Before Pentecost the apostles were timid, huddled together for fear of the Jews, viewing life narrowly, testing values only in the candle light of human reason. But the swift action of the Holy Spirit changed all that, fundamentally and forever. They were borne, as it were, on the mighty wind of the Spirit, and no longer did they know what fear was, no longer would they be held back by opposition.
They sped forth into the streets and market places, on every side preaching Jesus and Him crucified. The Jews came hotly on their tracks, threw them into prison and would probably have put them to death only that they feared the people, and so they merely scourged them and let them out again with a solemn warning ringing in their ears.
They were overjoyed; they came forth from their jails, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ; they began all over again, with all the old fire of zeal, to gather the crowds and preach Jesus. Once more the authorities objected, only to be met with the uncompromising answer: "We ought to obey God rather than man; we cannot but speak of those things we have seen and heard."
Such a change from the frightened little company who fled in terror in Gethsemani! What a different Peter, this, from the man who trembled at the accusing voice of a servantgirl! What vigour, what terrific strength has now come to those friends of the Master who had hidden themselves in the corner!
The Holy Spirit still works a like effect in His Church. At once you will think of the names of men and women whose heroic endurance bears worthy comparison with what the first apostles had to suffer. Christ promised persecution to all who would stand loyal to Him, and there are thousands of His friends who today have gone into concentration camps, have endured unnamable tortures, have faced the mockery of a `trial," and have gone to death with a smile on their faces and a song in their hearts. And why? Because they would remain true to Christ and His Church.
Such mighty deeds are the outcome of a burning flame of love enkindled in their hearts by the Spirit of God. Theirs is no mean, parcelledout, nicely calculated service; they have thrown in their all to serve the Cause, and they are persuaded the Cause and the Leader are worthy of it a thousand times over. They come forth from the prison, rejoicing that they too were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ.
It is this spirit that is called for in the times in which we live. Lord, give it to me. I may or may not die a martyr's death, but at least let me begin to live a martyr's life. Your Spirit can "fill" my heart in the measure in which that heart is empty. Who would be so foolish as to refuse to exchange tinsel and pewter for diamonds and gold?