“’But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 1:8.
Jesus’ last words to His disciples speaks of the empowerment that is to come within the next few days, when the promised Holy Spirit is poured out on and reside within each disciple. This empowerment is to be the comforting, ever-present Counselor that Jesus promised would be an even greater presence than Jesus had been. They would be motivated…driven…compelled to proclaim the good news of Jesus with the lost and dying world around them. And this empowerment would mean that they would not only take the message to all Jerusalem and Judea, where they would be more comfortable sharing the message, but also to Samaria, a place in which they held a deep-seated, cultural prejudice, and where Jesus knew that they were not at all comfortable telling the story of God’s love.
If the disciples were able to take the message, under the power of the Holy Spirit, to where they had to break through their personal prejudices, they would, then, be more prepared to take this good news anywhere throughout the world. But first, Jesus needed to make sure that they could do this and that they could love people – all people – as God loves them.
I must admit that I am challenged by this verse every time I read it. The “all Judea and Samaria” part really pushes me. At first, I usually just brush it off by saying something like, “I’m not prejudiced. I love all people equally.” It doesn’t take me long to realize that I am really uncomfortable with certain individuals or certain groups of people, and that I “look down my nose” at them. It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with race or religion or other clear prejudices, necessarily. It may be the way someone is driving their car or the way that I observe that they treat other people. It usually has to do with the filters or lenses through which I “observe” others (and not necessarily objectively!). But I am sure that I am alone in this behavior, and you cannot relate to this! Take some time today to reflect on the “Samaria” in your life. Notice, I am not asking you whether or not you have them. I am taking for granted that each of us have them in our lives. Ask God to help you process what they are and how you should deal with them. Your application is between your heart and God, and I pray that each of us will allow God new access to our hearts, so that we will never be the same as a result of taking some time to open ourselves up to the “Samaria” in our lives.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
May 17, 2007
“He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’” Acts 1:7.
Jesus’ disciples asked Him a question concerning the restoration of the kingdom, and, as I discussed last week, their main concern focused on the removal of the Roman occupational government and forces from Israel and the establishment of a earthly kingdom similar to King David’s. Jesus, in this verse, is replying to their question by focusing on God’s ultimate authority before turning to the empowerment of the disciples. In turning the focus to God, Jesus is demonstrating to His disciples, yet again, where the primary focus is to be, and where it always should be – away from earthly kingdoms and focused on the kingdom of the heart that God seeks to establish.
Jesus informs His disciples that it is not necessary for them to know dates and times. In fact, it is inferred that this is to be God’s total concern and that we can trust Him to take care of these concerns in just the right time. And yet, this is a concern that the disciples seem to go back to, and one that we, in our present time, dwell on. Timing is such a control-issue oriented thing! For example, in a very small way, I struggle with relinquishing control of the timing of things in my life. My wife and I have an on-going “issue” about our timing in going to church on Sunday, and I must say that I am challenged to “lay my own desires” down for the sake of relational peace. Now granted, this is such a small issue, yet as how we handle ourselves in the small can influence how we handle ourselves in the big issues of life. Today, I would like for us to take some time to reflect on how we view time. Who is in control of your time, your schedule, and your timing of things? Is your schedule more important than the relationships around you that are affected by your view of time? Ultimately, it should give us great comfort and peace knowing that we can trust God for His care in bringing about ultimate things and matters in their proper time. He is in control. Take some time to reflect on how much control He has over this area of your life.
Jesus’ disciples asked Him a question concerning the restoration of the kingdom, and, as I discussed last week, their main concern focused on the removal of the Roman occupational government and forces from Israel and the establishment of a earthly kingdom similar to King David’s. Jesus, in this verse, is replying to their question by focusing on God’s ultimate authority before turning to the empowerment of the disciples. In turning the focus to God, Jesus is demonstrating to His disciples, yet again, where the primary focus is to be, and where it always should be – away from earthly kingdoms and focused on the kingdom of the heart that God seeks to establish.
