Archive for May, 2009

Read James 1:1-4

Every time we find ourselves going through a trial or challenging time of any sort, we can either ask, “God, what did I do to deserve this?” or “God, what are you trying to teach me?”

The difference of course is your perspective.

Evidently trials, if nothing else, are an opportunity to let God produce perseverance in our lives. We might even say that trials help us develop an enduring spirit. 

And James says that ultimately, this perseverance we develop leads to spiritual maturity and growth. God somehow uses the enduring way we go through these trials to make us more like Him.

So, the next time you’re in the middle of a trial and feel like you’re about to cave under the pressure, don’t try to get out of the situation prematurely. Instead, understand that this trial is somehow a part of God’s plan, and whisper a prayer like this one to your amazing Heavenly Father:

“Father, give me an enduring spirit to go through this painful time in my life, and do whatever you need to do, whatever is necessary to make me more like You.”  

Read Acts 28:17-31

As we wrap up our time in Acts, we’re once again reminded of the importance of sharing our faith with those we come in contact with, no matter what the circumstances. 

In our passage today, we see Paul’s commitment to preach the Gospel even while he is under house arrest. He doesn’t retire from the ministry, like so many in his shoes might have been tempted to do, but instead just changes his style a little. He decides that if he can’t go to the crowds, then he’ll just have the crowds come to him.

I love that!

So, large numbers of people begin showing up at his house and he preaches to them. And of course, the result was that “some were convinced…but others would not believe” (v.24)

The last part of that verse bothers me, but I’ve come to learn that’s the way it almost always is when we share Christ. Some will believe and follow Jesus. Some won’t. 

And it’s not our job to worry about the results.

It’s our job to share Christ “boldly and without hindrance”, just as Paul was able to do (v.31).

Read Acts 28:1-16

Everyone needs encouragement.

All of us need people in our lives who will support us, love on us, and cheer us on.

And we especially need encouragement when things aren’t going our way, when we’re having a bad day, bad month, or even a bad year. 

Paul was on such a streak. It seemed like things never got better for him. He’d been imprisoned for some two and half years now and recently had been bitten by a deadly poisonous snake.

So, when Paul is greeted by some fellow Christians, the Bible says that he “thanked God and was encouraged” (v.15)

And this leads me to ask a couple of questions. Who do you find yourselves thanking God for? Who encourages you? Who do you love to see coming your way?

Read Acts 27

No complaining allowed!

We’re here almost at the end of the Book of Acts, and something is has clearly stood out to me through the reading of this book.

Paul has been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, falsely accused, imprisoned, and left for dead, and yet we’ve not seen him complain one time. Not even once!

In fact, instead of grumbling, we’ve seen him sing, extend forgiveness to others, share Christ, and remain steadfast in his faith.

Maybe we shouldn’t complain and grumble either. Maybe we should sing, forgive, share, and be faithful instead. 

Just a thought.

Read Acts 26

Take advantage of every opportunity you have to share Christ.

It would have been so easy for Paul to give an account to his audience of just the reason for his arrest, yet he made sure to take advantage of a captive audience by telling them about Jesus as well.

Specifically, he includes details about his life before salvation, shares his salvation experience, lets them know his life has been turned upside down by this new relationship with Christ, and invites them to accept Jesus for themselves.  

I would say that’s taking advantage of an opportunity, wouldn’t you?

I’m not sure, but I think I would have been more focused on making the case for why I should be released from prison, but Paul is too focused on trying to get more people to Heaven to worry about something as insignificant as prison.

Maybe there’s an example to follow in this passage…what do you think?

Read Acts 25

Where in Scripture does God give anyone an easy job?

Abraham had to make some tough decisions over the course of his life. Joseph experienced more than his fair share of trials. Moses found himself in some difficult situations. Gideon, David, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, and Daniel didn’t exactly live the easy life either.

Christianity may be simple, but I don’t think anyone can argue that it’s easy.

Paul certainly didn’t seem to have an easy life either, did he? Traveling all over the world, facing persecution of every kind, being falsely accused, and enduring imprisonment are hardly evidence of the “good” life. And yet, he continued to love and serve his Master, Jesus.

So, the next time life gets a little difficult, remember that it could be worse and that God sometimes gives His children difficult assignments.

Paul accepted his. Are you willing to do that too?

Read Acts 23

God is not finished with you yet.

One of the reasons you’re still alive is because God has work for you to do. He has a mission for you to accomplish.

Just ask Paul.

I’m sure that hanging out in prison has a way of bringing discouragement into your life, so when God showed up and told Paul, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (v.11), it’s probably exactly what he needed to hear.

In fact, I bet it sounded to Paul a lot more like this: “I’m not finished with you just yet!”

Now, let’s talk about you for a second. I don’t know what kind of problems have surfaced in your life in recent days, or what kind of obstacles you face on a regular basis (I’m pretty sure most of you aren’t in prison!)

But I do now what kind of God we serve. 

And I know that He’s not out to get you, but that He loves you and is probably working behind the scenes in your life right now to prepare you for an amazing opportunity.

So don’t be discouraged. Be ready to do whatever He asks you to do!

Read Acts 22

What’s your story?

You have one and it’s more powerful and unique than you think it is. All of us have a story about how we came to faith in Jesus and it’s an amazing story (whether we would identify it as amazing or not!)

Not only that, but we have an obligation to tell as many people we know the story of Jesus, and often times, the easiest way to do that is through our own story.

So, instead of talking about Paul’s story today, I would love to hear about yours.

How does your story go?

Read Acts 21:27-40

Sometimes people lie about me. 

Has that ever happened to you? I’m pretty sure it has.

If anyone in history knows what that feels like, it would have to be Paul. Paul was constantly lied about and falsely accused almost everywhere he went, and in this passage, we find his fellow countrymen accusing him of preaching against the Jewish religion, as well as blaming him for desecrating the Temple by bringing a Gentile inside of it. 

Neither of these things were true of course, but they kept right on accusing, hoping that their accusations would ultimately lead to Paul’s ruin and possibly even death.

This kind of thing still happens today both inside and outside the church. I’ve had people lie about me and I’m sure you’ve had people lie about you.  

I’m not saying we should get used to it or anything like that, but I am saying that we shouldn’t be surprised when it happens to us.

But more than anything, we must make sure we’re never the one spreading lies or making false accusations against those who love Jesus.