This morning, I’m thinking again about God’s goodness. I got on this train of thought reading in Acts. I came to the story of the time some people from Lystra thought Paul and Barnabas were gods because they healed a lame man. The Lystrans were ready to sacrifice bulls to them, but Paul and Barnabas stopped them with these words, from Acts 14:15-17:
“‘Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.’”
I was struck by two things in this passage. First, for a period God let all the nations go their own way. He didn’t send any apostles or prophets to them. His plan was that Jesus would go to the Jews; the Gentiles would get the good news later on.
But even during that period, God couldn’t help loving all his people – that’s the second thing. He still wanted to be kind to them; he showered them with blessings like rain and growth and seasons. He gave them the great gift of joy, which cannot be found apart from God.
This is what we call common grace, when God’s blessing is showered on people who don’t acknowledge him. Some of God’s goodness touches the entire world, because he created it and loves everything he made.
That’s the new thought for today – this realization of how much God loves people who don’t know him yet. God does, and I should too.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Monday, May 8, 2017
worms
It’s easy to think, reading about the struggles of the early church in the book of Acts, that things were sometimes out of control. For every wonderful success story, like God sending the Spirit to the Gentiles, there’s one or maybe two tales of imprisonment or persecution. It seems like those early years were touch-and-go, and the future was by no means certain.
But then I read about a meeting some citizens had with Herod, in Acts 12:21-24 “On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
“But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.”
It seemed like Herod had all the power, but at the very moment God decided it was time, he died in a pretty gruesome way – eaten by worms. Killed by parasites, because he wouldn’t honor God.
God tolerates a lot from us, I think because he’s a gracious God. But he won’t tolerate everything. As I watch what’s happening, and sometimes am tempted to join Christians who are jumping on the tolerance bandwagon, it’s good to be reminded that God won’t tolerate everything. And people who mistake his patience for unconcern or impotence run the same risk Herod did.
God is in control, and he will not be mocked.
But then I read about a meeting some citizens had with Herod, in Acts 12:21-24 “On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
“But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.”
It seemed like Herod had all the power, but at the very moment God decided it was time, he died in a pretty gruesome way – eaten by worms. Killed by parasites, because he wouldn’t honor God.
God tolerates a lot from us, I think because he’s a gracious God. But he won’t tolerate everything. As I watch what’s happening, and sometimes am tempted to join Christians who are jumping on the tolerance bandwagon, it’s good to be reminded that God won’t tolerate everything. And people who mistake his patience for unconcern or impotence run the same risk Herod did.
God is in control, and he will not be mocked.
Friday, May 5, 2017
murderous
So often, as I read scripture, I’m struck by the power of God’s grace.
The story of Paul, possibly the most effective missionary ever to bring the Gospel, started like this, in Acts 9:1-2: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
By the end of Acts 10, this same man is being sought in several cities for evangelizing. His former cohorts, the Jewish religious elite, wanted to kill him. He went from hunter to hunted, as intent on preaching Christ crucified as he had been on stamping out the Christian church.
Amazing grace indeed! God can turn the most darkened soul back to him. He can forgive me and use me to his ends; he can do this with anyone. No one is beyond his reach, or his love
It’s a reason to keep praying for people. And it’s a reason not to judge, but to hope.
The story of Paul, possibly the most effective missionary ever to bring the Gospel, started like this, in Acts 9:1-2: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
By the end of Acts 10, this same man is being sought in several cities for evangelizing. His former cohorts, the Jewish religious elite, wanted to kill him. He went from hunter to hunted, as intent on preaching Christ crucified as he had been on stamping out the Christian church.
Amazing grace indeed! God can turn the most darkened soul back to him. He can forgive me and use me to his ends; he can do this with anyone. No one is beyond his reach, or his love
It’s a reason to keep praying for people. And it’s a reason not to judge, but to hope.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
stiff-necked
Stephen sure made the Sanhedrin mad. It’s right there in Acts 7:54: “When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.” I’m picturing a room full of guys with long beards and white robes, grinding and clicking their teeth and growling like a bunch of dogs. It’s kind of funny, except that it’s the devil’s work which resulted in the death of a martyr.