Jesus informs His disciples that it is not necessary for them to know dates and times. In fact, it is inferred that this is to be God’s total concern and that we can trust Him to take care of these concerns in just the right time. And yet, this is a concern that the disciples seem to go back to, and one that we, in our present time, dwell on. Timing is such a control-issue oriented thing! For example, in a very small way, I struggle with relinquishing control of the timing of things in my life. My wife and I have an on-going “issue” about our timing in going to church on Sunday, and I must say that I am challenged to “lay my own desires” down for the sake of relational peace. Now granted, this is such a small issue, yet as how we handle ourselves in the small can influence how we handle ourselves in the big issues of life. Today, I would like for us to take some time to reflect on how we view time. Who is in control of your time, your schedule, and your timing of things? Is your schedule more important than the relationships around you that are affected by your view of time? Ultimately, it should give us great comfort and peace knowing that we can trust God for His care in bringing about ultimate things and matters in their proper time. He is in control. Take some time to reflect on how much control He has over this area of your life.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
May 10,2007
“So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’” Acts 1:6.
They wanted so badly for a king….the king….the long-awaited Messiah/King to come and release them from the harsh, oppressive rule of the Romans. Their nation had been subjected to tyrannical rule for such a long time, and they were desperately looking for the fulfillment of the prophecies from the past. Jesus’ disciples were meeting with their leader one last time before He was to return to His Father in heaven, and they had this burning concern on their hearts. They were looking for external answers to their question. They were looking for a political/military solution, and evidently were not satisfied with the type of answers that Jesus had been giving.
All of the internal, heart changes that Jesus had called them to, such as were delivered in the sermon on the mount in Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7, were very nice…really, but they weren’t going to throw the bums (the Roman rulers) out. They could not get their minds around the radical nature of Jesus’ revolution. It was a revolution unlike any before or, for that matter, any to follow. It was a revolution of the heart, for Jesus knew that if He had a person’s heart, He had their whole life and allegiance. And this type of follower would run through a wall for you, if necessary. Yet, at this point, they did not understand. One day soon, they would get it, but right at that moment they were stuck in their old paradigm. They could only imagine that the Messiah was to come to set them free in an external, political manner, like King David had done hundreds of years before.
In relating this to my experience, I realize that I have my own pre-conceived notions or ideas of what God should do or how He should act. For example, I lived under the false idea that God would always protect me and keep me safe. Some harsh realities our world today have caused me to rethink and reexamine this idea, and I have come to realize that this is not necessarily a scriptural concept – that God will keep us safe. But what I did discover is that He will always be with me in the middle of the trouble and turmoil, whatever it may be. The point is, I may have any number of false concepts of life that have sprung out of my life experiences, and I need to process these in the revolutionary, heart-transforming way that Jesus ushered into our world. How revolutionary is Jesus in your life? Does He have your heart? Take time today to reflect on a God who does not necessarily promise to keep us safe, but promises to always be there, in our turmoil and trials, with us.
They wanted so badly for a king….the king….the long-awaited Messiah/King to come and release them from the harsh, oppressive rule of the Romans. Their nation had been subjected to tyrannical rule for such a long time, and they were desperately looking for the fulfillment of the prophecies from the past. Jesus’ disciples were meeting with their leader one last time before He was to return to His Father in heaven, and they had this burning concern on their hearts. They were looking for external answers to their question. They were looking for a political/military solution, and evidently were not satisfied with the type of answers that Jesus had been giving.
All of the internal, heart changes that Jesus had called them to, such as were delivered in the sermon on the mount in Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7, were very nice…really, but they weren’t going to throw the bums (the Roman rulers) out. They could not get their minds around the radical nature of Jesus’ revolution. It was a revolution unlike any before or, for that matter, any to follow. It was a revolution of the heart, for Jesus knew that if He had a person’s heart, He had their whole life and allegiance. And this type of follower would run through a wall for you, if necessary. Yet, at this point, they did not understand. One day soon, they would get it, but right at that moment they were stuck in their old paradigm. They could only imagine that the Messiah was to come to set them free in an external, political manner, like King David had done hundreds of years before.
In relating this to my experience, I realize that I have my own pre-conceived notions or ideas of what God should do or how He should act. For example, I lived under the false idea that God would always protect me and keep me safe. Some harsh realities our world today have caused me to rethink and reexamine this idea, and I have come to realize that this is not necessarily a scriptural concept – that God will keep us safe. But what I did discover is that He will always be with me in the middle of the trouble and turmoil, whatever it may be. The point is, I may have any number of false concepts of life that have sprung out of my life experiences, and I need to process these in the revolutionary, heart-transforming way that Jesus ushered into our world. How revolutionary is Jesus in your life? Does He have your heart? Take time today to reflect on a God who does not necessarily promise to keep us safe, but promises to always be there, in our turmoil and trials, with us.
