“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’” Acts 9:3-4.
Saul was journeying to Damascus to persecute the followers of Jesus who resided there. He had the proper papers in hand from the Temple leadership, giving him authority to arrest these followers and bring them to Jerusalem for trial. As Saul came near to Damascus, this dramatic scene occurred, and a voice spoke to him, saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Now I have heard some fairly dramatic stories before, but this one takes the cake! Saul was such a focused, intense person that it took something like this to get his attention and turn him around. In my personal journey, there were a series of events that led up to my making a decision to follow Jesus on December 19, 1970. Since then, I have continually “re-decided” to follow Him. For Saul, it was that definitive moment on the Damascus road that totally and radically changed him forever. For me, it took time to take that step. For many others, the journey is a gradual movement toward God.
Dramatic events make for interesting stories, but I find that they don’t necessarily keep us on the journey with God. Being on the journey is what keeps us engaged in seeking God. Saul was “on his journey” when he met God. Whether you experience the extraordinary event like Saul’s or the ordinary, routine process of daily life, keep on the journey,
Questions to consider: How is your journey going? Are you seeking more understanding of who Jesus is, or have you arrived? What decisions have you made on your journey with God? Are there any decisions that you have made on your journey that you need to dust off and renew?
Prayer: Father, help us in our journey to find You and to follow You. Help us to come to a place where we make a decision to follow You and to decide to keep on following You. Amen.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
April 23, 2009 - Acts 9:1
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples….” Acts 9:1.
Saul, a young, zealous Pharisee, had witnessed the stoning of Stephen, and was one of the leaders who carried out the plan to exterminate this new movement. He was a very educated man for his time period, having trained under the tutoring of Gamaliel, a famous and respected teacher and Rabbi. Carrying out these “murderous threats” was Saul’s efforts to keep his religion pure and to make sure that heresies were dealt with. These early followers of Jesus were viewed as being just as bad as their leader, and they needed to be dealt with.
On one hand, it is understandable that Saul was zealous to keep his religion pure. However, his outward response – arresting, beating, and killing these people – although an extreme way to accomplish this, was allowed by the Law of Moses. Saul was zealous for purity, yet we see the fruit of such zealousness in his vindictive attitude toward the followers of Jesus.
It does not take me very long to realize that I have some of Saul’s vindictiveness within me. How do I respond when I believe that someone has wronged me, or how do I react when I believe that someone is doing wrong? On a macro scale, how did the Crusades help the cause of Christ in the world? The truth is we can justify our actions, even when our actions may blatantly be destructive to our world, as well as to us. And we do this in the name of the Lord or “security” – protecting our territory and keeping it pure.
Questions to consider: When does “protecting our territory” cross the line from loving God and neighbor into protecting my own interests? When have you seen a vindictive attitude rise up within you, and why do you think that happened? What would God say about “protecting our territory?”
Prayer: Father, please help me to lay down my own desire to protect, and help me to see when I am mistakenly doing it in Your name. Help me to walk in love with my neighbors, whoever they are. Amen.
Saul, a young, zealous Pharisee, had witnessed the stoning of Stephen, and was one of the leaders who carried out the plan to exterminate this new movement. He was a very educated man for his time period, having trained under the tutoring of Gamaliel, a famous and respected teacher and Rabbi. Carrying out these “murderous threats” was Saul’s efforts to keep his religion pure and to make sure that heresies were dealt with. These early followers of Jesus were viewed as being just as bad as their leader, and they needed to be dealt with.
On one hand, it is understandable that Saul was zealous to keep his religion pure. However, his outward response – arresting, beating, and killing these people – although an extreme way to accomplish this, was allowed by the Law of Moses. Saul was zealous for purity, yet we see the fruit of such zealousness in his vindictive attitude toward the followers of Jesus.
It does not take me very long to realize that I have some of Saul’s vindictiveness within me. How do I respond when I believe that someone has wronged me, or how do I react when I believe that someone is doing wrong? On a macro scale, how did the Crusades help the cause of Christ in the world? The truth is we can justify our actions, even when our actions may blatantly be destructive to our world, as well as to us. And we do this in the name of the Lord or “security” – protecting our territory and keeping it pure.
Questions to consider: When does “protecting our territory” cross the line from loving God and neighbor into protecting my own interests? When have you seen a vindictive attitude rise up within you, and why do you think that happened? What would God say about “protecting our territory?”
Prayer: Father, please help me to lay down my own desire to protect, and help me to see when I am mistakenly doing it in Your name. Help me to walk in love with my neighbors, whoever they are. Amen.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
April 16, 2009 - Acts 8:39
“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:39.
