Where Are You God?

“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them” (Acts 14:16–18).

As Barnabus and Paul made their way through the southern regions of Asia Minor on their first missionary journey, they encountered various reactions to their ministry.  But an incident in Lystra prompts the strangest reaction yet.  Paul heals a man who had been lame from birth.  The local worshipers of pagan gods reason that they have been blessed with a visit from two of their patron deities, Zeus and Hermes.  Much to the consternation of the missionaries, the locals begin to prepare sacrifices to offer in their honor.

The servants of the true God are understandably appalled at this and they strongly voice their disapproval.  As part of their efforts to stop the proceedings, Paul reminds the crowd that part of the reason for his preaching was to encourage them to “...turn from these vain things to a living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them” (Acts 14:15).  What is implied is that this God alone should be worshiped.

The evidence for the true God is all around for those with the vision and the will to see it.  “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1).  “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).  Sadly, some refuse to see what is right in front of them.  The natural world is a billboard pointing to the One who made it.  Will we choose to see it?

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Quiet Calls For Help

“A longtime UPS driver was hailed as a hero for calling cops after he spotted a woman’s desperate plea for help scrawled on a package — saving her from being held captive and sexually assaulted by her husband in their Missouri home, authorities said.

Sgt. T.J. Wild of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department told KMOV.com that the unidentified driver “made a huge difference” in Tuesday’s arrest of James Jordan, 33, of Robertsville. Investigators said the driver went to Jordan’s home after being called to pick up a package and took it at the front door from Jordan’s wife, who had written “contact 911” on it. The driver then left the home and alerted authorities.

“The woman’s harrowing ordeal began late Monday, according to court documents, when Jordan allegedly prevented her from leaving their home or using the phone. Jordan allegedly beat her, put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her. He also allegedly dragged her back into the home by her hair when she tried to escape, KMOV.com reported. The couple’s 3-year-old child allegedly was locked inside a room for several hours as the abuse went on, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

“A SWAT team was called to the home and eventually took Jordan into custody. He later was charged with domestic assault, sodomy, felonious restraint, unlawful use of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.”*

            Some calls for help are loud and unmistakable.  In such cases there is no doubt about the need for assistance.  Other pleas for help, like in the story above, are more subtle and guarded, yet just as desperate.  Jesus was a master at sensing the not-so-obvious appeals.  For example, in the midst of a pressing crowd, the Savior perceived the need of a hurting woman who merely touched his garments (Mark 5:25-34).

            Lord, may we have eyes to see and ears to hear the quiet calls for help as we make our way through a noisy world.

 

God loves you!

Mike

*https://nypost.com/2016/12/09/woman-held-captive-saved-after-writing-note-to-ups-driver/amp/ 

Who Is Judging Whom?

“The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord.  But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming.  Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:44-46).

Sometimes unbelievers are quick to criticize the God they claim doesn’t exist.  He is castigated as harsh, unloving, and judgmental.  They say things like: “How could a loving God send anyone to hell?”  Well, guess what?  We agree on something.  I don’t believe in that kind of God either.  These kinds of statements reveal a basic misunderstanding of the character of God and what He is doing in the world.  As Paul discloses in the text above, when one rejects the offer of salvation through Christ, that person judges himself or herself unworthy of eternal life.  Did you catch that?  Who is doing the judging?  It is the unrepentant sinner, not God!

This quote describes it well: “God doesn’t send anyone to Hell. It was never His design to send people to Hell. It breaks the heart of God to see people, made in His image, make the deliberate choice to go to Hell. Hell was not made for people; it was made for the angelic being, Satan, who rebelled against God. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says the everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. Scripture also teaches, “[God] is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). That is why God sent Jesus to die on the cross in our place—to bridge the gap between sinful people and a Holy God. The gates of Hell are locked from the inside. If you end up in Hell, you will practically have to climb over Jesus to get there” (harvest.org).

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Invisible Labels

“The car ahead was moving like a turtle and not getting out of my way in spite of my continuous honking. I was on the brink of losing my cool when I noticed the small sticker on the car’s rear bumper. “Physically challenged -- please be patient.” And that changed everything! I immediately calmed down and slowed my pace. In fact I got a little protective of the car and the driver. I reached work a few minutes late, but it was okay. And then it struck me.  Why couldn’t I have been patient even without a sticker? Why do we need stickers to be patient with people!?  Would we be more patient and kind with others if people had labels pasted on their foreheads?  Labels like: “Lost my job” -- “Fighting cancer” -- “Going through a bad divorce” -- “ Suffering Emotional abuse” -- "Lost a loved one” -- “Feeling worthless” -- “ Financially broken”..... and more like these? Everyone is fighting a battle we know nothing about. The least we can do is try to be patient and kind. Let us respect the invisible labels” (author unknown).”

