“Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great.” Acts 8:9.
Philip, one of the original twelve disciples, traveled to a Samarian city, where he began to tell the good news concerning Jesus. God touched the hearts of the people and many decided to follow Jesus. Also, many miracles were performed and evil spirits were cast out from the people of the city. Simon, a sorcerer (or magician) in this region, had been held in high esteem by all of the local people. Simon paid attention and was amazed when he observed the miracles performed at the hand of Philip. He thought that this was a power that he could use for his own advantage. It seems that one clear difference between Simon the magician and Philip was their view of themselves. Simon thought that he “was someone great,” and he received accolades from all the people, yet Philip pointed everyone to God, with his words and his actions. For one of them, it was all about him, and for the other, it was all about God.
There have been times when I wanted nothing else but for God to get the glory and for Him to be recognized. Yet, I must admit that there have been a number of times that I desired to get that recognition. Whether it was because of some inner need for it or because I desired to manipulate a situation or for some other reason, I can look back at some situations and just cringe at how I wanted myself to be the focus of attention- rather than God. I do hope that I am getting better at pointing to God, but I also know that I am prone to self-deception. It helps for me to remember who I am in God’s eyes and heart – His child, whom He loves. Then, I remember how grateful I am for His life in me. It is all about Him!
Questions to consider: Do you remember times when you talked or acted in ways where your goal was your own recognition? How did that work for you? How has it worked when you have sought to only glorify God?
Prayer: Father, help me to break through my own self-deception to see as You see and to always remember that You are my total source of strength. Help me to stop boasting unless it is about You! Amen.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
January 22, 2009 - Acts 8:6
“When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.” Acts 8:6.
With the persecution and arrest of many followers of Jesus occurring in Jerusalem, they begin to disperse throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Philip ventured to a city in Samaria where he began to preach about Jesus. Evidently, as Philip spoke about Jesus, some miracles happened. This activity attracted a crowd of people, and, because of the amazing signs that they witnessed, the crowd “paid attention to what he (Philip) said.” It does not seem to matter what the miracles were; only that the crowd was attracted and that they listened closely to what was said.
I have been privileged to witness God performing miracles in people’s lives. I have, also, been witness to times when people tried to manufacture miracles. It seems to me that when God is really in it, miracles can happen, but they are not the point; touching people’s heart is the point. I believe that Philip just did what he knew to do – speak about Jesus – and God did the rest. I, also, know that this is all I am called to do.
Questions to consider: Have you ever witnessed any miracles? Have you seen any manufactured “miraculous signs?” What did each of these look like? Is there a difference in the fragrance of each? What is it? What has God called you to do?
Prayer: Father, I pray that You will help me to be obedient to what You desire for me to say and do. Help me not give in to the temptation to put on a show or do anything more than what You call me to do. Amen.
With the persecution and arrest of many followers of Jesus occurring in Jerusalem, they begin to disperse throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Philip ventured to a city in Samaria where he began to preach about Jesus. Evidently, as Philip spoke about Jesus, some miracles happened. This activity attracted a crowd of people, and, because of the amazing signs that they witnessed, the crowd “paid attention to what he (Philip) said.” It does not seem to matter what the miracles were; only that the crowd was attracted and that they listened closely to what was said.
I have been privileged to witness God performing miracles in people’s lives. I have, also, been witness to times when people tried to manufacture miracles. It seems to me that when God is really in it, miracles can happen, but they are not the point; touching people’s heart is the point. I believe that Philip just did what he knew to do – speak about Jesus – and God did the rest. I, also, know that this is all I am called to do.
Questions to consider: Have you ever witnessed any miracles? Have you seen any manufactured “miraculous signs?” What did each of these look like? Is there a difference in the fragrance of each? What is it? What has God called you to do?
Prayer: Father, I pray that You will help me to be obedient to what You desire for me to say and do. Help me not give in to the temptation to put on a show or do anything more than what You call me to do. Amen.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
January 15, 2009 - Acts 8:3
“But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.” Acts 8:3.
Saul was a zealous Pharisee, who had a passion for following what he believed to be the truth, and, in doing so, he believed that he was following God’s will for the Jewish people. Because of this attitude and heart, Saul began arresting any followers of Jesus that he could find and imprisoned them. He actually thought that he was right in doing this and that he was keeping the Jewish religion and way of life pure. He believed that this sect of Jesus followers was heretical and that they needed to be brought to justice. God used Saul’s zealousness to push His little band of followers out into the next reaches of the world to start spreading the good news concerning Jesus. Yet Saul had no interest in that. He sought to snuff out this movement as quickly as possible.
As I thought about Saul and this situation, I realized that religion, in general, tends to do similar activities in order to “keep their faith pure.” I began to think about what Christians have done throughout our history to subject people to “our” God by force or threat of death, all in the name of Christ. Bringing it down to a my world experience, I began to think about how we act towards one another and how Christian churches do not relate to one another because of some difference or another. I even considered how in my own life, I make judgments on who is “in” or “out”, saying things like, “well, if they don’t do this or act in that way, they must certainly not be a Christian!”
