No Distinction

“...and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9).

At the heart of the struggle in Acts 15 was the Jew-Gentile divide in the early church. As the gospel spread into the far reaches of the Roman empire, the Jewish converts found it increasingly difficult to accept Gentiles into fellowship on equal terms.  After all, they had spent centuries keeping their distance from the nations so it was difficult for many to think differently under the new covenant of Christ.

The response of some Jewish Christians was to say: “Gentile converts must put their faith in Christ AND keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5). That would be one way to get rid of distinctions but it would be the wrong way. “Become like us and there will be no difference between us!” This way of removing distinctions really ends up perpetuating them. 

The council in Jerusalem was firmly against requiring Gentile converts to keep the law of Moses as a condition of salvation.  In his part of the discussion, Peter highlights how God handles the “distinction” thing.  God cleanses the hearts of all who turn to Him in faith.  That makes God an “equal opportunity” Father, if you will.  He welcomes all to His family on the same terms and we don’t get to change the terms.

Perhaps Paul was thinking back to the Jerusalem council when he wrote these words to the believers in Rome: “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 3:21-24).

Thank you Lord for accepting ALL sinners on the same terms -- faith. We are humbled to stand at the foot of the cross on equal ground.

 

God loves you!

Mike 

The World's Dirtiest Man

Just when you think you have heard it all…  Here was a headline from this past week: WASH TRAGEDY ‘World’s dirtiest man’ dies aged 94 just months after finally taking his first shower in more than 60 YEARS. “Amou Haji was dubbed the ‘World’s Dirtiest Man’ for his bathroom-dodging ways. Apart from an aversion to soap and water, the Iranian was otherwise healthy, despite only eating uncooked porcupine roadkill and drinking dirty water from puddles out of a rusty oil can. He also had a fondness for smoking animal dung out of an old pipe as well as four cigarettes at once. Earlier this year neighbors persuaded him to have a shower after telling him not washing made it difficult to make friends or find a girlfriend…Amou also attracted the interest of scientists interested in studying what type of lifeforms might have taken up home on his body.

But they were surprised to find he hadn’t suffered from any bacteria or parasites apart from trichinosis, a bacteria that comes from eating raw meat and causes a common infection. Tests for HIV and hepatitis all came up negative as well.”*

            The pictures of Mr. Haji accompanying the article bore testimony to the title “World’s Dirtiest Man.”  As repulsive as the pictures were, it got me to wondering what a Holy God sees when He views us prior to forgiveness.  How repulsive we must have been mired in the dirt of our sin!  But God offers cleansing for even the dirtiest sinner.  David, who keenly felt the grime of his own transgressions (Psalm 51:3-5), appealed to the God Who could wash him and make him “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7; cf. Isaiah 1:18).  Jesus gave himself so that His bride, the church, could be cleansed and made perfect before Him, without any spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:25-27).

            Thank you, Lord, for washing away the filth of my sin.  Thank you for making my spiritual robes white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:13-14).

 

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.the-sun.com/news/6523865/worlds-dirtiest-man-amou-haji-dies-shower/ 

The Heart-Knower

“After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:7-9).

Perhaps you can think back to your own childhood and remember how it seemed like Mom or Dad had eyes in the back of their heads. No matter how well we tried to hide evidence of our misdeeds, they always had a way of knowing we were up to something. As we grew older, we realized it wasn’t the result of some miraculous ability on their part. Through careful observation and knowing us better than we knew ourselves, they were to see through most of our schemes.

In the verses above, Peter refers to God as the one “...who knows the heart.” This means that God knows us inside and out in a far greater way than any earthly parent. And for the child of God, that should be a source of comfort, not fear.  Perhaps this is what David had in mind as he penned these words: “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it” (Psalm 139:1-6).

There is no doubt that God knows your heart.  The bigger question is: Does your heart know Him?

 

God loves you!

Mike 

Kissing The Snake

            I see some headlines and just shake my head.  It happened just this past week.  Here is the title: “Man Tries To Kiss Cobra, Gets Bitten In Face Now Battling For Life.”*  Robyn White shares the story: “A video posted to Twitter by AH Siddiqui shows the man from Karnataka state attempting to kiss the common cobra. As the man holds the snake to his lips, the reptile lunges forward and bites him on the mouth. The man then drops the snake.” White goes on to report the response of a clearer-thinking individual: "Sadly this kind of idiotic behavior is common here. There are literally thousands of snake 'rescuers' in India, some very serious and performing a valuable service, removing snakes from houses and gardens and releasing them elsewhere away from people," Romulus Whitaker, India-based herpetologist of the Madras Crocodile Bank, which works to educate villagers on snakebites, told Newsweek. But others, like this dude, are publicity hungry and do something crazy like free-handling the snake, putting it around their neck, or kissing it. We know of at least 25 of them fatally bitten over the last few years. Snakes are scared to death of humans and only bite in self-defense."