Jesus was excellent at this.  The gospel records speak often of the compassion of the Savior.  Of course, He had the divine ability to look into people’s hearts and see what was going on there.  That certainly is an advantage in these kinds of situations.  But we don’t have to be the Son of God to be compassionate and patient with those around you.  We don’t need to be able to read minds and hearts to not jump to conclusions regarding the actions of others.

But we do need to “...put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…” (Colossians 3:12).  We do need to “...not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).  We should “...bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves” (Romans 15:1).

Is it hard work?  Yes.  But it’s the only way to begin to see the invisible labels.

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Missing The Message

“Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.  For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him.  And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed.  When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb” (Acts 13:26-29).

Sometimes we miss the message.  The Jewish nation did that very thing according to Paul as he spoke in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch.  He begins his speech with a history lesson, recounting the history of the old covenant people from the choice of Abraham all the way up to the arrival of the One sent to save them (Acts 13:17-25).  But, then, the lesson takes a somber turn.  They missed the message!  Instead of receiving their Deliverer, they rejected, condemned, and had Him executed.  End of story, right?  Not by a long shot.

“But God raised Him from the dead…” (Acts 13:30).  I love the “but God” moments in the Bible.  Just when all hope seems lost, God resurrects hope.  Even a dead Messiah can’t derail God’s rescue plan. Forgiveness and freedom are still an option for those who reconsider the message (Acts 13:38-39). No wonder the synagogue crowd kept begging “...that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath” (Acts 13:42).

There’s hope for those of us who have missed the message, perhaps making a mess of things in the process.  There’s hope because the Author of the message doesn’t give up easily.  He can even take the mess we’ve made and use it to our advantage.  It doesn’t get much messier than a crucified Messiah.  And yet, the message of forgiveness and freedom continues to be offered to those who hear and respond in faith.  “But God…”

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Strong Words

“But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:8-10).

As these verses exemplify, sometimes strong and direct language is the right response. I’m reminded of John the Baptizer’s words to describe some of the Jewish leaders who came to him to be immersed.  He referred to them as “a brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7).  Jesus Himself used strong words on occasion.  Speaking to the many of the scribes and Pharisees, He called them “hypocrites,” “blind guides,” “fools and blind men,” “serpents,” as well as a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 23).  In His parable of the tares, Jesus spoke of His opponents as “sons of the evil one” (Matthew 23:38).  Rather than being true children of God, Jesus identified His detractors as children of the devil (John 8:44).  Paul pronounced a curse on those who would pervert the gospel (Galatians 1:8-9).  So the precedent is there.  Sometimes tough words are needed.

But did you notice something?  Strong language in each case was reserved for those who were actively opposing God and the faith and abusing others in the process.  Yes, Jesus did sometimes speak to His own followers in direct terms, but not in the way described above.  There is no justification here for using such language against other believers.  We are called to a higher standard.  “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).  “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth” (Colossians 3:8).

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Basking In The Wrong Glory

“When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there. Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:19–23).

Perhaps at least partly due to the embarrassment he experienced over the mysterious disappearance of Peter, Herod was in no mood to be trifled with. As king, he was used to being fawned over and recent events had left him especially needy for human accolades. The meeting with the residents of Tyre and Sidon might be just what he needed to boost his sagging ego. As he took his place before the crowd in all his royal finery, I can imagine Herod smiling as he heard the swelling cry of the adoring masses: “The voice of a god and not of a man!”

But God wasn’t smiling.  Sometimes, the judgment of God is delayed.  But this was not one of those times.  For accepting praise that only the true God of heaven deserved, Herod was immediately judged by God and died shortly thereafter. This event serves as a reminder to resist any temptation to carelessly bask in glory due to God. Judgment may not be as swift as in Herod’s case, but God still notices. It’s territory where both humans and angels should fear to tread (Acts 10:25-26; 14:11-15; Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9).

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Can God Handle It?

“Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God” (Acts 12:1–5).

Things were certainly not looking good for the Apostle Peter.  While he had previously experienced trouble in Acts for preaching the gospel, this was something more ominous.  James, his fellow apostle, had been put to death.  Playing to the crowds, it appeared that Peter would be Herod’s next target.  Thoughts of martyrdom had to be running through his mind as he lay chained between two soldiers and finally drifted off to sleep.

