love a bad name.

Remember Peter... Jesus asked Peter to follow Him and throughout scripture we see Peter make a fool of himself many times. He was a man of great passion and zeal, but lacked understanding in many things. Jesus even goes as far as rebuking Peter by saying "...get behind Me Satan..." (Mark 8:33). And when the time came when Jesus was to be arrested in the garden, Peter took a sword and tried to cut off a soldiers head, but missed and cut off his ear (John 18:10-11).

I can't help but see the iMpAct and transformation that Holy Spirit did in Peter's life. Peter goes from cutting ears with human weapon - sword, in his own zeal and ignorance trying to make an impact his way. Now using the Sword of God's Word by under the influence of the Holy Spirit, to cut to the heart of people - making a divine impact that changes the lives of 3000 people.

For those of us who have become followers of Jesus, there's a lesson to be learned here: our good intentions fall short. When we play the game of trying to rely on our own understanding and do things the way we think is best... we give Love/Jesus a bad name. We must fully rely on the Holy Spirit to impact our lives: our motives, attitudes and impulsive actions.

Allow the Holy Spirit to cut through to our hearts.

Here's an iMpAct Prayer:
Lord help me decrease so that You can increase.