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