But God wasn’t done with Peter yet.  An angel is sent to the prison and a miraculous jailbreak takes place.  The event is so unexpected that Peter sleepily thinks he is seeing a vision.  As he eventually makes his way to where other believers are having a prayer meeting on his behalf, even they have trouble believing God has answered their prayers in this way.  But there he was, standing before them -- living proof that no situation was too difficult for God.

Things may not be looking too good for you right now.  Perhaps you are in a difficult situation in life.  I can’t promise you that God will miraculously step in and change things for you like He did for Peter.  He might, but that’s up to God.  But if you are His child, I can assure you that there is no set of circumstances that are beyond God’s ability to handle, one way or another.  Trust Him for that.

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Is Money The Answer?

An article by Mary Stringini on ktvu.com (7-1-22) had some distressing news: “If you want to know how much money you need to make to be happy living in California, the simple answer is "a lot." A survey from Purdue University and GoBankingRates.com found that you need a minimum annual salary of $149,310 to be happy in California, citing "California’s notoriously high cost of living…The study also noted that the ideal income for "life satisfaction" in North America is $105,000…Which states require a higher salary than California in order to be happy? Only New York and Hawaii. In New York, the minimum salary needed to be happy is $155,610. Whereas in Hawaii, you need to be making over $202,965 in order to be happy, the survey found.”

There you have it.  No wonder there are so many cranky people around.  It’s merely a lack of cash.  It’s too bad the Scriptures didn’t get the memo.  The Bible has a different perspective on the matter.  Jesus Himself said these words: “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).  The preacher of Ecclesiates tried much in the search for happiness and found that money wasn’t the answer: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity” (Ecclesiastee 5:10).

If money could assure happiness, there would be no bitter, reclusive millionaires.  But we know better, don’t we?  By way of contrast, the Bible links joy to things like repentant sinners (Luke 15:7,10,32), unity (Philippians 2:2), suffering for the kingdom (Philippians 2:17, James 1:2), faithfulness (3 John 4), and the proclamation of Christ (Philippians 1:18) -- all things that have no direct connection to money.

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude” (Denis Waitley).

God loves you!

Mike 

Thinking Outside The Box

“An elderly Italian man living alone in New Jersey wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, since the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament: “Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over.. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Papa.”

A few days later he received a letter from his son: “Dear Pop, Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie.” At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son: “Dear Pop, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances”” (borrowed).

Sometimes you have to “think outside the box” even though it can be difficult. It’s easy to become prisoners to a way of thinking that prevents us from seeing a solution.  Many of the Jews of Jesus’ day had this problem.  They had a picture of the Messiah in their minds that neatly fit in their “box.”  But along comes Jesus who didn’t fit in the “box.”  What then?  Instead of redesigning their “box,” they rejected the very One sent to save them.  “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).

Don’t let your spiritual “boxes” keep you from thinking creatively.  The answer to your dilemma may lie beyond the fences you have carefully constructed.  Your borders may be blinding you from the truth God wants you to see.

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Lulled Into Carelessness

“Steve Green, who sang six years with Bill and Gloria Gaither, tells about getting to know some of the work crews in the large auditoriums where their concerts were held. The Gaithers prefer concerts-in-the-round, which means extra work for the "riggers," who walk the four-inch rafter beams--often a hundred feet above the concrete floor--to hang sound speakers and spotlights. For such work, understandably, they are very well paid. "The fellows I talked to weren't bothered by the sight of looking down a hundred feet," says Green. "What they didn't like, they said, were jobs in buildings that had false ceilings--acoustical tile slung just a couple of feet below the rafters. They were still high in the air, and if they slipped, their weight would smash right through the flimsy tile. But their minds seemed to play tricks on them, lulling them into carelessness”” (sermonillustrations.com).

While some spiritual attacks are all-out, in-your-face affairs, it seems that most often they are more subtle.  The very first temptation in the Scriptures was like that.  The serpent was crafty and deceitful as he interacted with Eve.  He asked questions to plant seeds of doubt before expressly contradicting the word of God.  By the time that the dust settled from that fateful encounter, the pristine relationship between God and His creation had been shattered.

“Satan's business is not so much in scaring us to death as in persuading us that the danger of a spiritual fall is minimal.”  Like the acoustical tiles below the concert riggers, the devil expertly lulls us into a false sense of security.  The extent of the spiritual danger is often hidden or downplayed.  The apostle Paul warned of some who were “...false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”  These men were just following the example of Satan, their leader, who “...disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14).

