normal behavior
"When they heard this, they were deeply shaken." —Acts 2:37
If you went to a funeral home and saw a dead man get out of his casket and go home, what would a normal reaction be? It would be normal to react by becoming extremely excited, running around, and telling everybody. It would be normal to change your whole life to share this death-shattering news. It would be normal to act like Mary Magdalene — to cry, run, jump, and cling to Jesus (Jn 20:2, 11, 17).
All you have to do to witness to Jesus' resurrection is to act normally, to act appropriately to the real experience of Jesus risen. However, we act inappropriately because we give the false impression by our talk that we have deeply experienced the risen Christ. So our talk and our walk don't match. Witnesses must have really experienced something to be credible and get the message across to a "doubting-Thomas" world. Let's meet the risen Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. Then we can act normal and be overwhelmed by the risen Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, may I exhibit extreme behavior, which is normal under the circumstances of Your resurrection.
Promise: "You must reform and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, that your sins may be forgiven; then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." —Acts 2:38
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Who sends forth His Spirit!
Reference: (Surrender to Jesus by being a Bible teacher. For encouragement, order our tapes on the Bible Teachers Series. Our six-tape audio series starts with AV 117-1. Our three-part video series starts with V-117.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, August 18 8, 2004
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 23, 2004