On their journey together, the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip spotted water and stopped, so that Philip could baptize the eunuch. He had become convinced that Jesus was the long-awaited-for Messiah and was ready to do whatever was necessary to be His follower. So they stopped and he was baptized. As they came out of the water, Philip was taken away by the Holy Spirit and was not seen by the eunuch again. The eunuch did not seem to be surprised, since he went on his way rejoicing.
It seems that when he came out of the water, he experienced a joy and freshness in his life that he may never have experienced before, and he did not seem to mind that Philip was no longer there. He also could have seen Philip being carried away by the Spirit and realized the significance of the event, and, because of that, rejoiced at this manifestation of God’s power and presence. In any event, Philip being taken away by the Spirit was an event that was wrapped up in wonder, awe, and mystery.
There is part of me that would like to figure this out. How did the Holy Spirit actually carry Philip away? What did that whole situation look like? It is just like me to want to know exactly how it happened, instead of enjoying the supernatural mystery of the event. God, in His purposes, decided that Philip was the right person to be transported from this spot in the desert to another location and that it needed to be done right away. And I need to be comfortable with this unexplained mystery in the Scriptures.
Questions to consider: How comfortable are you with the mysteries in the Bible? How comfortable are you concerning the mysteries that occur in your life?
Prayer: Father, thank You for being a God that doesn’t feel it necessary to explain everything. Help me to be comfortable with not being able to know and understand it all. Help me to be comfortable with mystery. Amen.
On their journey together, the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip spotted water and stopped, so that Philip could baptize the eunuch. He had become convinced that Jesus was the long-awaited-for Messiah and was ready to do whatever was necessary to be His follower. So they stopped and he was baptized. As they came out of the water, Philip was taken away by the Holy Spirit and was not seen by the eunuch again. The eunuch did not seem to be surprised, since he went on his way rejoicing.
It seems that when he came out of the water, he experienced a joy and freshness in his life that he may never have experienced before, and he did not seem to mind that Philip was no longer there. He also could have seen Philip being carried away by the Spirit and realized the significance of the event, and, because of that, rejoiced at this manifestation of God’s power and presence. In any event, Philip being taken away by the Spirit was an event that was wrapped up in wonder, awe, and mystery.
There is part of me that would like to figure this out. How did the Holy Spirit actually carry Philip away? What did that whole situation look like? It is just like me to want to know exactly how it happened, instead of enjoying the supernatural mystery of the event. God, in His purposes, decided that Philip was the right person to be transported from this spot in the desert to another location and that it needed to be done right away. And I need to be comfortable with this unexplained mystery in the Scriptures.
Questions to consider: How comfortable are you with the mysteries in the Bible? How comfortable are you concerning the mysteries that occur in your life?
Prayer: Father, thank You for being a God that doesn’t feel it necessary to explain everything. Help me to be comfortable with not being able to know and understand it all. Help me to be comfortable with mystery. Amen.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
April 9, 2009 - Romans 8:11
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11.
When we think of the Easter season, many of us reflect on the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. As we do this, often we find it difficult to move past the gruesomeness of Jesus’ death and focus on the purpose of His death. This year, for some reason, I have spent more time reflecting on His resurrection. This verse from Romans, chapter 8, speaks deeply to me. As one of my friends in one of our small groups stated the other day, “The same Spirit that raised Lazarus from the dead is the same Spirit that is in me today.” Take a moment and let that sink in. And then reflect on verse 11 from Romans 8.
God, the Holy Spirit, raised Jesus from the dead, and that same God, the Holy Spirit, lives in you and me. He is the same Spirit, and He can be as active today in our lives as we will allow Him to be. He can raise us up from whatever “death” we may find ourselves in today…or tomorrow…or any day from now on.
The resurrection of Jesus from the grave, which we celebrate on Easter, is as much of an assault – a storming of the beach – as was the Normandy invasion in World War II. His resurrection was an assault on death, the grave, and the gates of hell. God has brought forth His kingdom, and is in the business of reconciling the world – His creation – to Himself. And on Easter, we celebrate the return to life of the King of Kings, and the beginning of the restoration of His Kingdom here on earth. All of this is powered by the same Holy Spirit that lives within you and me!
Questions to consider: How aware are you of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life today? Do you limit His activity in any way, and if so, how? Is there any “death” in your life today that you need to ask Him to raise up to new life?
Prayer: Father, I thank You today for Your great love for us and for Your creation. You did not leave us alone, but You lead an assault to win us and all of creation back to You. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for raising Jesus from the dead and for being present in our lives today. Amen.