Be careful of being lulled to sleep spiritually.  The fall is farther than you might think.

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Trust The Compass

“An old sailor repeatedly got lost at sea, so his friends gave him a compass and urged him to use it. The next time he went out in his boat, he followed their advice and took the compass with him. But as usual he became hopelessly confused and was unable to find land. Finally he was rescued by his friends.  Disgusted and impatient with him, they asked, "Why didn't you use that compass we gave you? You could have saved us a lot of trouble!" The sailor responded, "I didn't dare to! I wanted to go north, but as hard as I tried to make the needle aim in that direction, it just kept on pointing southeast."  The old sailor was so certain he knew which way was north that he stubbornly tried to force his own personal persuasion on his compass. Unable to do so, he tossed it aside as worthless and failed to benefit from the guidance it offered” (sermonillustrations.com).

This story sounds a whole lot like how some approach finding their way spiritually.  God has graciously provided a spiritual compass to guide us.  His Word can be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105).  We can keep our way pure by guarding it according to God’s Word (Psalm 119:9).  The Scriptures provide all we need for the wisdom that leads to salvation and equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:15-17).  The Word of God is unparalleled as a spiritual compass for life.

But if we are not careful, we can find ourselves bending the needle of the compass to point where we want to go or, even worse, ignoring it all together.  We decide that we know best.  We twist the words of Scripture to line up with what we want.  And before you know it, we’ve lost our way.

Trust the compass!  God knows best.  He doesn't want anyone to be lost (2 Peter 3:9).  If we can swallow our pride and willfulness, He can lead us home.

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Can I Quote You On That?

“You can't quote the Bible indiscriminately. I remember the story of two lawyers during a trial. One thought he would make a great impression on the jury by quoting from the Bible. So he said concerning his opponent's client, "We have it on the highest authority that it has been said, “All that a man has will he give for his life." But the other lawyer knew the Bible better. He said, "I am very much impressed by the fact that my distinguished colleague here regards as the highest authority the one who said, “All that a man has will he give for his life.” You will find that this saying comes from the Book of Job and the one who utters it is the devil. And that is whom he regards as the highest authority!" (Ray Stedman).

Please read and quote the Bible carefully.  Not everything recorded on its pages  is on equal footing or carries equal authority.  The statements of Satan in the book of Job are not the only examples from that ancient writing.  Large sections of the same Old Testament book are devoted to the speeches of Job’s so-called “friends.”  Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar wax eloquent in their rebukes of their suffering friend.  Some of it seems to be very quote-worthy material.  But remember God’s assessment near the end of Job: “It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.  Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:7-8).

Take care in quoting the Bible!

 

God loves you!

Mike 

"But I Have My Rights!"

“Pastor Don Baker relates a story of Rev. Tom Erickson: The public Library has a system called "Dial-A-Tale." Anytime a young child wants to hear a fairy tale, he can call the number and a voice comes on reading a short fairy tale to the listening young ear. However, the number is only one digit different from Rev. Tom Erickson. Because the small fingers often make a mistake, Tom gets frequent calls from a child listening for a fairy tale. After several unsuccessful attempts to explain a wrong number to the small child, Tom felt he had only one alternative. He obtained a copy of Three Little Pigs, and set it by the phone. Now, whenever a child calls, he simply reads them the tale. A beautiful illustration of yielding personal rights. He didn't, as you might have thought, change his telephone number to avoid the "invasion of his privacy”” (sermonillustrations.com).

As citizens of the United States, it almost seems like we come hard-wired to value and protect our personal rights.  Among the founding documents of our nations is the “Bill of Rights,” which are 10 amendments to the Constitution that add “...specific guarantees of personal freedoms and rights, clear limitations on the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and explicit declarations that all powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people” (en.wikipedia.org).  We like our rights!

But the Scriptures reveal that there are times when it is best to surrender our rights.  To Christians in the church at Corinth who were filing lawsuits against each other, Paul said: “...Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” (1 Corinthians 6:7).  Later, as he defends his apostleship in chapter 9, he speaks of his right to be supported for preaching the gospel.  But then he says he “...did not use this right” so as to not hinder the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:12).

Apparently, it's not always right to demand our rights.

 

God loves you!

Mike 

"Hey, You're Doing It Wrong..."

“A young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring to him, too far behind the times, tiresome tunes and meaningless words. His father put an end to his son's complaints by saying, "If you think you can write better hymns, then why don't you?" The boy went to his room and wrote his first hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." The year was 1690, the teenager was Isaac Watts” (sermonsearch.com).