I realize that in each case, from the macro, historical, like the Crusades, down to little ol’ me, each was trying to follow what they believed to be God’s will for them and to do what they believed to be right. And we can justify ourselves using the Word of God, just as Saul did, using the Jewish Law.
Questions: Have you ever experienced a time or situation where you were doing what you thought to be the correct thing, only to find out that you were wrong? What is the chief command of God (Luke 10:25-27) and how should we live according to it? What happened to Saul, and how did that impact his life and the life of the church?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for not loving my neighbor, even when they do not see things the way that I do. Forgive me for making judgments when I have no right to do so. Please give me a heart to love those around me. Amen.
Saul was a zealous Pharisee, who had a passion for following what he believed to be the truth, and, in doing so, he believed that he was following God’s will for the Jewish people. Because of this attitude and heart, Saul began arresting any followers of Jesus that he could find and imprisoned them. He actually thought that he was right in doing this and that he was keeping the Jewish religion and way of life pure. He believed that this sect of Jesus followers was heretical and that they needed to be brought to justice. God used Saul’s zealousness to push His little band of followers out into the next reaches of the world to start spreading the good news concerning Jesus. Yet Saul had no interest in that. He sought to snuff out this movement as quickly as possible.
As I thought about Saul and this situation, I realized that religion, in general, tends to do similar activities in order to “keep their faith pure.” I began to think about what Christians have done throughout our history to subject people to “our” God by force or threat of death, all in the name of Christ. Bringing it down to a my world experience, I began to think about how we act towards one another and how Christian churches do not relate to one another because of some difference or another. I even considered how in my own life, I make judgments on who is “in” or “out”, saying things like, “well, if they don’t do this or act in that way, they must certainly not be a Christian!”
I realize that in each case, from the macro, historical, like the Crusades, down to little ol’ me, each was trying to follow what they believed to be God’s will for them and to do what they believed to be right. And we can justify ourselves using the Word of God, just as Saul did, using the Jewish Law.
Questions: Have you ever experienced a time or situation where you were doing what you thought to be the correct thing, only to find out that you were wrong? What is the chief command of God (Luke 10:25-27) and how should we live according to it? What happened to Saul, and how did that impact his life and the life of the church?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for not loving my neighbor, even when they do not see things the way that I do. Forgive me for making judgments when I have no right to do so. Please give me a heart to love those around me. Amen.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
January 8, 2009 - Acts 8:1
“And Saul was there, giving approval to his death…. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” Acts 8:1.
Saul, who was a zealous Pharisee, was at Stephen’s execution, giving leadership to the stoning. With this beginning, he built a case, just as any good lawyer would, that enabled him to begin arresting men and women who were followers of Jesus. It was on the day of Stephen’s execution that the first persecution of the church of Jesus began, and the believers in Jesus began to be scattered throughout Judea and even Samaria.
God used this persecution in the life of the church. The followers of Jesus were not going out to Judea and Samaria, as Jesus commanded them to do in Acts 1:8, and God had to use something to get them going. This was not the best way to get their attention, but it was a useful tool, and it motivated these people to get going, even if they were seeking a way to preserve their lives. So, in this way, these early followers of Jesus started to leave Jerusalem for the regions around Judea and Samaria, spreading the word concerning Jesus as they went.
Questions to consider: What negative experience has happened in your life that God has used for His purposes? Have you had negative experiences happen that you did not see God’s hand? Are you able to take a look at those experiences to see if and how God was involved, trying to steer you? How is God using our current economic situation to guide you?
Prayer: Father, help me to have the eyes to see Your activity in my life, using negative experiences to look to You more. Give me the courage to follow You where You are leading. Amen.
Saul, who was a zealous Pharisee, was at Stephen’s execution, giving leadership to the stoning. With this beginning, he built a case, just as any good lawyer would, that enabled him to begin arresting men and women who were followers of Jesus. It was on the day of Stephen’s execution that the first persecution of the church of Jesus began, and the believers in Jesus began to be scattered throughout Judea and even Samaria.
God used this persecution in the life of the church. The followers of Jesus were not going out to Judea and Samaria, as Jesus commanded them to do in Acts 1:8, and God had to use something to get them going. This was not the best way to get their attention, but it was a useful tool, and it motivated these people to get going, even if they were seeking a way to preserve their lives. So, in this way, these early followers of Jesus started to leave Jerusalem for the regions around Judea and Samaria, spreading the word concerning Jesus as they went.
Questions to consider: What negative experience has happened in your life that God has used for His purposes? Have you had negative experiences happen that you did not see God’s hand? Are you able to take a look at those experiences to see if and how God was involved, trying to steer you? How is God using our current economic situation to guide you?
Prayer: Father, help me to have the eyes to see Your activity in my life, using negative experiences to look to You more. Give me the courage to follow You where You are leading. Amen.
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