Of course, it isn’t surprising they were angry. They were trying Stephen, and he turns around and gives them a history lesson, walking them through God’s promises from the very start. And then, this indictment, in verses 51-54: “‘You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it’”
I guess if a prisoner went off on a judge like that nowadays there would be some consequences too, but Stephen was right. His point is the same one Jesus made time after time: the Jewish religious leaders had strayed a long way from serving God, and were now serving their own political agenda.
Stephen would be killed and the church dispersed, which would seem like a victory for the Sanhedrin, but God would not be stopped. Those scattered Christians spread his message everywhere they went, and Christianity spread like wildfire.
It’s reassuring to know that God’s plans can’t be stopped by any man or woman, no matter how powerful. A president or the leader of Planned Parenthood or ISIS or any other example of human power is just another tool for God. Their victories sometimes scare me, but they don’t faze God.
At the same time, I need to remember that God will also brush past any attempt I might make to have my way or further my own agenda in his church. His plans will not be thwarted, but some of mine might have to. Only the things I want that are the same as what God wills have any validity.
Of course, it isn’t surprising they were angry. They were trying Stephen, and he turns around and gives them a history lesson, walking them through God’s promises from the very start. And then, this indictment, in verses 51-54: “‘You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it’”
I guess if a prisoner went off on a judge like that nowadays there would be some consequences too, but Stephen was right. His point is the same one Jesus made time after time: the Jewish religious leaders had strayed a long way from serving God, and were now serving their own political agenda.
Stephen would be killed and the church dispersed, which would seem like a victory for the Sanhedrin, but God would not be stopped. Those scattered Christians spread his message everywhere they went, and Christianity spread like wildfire.
It’s reassuring to know that God’s plans can’t be stopped by any man or woman, no matter how powerful. A president or the leader of Planned Parenthood or ISIS or any other example of human power is just another tool for God. Their victories sometimes scare me, but they don’t faze God.
At the same time, I need to remember that God will also brush past any attempt I might make to have my way or further my own agenda in his church. His plans will not be thwarted, but some of mine might have to. Only the things I want that are the same as what God wills have any validity.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
freedom
I don’t recall ever hearing of more inapt name that the Synagogue of the Freedmen. Or maybe it was just a colossal case of wishful thinking.
I read about the so-called Freedmen in Acts 6:8-11: “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.”
“Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, ‘We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.’”
Not only were the Freedmen not free – the chains of the Father of Lies are apparent even down through the ages – it seems they were unable to tolerate anyone else’s freedom. They seem to be one of those groups bent on forcing everyone to conform to their vision of the world.
But they had a problem: they were up against a man, Stephen, who was full of God’s grace and power. He was a good man, who did good things for other people. So their tactic is a not unusual one when bad people can’t find anything to hang on good people. They made something up.
I doubt they realized that in pushing their opposition to Stephen’s good deeds and Good News, they were actually eroding the freedom their name suggests they were after. Satan’s schemes seem to work that way, pulling us from one lie or dirty trick to the next. There’s no satisfaction in pulling it off, just more bitterness.
I’m tempted sometimes to use those methods. Even though I know them to be a snare, even though I know this idea - that getting even will feel good enough to justify the lies – to be a lie itself, sometimes I want to. This morning, I’m reminded that the opposite of freedom waits down that road. True freedom is found only at the cross of Jesus.
I read about the so-called Freedmen in Acts 6:8-11: “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.”
“Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, ‘We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.’”
Not only were the Freedmen not free – the chains of the Father of Lies are apparent even down through the ages – it seems they were unable to tolerate anyone else’s freedom. They seem to be one of those groups bent on forcing everyone to conform to their vision of the world.
But they had a problem: they were up against a man, Stephen, who was full of God’s grace and power. He was a good man, who did good things for other people. So their tactic is a not unusual one when bad people can’t find anything to hang on good people. They made something up.
I doubt they realized that in pushing their opposition to Stephen’s good deeds and Good News, they were actually eroding the freedom their name suggests they were after. Satan’s schemes seem to work that way, pulling us from one lie or dirty trick to the next. There’s no satisfaction in pulling it off, just more bitterness.