It’s so easy to criticize, isn’t it? Being critical doesn’t involve getting our hands dirty or shouldering any responsibility.  We don’t want to be held accountable for getting the job done but we sure can point out the flaws of those who are doing something.  This reminds me of something Jesus said about the hypocritical religious leaders of His day: “...therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger” (Matthew 23:3–4).

Be a doer instead of a critic.  Instead of standing back and pointing out all the flaws in someone’s else’s efforts, it would be better to roll up our sleeves and offer to help out.  Chances are the ones already doing the job know that they are not perfect and that their efforts could be improved upon.  It’s so discouraging to take on a task only to be taken to task by those who weren’t willing to do anything about it in the first place.

“Two taxidermists stopped before a window in which an owl was on display. They immediately began to criticize the way it was mounted. Its eyes were not natural; its wings were not in proportion with its head; its feathers were not neatly arranged; and its feet could be improved. When they had finished with their criticism, the old owl turned his head ... and winked at them” (sermonsearch.com).

God loves you!

Mike

Witnessing God's Grace

“So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord…” (Acts 11.19-23).

Persecution couldn’t derail the expansion of the early church.  In fact, it provided the very spark necessary to ignite the efforts to fulfill the mandate of the Lord Himself to take the gospel “...to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  There were some bumps in the road as the mission extended into Gentile regions to be sure.  But to their credit, the early believers worked through those issues and forged ahead.

The “mother church” in Jerusalem hears of the success of the church in Antioch and sends Barnabus. Upon his arrival, the text says that he “...witnessed the grace of God” (v. 23).  What did he see?  The grace of God speaks of His benevolent favor or gifting.  These Christians were working together in spite of their struggles and differences.  The accomplishment of God’s purposes in Antioch was evidence that God was “gracing” their efforts.

Could someone look at my life and witness the grace of God?  Would there be any evidence that He was accomplishing His purposes through me?  I hope so!  If I am endeavoring to live as God calls me to live, any good that results is a testimony to His grace.  Any glory goes to Him.  “But by the grace of God I am what I am…”

(1 Corinthians 15:10).

 

God loves you!

Mike 

In The Way

“And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.  And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:15-17).

The conversion of the gentile Cornelius and his household recorded in Acts 10 caused some consternation in the Jerusalem church.  Some Jewish converts were concerned that Peter entered the home of a Gentile and shared a meal.  These Jewish Christians struggled with the idea of non-Jews being brought into the church on an equal basis.  They confronted the apostle and said: “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them” (Acts 11:3).

Acts 11:4-18 is devoted to Peter’s defense of his actions.  He carefully recounted the events associated with the encounter, making a point of emphasizing God’s leadership in the matter (vv. 9,12).  Most importantly, he highlights how God poured out His Spirit on the Gentiles just like He did to the Jews on Pentecost.  It was this action of God that was the focal point of Peter’s defense.  After that, he said “...who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17).

The phrase “...who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” got me to thinking: Could I be getting in the way of what God is doing?  Are my scruples or traditions somehow hindering what God is endeavoring to do?  I’m reminded of the words of King Nebuchadnezzar after he was reminded of Who was in charge: “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ (Daniel 4:35).  It is futile to stand in God’s way.  

 

God loves you!

Mike 

The Gospel Is For All

           “The Gospel Is For All” is a well-known hymn written by J.M. McCaleb. The song extols the universal nature of the gospel of Christ.  Here are the words to the first verse followed by the chorus: “Of one the Lord has made the race, thru’ one has come the fall;

where sin has gone must go His grace; the Gospel is for all. The blessèd Gospel is for all, the Gospel is for all; where sin has gone must go His grace; the Gospel is for all.

            The wide-ranging scope of the gospel is a theme that is emphasized throughout the book of Acts, especially in chapter 10 through the interaction between Peter and Cornelius.  In the early part of the chapter, the apostle is puzzled over the meaning of a vision God gives him about eating unclean food (10:17).  A delegation from Cornelius arrives while he is mulling it all over in his mind and the Spirit directs him to go with them.  After conversing with the centurion for a bit about the situation, it begins to dawn on Peter what is going on.  It’s at that point that he says: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35).  Later in his speech, Peter reaffirms that forgiveness is for “...everyone who believes in Him (Christ)” (10:43).

            Every sinner needs the gospel, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or social class.  And, due to that fact, God wants the good news spread far and wide.  Following His resurrection, Jesus instructed the apostles to “...go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15).  And to their credit, they did exactly that.  When the apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian believers some years later, he spoke of the hope of the gospel “...which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven…” (Colossians 1:23).  I’m grateful the gospel is for all.