Friday, May 4, 2007
May 3, 2007
“’For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 1:5.
Jesus, in His resurrected body, was making some final comments before He was to return to His Father. He reminded them about His cousin, John, who baptized God-seekers in the waters of the Jordan River, and stated, in similar fashion, God was going to do a special thing in each of their lives. Just as John baptized with water, God was going to, in just a few days, pour out His Holy Spirit on them.
How significant was this? Jesus had been preparing His disciples for this moment, so apparently it was very important to Him. Yet, from their point of view, His disciples most likely wondered what this “baptism with the Holy Spirit” was going to be like. Their only point of reference on this had been some comments that Jesus made about the Spirit before He had been crucified, and now, just before His departure, He was speaking about this Spirit once again. In John’s water baptism, people came – they stepped forward of their own volition – as an act of repentance. Was this baptism in the Spirit going to be similar? What were they to expect? They might have had some ideas of what was going to happen, but there was no way that they could have possibly, accurately, pictured or anticipated it.
And this seems to be the way of a disciple. This is a picture of the adventure that was opened up to them when they were called out to follow Jesus, and continued to open up for them, as He prepared to leave. And this is the picture that is presented to each of us, as we anticipate His activity in our lives. One of the basic principles of being a follow of Jesus is that we follow. Isn’t that just an amazing “revelation”? You probably marvel at my astuteness! But seriously, as a disciple of Jesus, it was vital for them to learn how to follow His lead, and the same is just as true for us in today’s world. And this is precisely one of the fundamental challenges for me – to wait and to follow His lead. I find it difficult to not busy myself with activities, which are usually good but are not necessarily what He has steered me towards. I remember times when I busied myself only to realize that I needed to wait and be patient. How do you respond to waiting on God and following His lead? Is this something that comes naturally to you, or do you, like me, have to work on that discipline? Jesus spoke directly to His disciples, telling them what was to happen in a few days. Sometimes I wish that He would do that for us today. Don’t you wish that were true for you, too? Take some time today to reflect on waiting for His timing and following His lead.
Jesus, in His resurrected body, was making some final comments before He was to return to His Father. He reminded them about His cousin, John, who baptized God-seekers in the waters of the Jordan River, and stated, in similar fashion, God was going to do a special thing in each of their lives. Just as John baptized with water, God was going to, in just a few days, pour out His Holy Spirit on them.
How significant was this? Jesus had been preparing His disciples for this moment, so apparently it was very important to Him. Yet, from their point of view, His disciples most likely wondered what this “baptism with the Holy Spirit” was going to be like. Their only point of reference on this had been some comments that Jesus made about the Spirit before He had been crucified, and now, just before His departure, He was speaking about this Spirit once again. In John’s water baptism, people came – they stepped forward of their own volition – as an act of repentance. Was this baptism in the Spirit going to be similar? What were they to expect? They might have had some ideas of what was going to happen, but there was no way that they could have possibly, accurately, pictured or anticipated it.
And this seems to be the way of a disciple. This is a picture of the adventure that was opened up to them when they were called out to follow Jesus, and continued to open up for them, as He prepared to leave. And this is the picture that is presented to each of us, as we anticipate His activity in our lives. One of the basic principles of being a follow of Jesus is that we follow. Isn’t that just an amazing “revelation”? You probably marvel at my astuteness! But seriously, as a disciple of Jesus, it was vital for them to learn how to follow His lead, and the same is just as true for us in today’s world. And this is precisely one of the fundamental challenges for me – to wait and to follow His lead. I find it difficult to not busy myself with activities, which are usually good but are not necessarily what He has steered me towards. I remember times when I busied myself only to realize that I needed to wait and be patient. How do you respond to waiting on God and following His lead? Is this something that comes naturally to you, or do you, like me, have to work on that discipline? Jesus spoke directly to His disciples, telling them what was to happen in a few days. Sometimes I wish that He would do that for us today. Don’t you wish that were true for you, too? Take some time today to reflect on waiting for His timing and following His lead.
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