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