 

God loves you!

Mike

The Orphan Finds Mercy

“Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips. Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses; nor will we say again, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in You the orphan finds mercy”” (Hosea 14:1-3).

In the final chapter of the book of Hosea, the prophet issues one final call for repentance to the wayward northern kingdom. At this point, the die is cast. The Assyrian destruction and captivity cannot be avoided.  But that didn’t preclude the possibility of individual hearts returning to the God they had abandoned even if they couldn’t avoid the immediate discipline looming on the horizon.

In the verses listed above, Hosea provides several points of reference that are key to a return to God.  First, an acknowledgment that we are the problem, not God: “...for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.”  The tendency is to blame anyone or anything else for our problems.  True repentance admits that I’m the problem.  Second, an admission of our guilt: “...that we may present the fruit of our lips.”  We can present external offerings to God and still have an unchanged heart.  A repentant heart is evidenced by a verbal “offering” of confession.  Third, an affirmation that no one or nothing other than God can save us: “Assyria will not save us…”  The temptation is to seek deliverance in other places and in other ways.  But that is doomed to failure.  Fourth, an appeal to the mercy of God: “...in You the orphan finds mercy.”  A sinner brings nothing of value with which to bargain with God for forgiveness.  Iniquity makes orphans of all of us, yet the repentant can turn to the One who desires to be a Father to the fatherless.

Praise God for His willingness to forgive those who return to Him!

 

God loves you!

Mike

The Right Words

“A little girl was late coming home for supper. Her mother made the expected parent’s demand to know where she had been. The little girl replied that she had stopped to help Janie, whose bicycle was broken in a fall. “But you don’t know anything about fixing bicycles,” her mother responded. “I know that,” the girl said. “I just stopped to help her cry.”” (storiesforpreaching.com.au).

Perhaps you, like me, have found yourself in a situation where the right words are difficult to come by, maybe even non-existent. You want to help but the words won't come.  The marriage of some friends suddenly implodes and you had no idea anything was wrong.  The unexpected death of a family member.  A financial reversal that wipes out a lifetime of hard work.

I’m reminded of the story of Job’s friends. They heard of his tremendous losses and made the journey to try to offer some comfort. And they made a good start. “When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky. Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great” (Job 2:12–13). But if you go on to read the rest of the story, you realize they should have kept their mouths shut.  Their words of “comfort” were anything but comforting. It would have been better if they had kept their words to themselves.

When you try to help someone through a time of difficulty, please choose your words carefully. Even well-intentioned words can add to the hurt instead of lessening it. If you are struggling for words in a situation, maybe that is a sign that your silent presence may be more appropriate. Remember, sometimes the bike cannot be fixed. Sometimes the best that can be done is to “...weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

God loves you!

Mike

A Runaway Train

“When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but through Baal he did wrong and died. And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves molten images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. They say of them, “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!””(Hosea 13:1–2).

“And now they sin more and more…” Sin, unchecked, inevitably leads to more sin.  In its arrogance, Israel had shamelessly adopted the religious practices of its pagan neighbors. One thing led to another and, before they knew it, they were standing under the judgment of God and facing destruction.  How did this happen?

I doubt there was a single Israelite in Hosea’s day who had made it his life’s goal to rebel against God.  I’m guessing it was on no one’s bucket list.  But here they were.  It happened bit by bit, one seemingly insignificant sin leading to another seemingly insignificant sin until the sins were no longer insignificant.  It’s like a heavy train on a long, downhill track.  If the brakes aren’t applied early and consistently, soon it becomes impossible to stop.  It becomes a runaway situation that only ends in disaster.

The Scriptures consistently describe the process. Note the following examples: “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “Who execute a plan, but not Mine, and make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, in order to add sin to sin…” (Isaiah 30:1). “They bend their tongue like their bow; lies and not truth prevail in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me,” declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:3). “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

            Stop the sin train before it gets a head of steam!  Unchecked, it always leads to judgment and death. “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (James 1:15).

 

God loves you!

Mike 

God Is Serious About Covenants

In Deuteronomy 29, we find Moses and the nation of Israel in the land of Moab, poised to finally enter the land of promise. Some are surprised to learn that God makes another covenant with His people (29:1). Moses rehearses the history of how the Lord freed them from slavery, took care of them through their wilderness wanderings, and helped them defeat their enemies.  They are encouraged to keep the terms of the covenant so that God will establish and bless them.