            Idiotic behavior indeed!  While I do sincerely hope the man recovers from his injuries, I have to wonder why humans take these kinds of chances.  Isn’t the world dangerous enough without inviting disaster? And yet, we keep taking chances.  It happens in our spiritual lives as well.  For example, we “kiss the snake” when we dabble with addictive substances.  We “kiss the snake” when we flirt with someone other than our spouse.  We “kiss the snake” when we play fast and loose with the truth.

            Jesus refused to kiss the snake.  When Satan offered Him the world if He would only bow down and worship him, Jesus adamantly refused.  He said, “Go Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10). Don’t be foolish!  Don’t kiss the snake!

 

God loves you!

Mike

*newsweek.com; 10-5-22 

You Can't Keep A Good Man Down

Songwriter Bob Corbin was under some pressure.  His contract with his publisher required four songs to be delivered before a certain deadline and he only had three completed.  With just two days to go, he wrote a piece titled “You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down.”  He felt it was far from his best work but a deadline is a deadline, right?

When he delivered the four songs, he admitted his reservations about the last one, saying it wasn’t his best work.  But the head of the publishing agency especially liked “You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” and said they were going to offer it to the popular country group Alabama.  Corbin was against the idea, saying it would embarrass him.  The publishers ignored his appeal and with good reason as it turns out.  Alabama took the song and it climbed to #1 on the charts in 1985.*

For some reason, this song title came to mind as I considered Paul’s encounter with his opposers in Iconium. “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch…” (Acts 14:19–21).

I marvel each time I read this text.  I can imagine myself in the same situation thinking, “Maybe it’s time for a career change.”  But Paul is a good man committed to an even greater cause.  After being nearly killed, he gets up, dusts himself off, and gets back to work.  It will take more than a near-stoning to death to keep him down.  Not only does he continue his missionary work, he returns to Iconium, the scene of the crime.  What an example of faithfulness!

 

God loves you!

Mike

*”Classic Country Music Stories” Facebook group 

Famous Last Words

“I can beat it!”

“I wonder if it’s loaded. I’ll look down the barrel and see.”

“Look at this wire hanging down into the street! I’ll throw it to one side.”

“I wonder how much electricity these wires carry. I’ll touch this one and see.”

“I wonder whether this rope will hold my weight!”

“Listen! That’s the train whistle. Step on the gas, and we’ll beat it across.”

“That stick of dynamite must have gone out. I’ll light it again.”

“Watch me skate past the ‘danger’ sign. I’ll bet I can touch it.”

“It’s no fun swimming here. I’m going out beyond the life lines.”*

A case could be made that the most famous last words of all time were spoken by the Savior as He surrendered His life on a hill outside the city of Jerusalem. “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (John 19:28–30).

“It is finished.”  The word “finished” means to bring to a close, to finish, to bring to an end, or to pay in full.  Jesus had been sent by the Father “to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).  Salvation for the lost would be provided through the death of the sinless Son of God as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).  The sin debt was paid and atonement provided for all who would put their faith in Christ (Romans 3:21-26).

The work of redemption was completed on the cross. My sin debt has been paid. I’m thankful for a Savior Who set out to do a job and then finished it.

God loves you!

Mike

*ministry127.com 

Feeding The Beast

“An Australian man was killed by his pet kangaroo, the first fatal kangaroo attack in over 80 years in the country. Peter Eades, 77, died after being attacked by a kangaroo that police say he had as a pet, reported Perth Now. According to the local news site, the man was reportedly found alive by a family member who called the police. Upon arrival, authorities were unable to get to the badly injured Eades due to the kangaroo blocking access, reports the news outlet. Police had to shoot the kangaroo in order to allow the ambulance through to provide medical care to Eades, Perth Now reported. Despite best efforts, Eades died due to his injuries on the scene, according to the outlet.

“In Australia it is illegal to own native fauna as pets unless you have proper permits, which at this time is unknown whether Eades had or not, NPR reported. Eades was known for his work in alpaca breeding and being an all around lover of animals, according to ABC News. Nearby residents say Eades had raised the 3-year-old kangaroo since it was a baby, the outlet reported. Local police prepared a report and are awaiting the coroner's word for the official cause of death, according to NPR. This was the first fatal kangaroo attack in the country since 1936, reports the news outlet.”*

This article prompted me to reflect on how our “pet” sins have a way of turning on us.  “Pet” sins are those spiritual issues that don’t pose a threat when they are small.  These sins seem so cute and cuddly when they are a baby.  “This will never be a problem for me”...we ignorantly boast.  But then we feed and nurture them and, the next thing we know, we are in over our heads.  That “little sin” suddenly is poised to destroy us.

James describes the process well: “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” (James 1:14–15).  Don’t feed the beast!

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.insideedition.com; September 13, 2022