I’m tempted sometimes to use those methods. Even though I know them to be a snare, even though I know this idea - that getting even will feel good enough to justify the lies – to be a lie itself, sometimes I want to. This morning, I’m reminded that the opposite of freedom waits down that road. True freedom is found only at the cross of Jesus.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Ask
I wonder how often I pray for the wrong thing?
I wonder that because of this story I read this morning in Acts 3:1-6: “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
“Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’”
A lame man asked for coins when he could have healing. He probably did that because he couldn’t even fathom the idea that he could walk again. His highest hopes probably involved getting enough money that he no longer had to beg.
I’m sure my faith is like that sometimes. I ask for things like strength to get through the day or patience for a meeting, or healing for a friend – good things, as far as they go. But what if God has a much greater blessing he can give, like excitement for every moment of my day?
God probably does, and he also probably gives me the much better thing than I asked for a lot of the time. But I still think I might limit my prayers through a lack of belief that God would do an amazing thing for me. I’m a pragmatic Calvinist; if he gets me through today with only an appropriate amount of suffering – we Calvinists require some suffering - that will be enough.
Can I pray with greater faith? If I did, what might happen?
I wonder that because of this story I read this morning in Acts 3:1-6: “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
“Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’”
A lame man asked for coins when he could have healing. He probably did that because he couldn’t even fathom the idea that he could walk again. His highest hopes probably involved getting enough money that he no longer had to beg.
I’m sure my faith is like that sometimes. I ask for things like strength to get through the day or patience for a meeting, or healing for a friend – good things, as far as they go. But what if God has a much greater blessing he can give, like excitement for every moment of my day?
God probably does, and he also probably gives me the much better thing than I asked for a lot of the time. But I still think I might limit my prayers through a lack of belief that God would do an amazing thing for me. I’m a pragmatic Calvinist; if he gets me through today with only an appropriate amount of suffering – we Calvinists require some suffering - that will be enough.
Can I pray with greater faith? If I did, what might happen?
Monday, May 1, 2017
praying
What do you do when you’re one of the original twelve disciples and Jesus leaves you – ascends to heaven right in front of your eyes? What do you do after you left your job to follow him, and did so for several years?
Well, here’s what they did, in Acts 1:14: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for a special gift, something he would give them to enable his ministry to continue. That gift would come at Pentecost. But meanwhile, they waited. And they prayed.
Not just normal prayers either. They joined together – their prayers were communal. They prayed constantly – their prayers were their first priority, their most important thing. And they prayed along with the woman and Jesus family – their prayers were inclusive.
I think there’s something to learn here, about what a Jesus-following life looks like, and what a good prayer life looks like. Because I think they may be the same thing.
I think Eric and Judy, my brother and sister-in-law, may have some idea what this is like. They’ve served Jesus in some parts of the world where it wasn’t very safe, and where Satan’s opposition was palpable. They lived and worked in situations that made them want to pray a lot – when they left their home, when they started a new task or finished one, when they went someplace new and when they got back home.
I think they had a glimpse of what it felt like to want to cling to the hem of Jesus’ robe, to be where he was and to have him lead. We should all long for the same thing.
A life of communal, constant, inclusive open prayer – read “talks with Jesus” – sounds wonderful. What’s stopping us?
Well, here’s what they did, in Acts 1:14: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for a special gift, something he would give them to enable his ministry to continue. That gift would come at Pentecost. But meanwhile, they waited. And they prayed.
Not just normal prayers either. They joined together – their prayers were communal. They prayed constantly – their prayers were their first priority, their most important thing. And they prayed along with the woman and Jesus family – their prayers were inclusive.
I think there’s something to learn here, about what a Jesus-following life looks like, and what a good prayer life looks like. Because I think they may be the same thing.
I think Eric and Judy, my brother and sister-in-law, may have some idea what this is like. They’ve served Jesus in some parts of the world where it wasn’t very safe, and where Satan’s opposition was palpable. They lived and worked in situations that made them want to pray a lot – when they left their home, when they started a new task or finished one, when they went someplace new and when they got back home.
I think they had a glimpse of what it felt like to want to cling to the hem of Jesus’ robe, to be where he was and to have him lead. We should all long for the same thing.
A life of communal, constant, inclusive open prayer – read “talks with Jesus” – sounds wonderful. What’s stopping us?
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