Interestingly, this covenant not only involved the Israelites presently living but also those yet to come (29:14-15). The temptation to fall into idolatry would remain a reality for them as well.  Sadly, some would choose to give in to the temptation and Moses has strong words of warning concerning the consequences of such a choice: “It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land with the dry.’ The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. Then the LORD will single him out for adversity from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant which are written in this book of the law.” (Deuteronomy 29:19–21).

Covenant keeping is very serious business with God!  We can choose to rebel but there is a high price to pay.  Imagine God not being willing to forgive you.  Imagine bearing the brunt of every curse.  Imagine having your name blotted out.  Imagine being singled out for adversity from God.  Think very carefully before ignoring the terms of any covenant with God.  We may think we can have “peace” in our stubbornness but, in reality, it's only an illusion.

 

God loves you!

Mike 

The Incredible Power Of A Pronoun

“A priest resigned this month after his diocese announced that thousands of baptisms he had performed were invalid because he had changed a single word. He said, "We baptize you... ," instead of "I baptize you..." ...In a letter to his parish, Arango wrote: "It saddens me to learn that I have performed invalid baptisms throughout my ministry as a priest by regularly using an incorrect formula. I deeply regret my error and how this has affected numerous people in your parish and elsewhere." ...He said he resigned, effective Feb. 1, so he could "dedicate my energy and full time ministry to help remedy this and heal those affected." ...Those who believe they or their children were baptized by Arango can fill out a form online to be properly baptized. Subsequent sacraments, including marriage, may need to be repeated by those who had invalid baptisms performed by Arango, according to the Diocese of Phoenix.”*

            My purpose in sharing segments from the news article referenced above is not to mock any particular religious group.  The Lord knows that my own religious heritage has plenty of its own foibles.  I just use it as one example of how humans have a tendency to “...strain out a gnat and swallow a camel” as Jesus said on one occasion. Sometimes we have trouble getting out of our own way.  May I suggest some things to think about?

            First, baptism is a work of God in which we have the privilege of participation (1 Corinthians 12:13)  The power isn’t in what we do or don’t do.  Second, if the “baptismal formula” shared by the Lord in Matthew 28:19 (“baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”) is the inviolable standard, then Peter himself messed it up on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38).  Third, if the words used when baptizing were so important, why is no mention of them made in all the examples of baptism in the book of Acts?

            Just food for thought…

 

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/baptisms-performed-phoenix-priest-invalid-changed-one-word-rcna16268 

God, Do You Know What You're Doing?

“Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name”” (Acts 9:10-14).

Sometimes it's difficult to obey the Lord.  The job God has for Ananias in Acts 9 certainly qualifies as difficult!  To his credit, when Ananias initially receives the vision from the Lord, he responds promptly and willingly.  But as God gets into the details of the mission, Ananias begins to have some reservations.  God wants him to go minister to Saul of Tarsus!  The very one we learned earlier in the chapter who was “...breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1).  Ananias has heard the reports.  At this point in the vision, he begins to back-pedal a bit.  If you read between the lines of his actual words, the sense seems to be: “God, are You sure You know what you are doing here?”

Does God know what He is doing?  Of course.  In a less stressful moment, I’m sure Ananias would readily affirm the same thing.  But when faced with something difficult, it’s easy to begin to second guess the Lord.  It happened to Moses (Exodus 3-4).  It happened to Peter (Acts 10:13-14).  It’s instructive here that God doesn’t reprimand Ananias for his questioning.  But neither does He let him off the hook.  We are to do and trust God for the rest.

 

God loves you!

Mike

Parenting Is Hard

“When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. The more they called them, the more they went from them; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols. Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; but they did not know that I healed them” (Hosea 11:1-3).

Parenting, especially when done the right way, can be one of the most difficult jobs in the universe.  And as the verses listed above reveal, even the Creator of the universe understands the struggle.  You can hear the pain in the Father’s voice as He recalls His efforts to nurture His children -- the nation of Israel.  His great love for them was evidenced in so many ways.  In their infancy as a nation, He freed them from Egyptian bondage and brought them to Mt. Sinai.  He taught them to walk through giving them laws and statues to guide them as they matured in their faith.

But, sadly, God’s children rejected His benevolent attempts to lovingly parent them.  They rebelled against Him and, to make matters worse, turned to serve other gods.  The Father repeatedly reached out to His wayward children through the prophets, calling them to repentance.  But the call mostly fell on deaf ears.  The harder God worked to reach them, the farther the children went into idolatry.  The Father longed to wrap them in His healing arms but they didn’t know and didn’t care.