When we think of the Easter season, many of us reflect on the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. As we do this, often we find it difficult to move past the gruesomeness of Jesus’ death and focus on the purpose of His death. This year, for some reason, I have spent more time reflecting on His resurrection. This verse from Romans, chapter 8, speaks deeply to me. As one of my friends in one of our small groups stated the other day, “The same Spirit that raised Lazarus from the dead is the same Spirit that is in me today.” Take a moment and let that sink in. And then reflect on verse 11 from Romans 8.
God, the Holy Spirit, raised Jesus from the dead, and that same God, the Holy Spirit, lives in you and me. He is the same Spirit, and He can be as active today in our lives as we will allow Him to be. He can raise us up from whatever “death” we may find ourselves in today…or tomorrow…or any day from now on.
The resurrection of Jesus from the grave, which we celebrate on Easter, is as much of an assault – a storming of the beach – as was the Normandy invasion in World War II. His resurrection was an assault on death, the grave, and the gates of hell. God has brought forth His kingdom, and is in the business of reconciling the world – His creation – to Himself. And on Easter, we celebrate the return to life of the King of Kings, and the beginning of the restoration of His Kingdom here on earth. All of this is powered by the same Holy Spirit that lives within you and me!
Questions to consider: How aware are you of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life today? Do you limit His activity in any way, and if so, how? Is there any “death” in your life today that you need to ask Him to raise up to new life?
Prayer: Father, I thank You today for Your great love for us and for Your creation. You did not leave us alone, but You lead an assault to win us and all of creation back to You. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for raising Jesus from the dead and for being present in our lives today. Amen.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April 2, 2009 - Acts 8:36
“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’” Acts 8:36.
The Ethiopian eunuch had invited Philip into his chariot to discuss a portion of the writings of Isaiah. He did not understand who the author was writing about, and asked Philip to explain. In doing so, Philip told him all about Jesus, the One to whom Isaiah was pointing. During the conversation, the eunuch must have become convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and requested that Philip baptize him, since they had come upon some water.
One of Jesus’ last instructions recorded before His return to the Father (in Matthew 28:19) was this: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Philip, having been directed to do so, was following through with his Master’s instructions. As a result, the eunuch became convinced that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. He was baptized and then took the Good News of Jesus back to his country and to the continent of Africa. Philip had obeyed Jesus’ simple instructions: to go, to disciple, and to baptize.
Sometimes, I sit around, waiting for some grand plan from God, instead of moving forward with one or two simple instructions on which I need to follow through. This is a prideful thing on my part, and I recognize my need to choose to humble myself in order to do the simple things that I need to do. It is a wonderful practice for me to remember to do those simple things, for it does keep me in a place of humility under His Lordship. Philip was obedient to these simple instructions, and, as a result, imagine how many lives were transformed.
Questions to consider: Has God given you a few simple instructions to follow through with? What are they? Are you doing them? If not, why not?
Prayer: Father, thank You for caring for me in such a personal manner that You have given me some simple instructions for me to do? Help me to be faithful to obey You and to complete that which You have given me to do. Amen.
The Ethiopian eunuch had invited Philip into his chariot to discuss a portion of the writings of Isaiah. He did not understand who the author was writing about, and asked Philip to explain. In doing so, Philip told him all about Jesus, the One to whom Isaiah was pointing. During the conversation, the eunuch must have become convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and requested that Philip baptize him, since they had come upon some water.
One of Jesus’ last instructions recorded before His return to the Father (in Matthew 28:19) was this: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Philip, having been directed to do so, was following through with his Master’s instructions. As a result, the eunuch became convinced that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. He was baptized and then took the Good News of Jesus back to his country and to the continent of Africa. Philip had obeyed Jesus’ simple instructions: to go, to disciple, and to baptize.
Sometimes, I sit around, waiting for some grand plan from God, instead of moving forward with one or two simple instructions on which I need to follow through. This is a prideful thing on my part, and I recognize my need to choose to humble myself in order to do the simple things that I need to do. It is a wonderful practice for me to remember to do those simple things, for it does keep me in a place of humility under His Lordship. Philip was obedient to these simple instructions, and, as a result, imagine how many lives were transformed.
Questions to consider: Has God given you a few simple instructions to follow through with? What are they? Are you doing them? If not, why not?
Prayer: Father, thank You for caring for me in such a personal manner that You have given me some simple instructions for me to do? Help me to be faithful to obey You and to complete that which You have given me to do. Amen.
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