If we are people of faith, God is our Father and we are His children.  Let’s encourage each other to make His job a delight rather than a difficulty.  Our heavenly Father loves us more than we could ever know.  It breaks His heart when we reject His love and chase after other “gods,” whatever form they take.  Thankfully, He doesn’t give up easily.  He calls us to repentance and longs for us to return His love.  Will we heed His call or will we ignore Him and face His discipline as Israel did?

God loves you!

Mike

There's One Born Every Minute

“In the long history of con artists, George C. Parker holds a special place of dishonor. He is remembered as one of the most successful and daring swindlers in American history. He set up an office in New York City and “sold” some of the city’s most famous attractions to tourists. His favorite was the Brooklyn Bridge, but he also sold the Statue of Liberty, Madison Square Garden, and Grant’s Tomb. He produced elaborately forged documents and deeds to convince his targets that he was the rightful owner of the landmarks he was selling.

“Parker was so persuasive that on more than one occasion, police had to come and explain why the new “owners” of the Brooklyn Bridge couldn’t put up tollbooths to collect money from those who tried to cross. After his third conviction for fraud, Parker was sentenced to life at Sing Sing Prison in New York, where he spent the last eight years of his life. He dishonestly made a fortune preying on people who foolishly believed his empty words. He not only was an expert salesman, but he realized that many people were gullible and he could use that to his advantage” (ministry127.com).

Con artists can even be found in religion (Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 2:3).  The stakes are even higher here because the deception can have eternal consequences.  Maybe that’s why the Bible has so many warnings about not being gullible.  We need to be grown-ups in our thinking (1 Corinthians 14:20).  We should live wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17).  Why?  Because not everyone who quotes the Bible has our best interests at heart (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).  That’s why each of us needs to study the Scriptures for ourselves and not just trust someone else to have the answers for us (Acts 17:11).  We need to develop the skills to handle the word of truth accurately because not everyone else will (2 Timothy 2:15).  Don’t be a sucker for a religious huckster!  There’s no excuse for it.

God loves you!

Mike

I'm Glad God Is Different

         “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, all My compassions are kindled. I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. They will walk after the LORD, He will roar like a lion; indeed He will roar and His sons will come trembling from the west. They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses, declares the LORD” (Hosea 11:8-11).

         The judgment of the northern kingdom of Israel in Hosea’s day was inevitable.  Due to her sin and rebellion, God was sending the nation into Assyrian captivity.  Enough was enough!  But that doesn’t mean that God enjoyed punishing His people or that He was done with them forever.  The verses from Hosea 11 listed above make that clear. The long-suffering and compassionate heart of God is clearly on display in the text.  You can hear the emotions in the words used.  In spite of all the pain to be experienced in the present, Israel would eventually enjoy God’s renewed blessings.  The day would eventually come when the repentant remnant would be restored.

A phrase in verse 9 stands out to me: “For I am God and not man…”  The contrast in the context is evident.  Likely most of us humans, put in the same situation as God in dealing with Israel, would have written them off for good.  “I don’t have to be treated like this!”  “They don’t deserve another chance!”  “I will show them who they are dealing with.” But God is different.

We are called to be like God in some ways.  But we can also be so thankful that God is not like us in other ways.

God loves you!

Mike

Course Correction

Following the martyrdom of Stephen, a young, ambitious Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus saw a golden opportunity for advancement and seized it.  The Jewish leadership in Jerusalem was anxious to stamp out the fledgling Christian movement and Saul knew he was just the man for the job.  Luke records it this way: “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).

But something happened on the road between Jerusalem and Damascus, something young Saul could have never imagined.  “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”  And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting…” (Acts 9.3-5).  Saul is confronted by the Risen Lord and from that moment on, his life would never be the same.  The persecutor of Christianity was about to become the promoter of Christianity!

Saul learned many things that day in the dust of the Damascus road.  One big lesson learned was that persecuting the followers of Jesus is the same as persecuting Him.  At another level, the Bible also teaches that to oppose Jesus is to oppose God Himself (Luke 10.16; Matthew 25.40,45).  It’s a package deal.  Saul thought he was serving God by killing and imprisoning Christians and opposing Jesus (Acts 26.9).  Instead, he discovered he was doing the very thing his revered teacher Gamaliel had warned against: fighting against God (Acts 5:38-39).  And that’s a battle no man can win.

To his credit, Saul learned his lessons, corrected his course, and realigned himself with God’s purposes.  Are we willing to do the same when the Lord confronts us?

God loves you!

Mike