“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” Acts 13:2.
This is the time when Barnabas and Saul (who was to be called Paul) were called by God to spread the good news about Jesus throughout the Roman world. The assembled followers of Jesus in Antioch, having worshiped and fasted, gathered around these two men to acknowledge that God had set them apart for this new venture.
Very recently, an ordination service was conducted for a very close friend whom God had called and the people had recognized. It was so touching to see family and friends from years past gathered to pray for this friend, and to witness the local community’s support of their new pastor. In the message delivered at the service, the speaker stated that each follower of Jesus is called and set apart for the ministry. Our pastors, teachers, and other ‘professionals’ are all here to equip all the believers and to prepare them for the work of the ministry, and it is our responsibility, as Jesus followers, to intentionally and prayerfully seek to know His calling and then to do it.
Barnabas and Saul set out from Antioch on a long and difficult journey, yet they knew full well what God had called them to do, and they sought to do it.
Questions to consider: Do you know what God has called you to do? If you know, what is it, and are you doing it? If not, are you seeking to know what He wants you to do?
Prayer: Father, thank You for calling each of us to do Your work, for Your kingdom. Give us the heart to understand what You have for us to do, and the courage to do it. Amen.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
March 18, 2010 - Acts 12:23
“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.” Acts 12:23.
This gruesome event served as a marker of the transition that occurred in the life of the community of followers of Jesus. Before Herod’s death, the early church had experienced a harsh persecution, with deaths and imprisonments, at the hands of the Jewish authorities, as well as the Roman rulers. And the small community of believers was scattered throughout “all Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In this transition, they began a period of relative peace and experienced numerical growth, as they expanded throughout the Roman world. They had remained faithful through the harsh, tough period, and, even though the persecutions were not over, were now entering into a period of refreshment and growth.
Likewise, each of us goes through different periods in our life. And there are usually markers that aid us in remembering the transition points. One such marker for me was the restlessness that I felt around the time I transitioned from owning my own business to going into ministry as a vocation. I struggled for a period of time, questioning my direction and wrestling with God, until finally realizing that the ministry direction was where God desired for me to proceed. Once the decision was made, I moved from experiencing restlessness, worry, and anxiety to peace and joy. In my life, markers have served to help me see God’s faithfulness and care, and, it’s in looking back that I see His hand at work.
Questions to consider: Have there been any markers in your life? What are they, and what purpose do they serve in your life?
Prayer: Father, thank You for the markers in my life and the transitions that You give me in my journey. Help me to be attentive and aware of these movements and help me to embrace them as being from Your hand. Amen.
This gruesome event served as a marker of the transition that occurred in the life of the community of followers of Jesus. Before Herod’s death, the early church had experienced a harsh persecution, with deaths and imprisonments, at the hands of the Jewish authorities, as well as the Roman rulers. And the small community of believers was scattered throughout “all Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In this transition, they began a period of relative peace and experienced numerical growth, as they expanded throughout the Roman world. They had remained faithful through the harsh, tough period, and, even though the persecutions were not over, were now entering into a period of refreshment and growth.
Likewise, each of us goes through different periods in our life. And there are usually markers that aid us in remembering the transition points. One such marker for me was the restlessness that I felt around the time I transitioned from owning my own business to going into ministry as a vocation. I struggled for a period of time, questioning my direction and wrestling with God, until finally realizing that the ministry direction was where God desired for me to proceed. Once the decision was made, I moved from experiencing restlessness, worry, and anxiety to peace and joy. In my life, markers have served to help me see God’s faithfulness and care, and, it’s in looking back that I see His hand at work.
Questions to consider: Have there been any markers in your life? What are they, and what purpose do they serve in your life?
Prayer: Father, thank You for the markers in my life and the transitions that You give me in my journey. Help me to be attentive and aware of these movements and help me to embrace them as being from Your hand. Amen.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
March 11, 2010 - Acts 12:14
“When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door!’” Acts 12:14.
After Peter was set free from the jail by an angel sent from God, he walked to a home where he knew the followers of Jesus would be meeting. Upon knocking at the door, a servant girl responded. She was so excited to hear Peter’s voice that she ran to tell the others the great news, instead of letting Peter into the house. In her excitement, this young lady left her brain at the door and ran to tell everyone the news. They didn’t believe her, but Peter kept knocking until they answered and were astonished to find Peter standing there.
There have been times when, in my excitement over something, I left my brain at the door. In my reaction to the event, I do not exhibit much, if any, self-control. In most cases, such as with the slave girl in this verse, there is no damage done. But it could have been much worse for Peter, as well as for all of those in the household. And it could be a bad situation for me if I do not exhibit self-control. This fruit of the Spirit (from Galatians, chapter 5) is an important quality to receive, and to develop. Most of us are not necessarily born with self-control. It needs to be continually worked into us by the Holy Spirit. It’s not one of the “glamorous” fruit, such as “love,” “joy,” and “peace,” but it is an essential one for many areas of our lives, and it is a discipline that will make a big difference in our time of need.
Questions to consider: Have you been in a situation when you wish you had more self-control? What are you doing to encourage or develop this fruit of the Spirit in your life?
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for modeling for me a life that exemplified self-control. Give me a heart that is able to receive a deepening of this spiritual fruit in my life. Amen.
After Peter was set free from the jail by an angel sent from God, he walked to a home where he knew the followers of Jesus would be meeting. Upon knocking at the door, a servant girl responded. She was so excited to hear Peter’s voice that she ran to tell the others the great news, instead of letting Peter into the house. In her excitement, this young lady left her brain at the door and ran to tell everyone the news. They didn’t believe her, but Peter kept knocking until they answered and were astonished to find Peter standing there.
There have been times when, in my excitement over something, I left my brain at the door. In my reaction to the event, I do not exhibit much, if any, self-control. In most cases, such as with the slave girl in this verse, there is no damage done. But it could have been much worse for Peter, as well as for all of those in the household. And it could be a bad situation for me if I do not exhibit self-control. This fruit of the Spirit (from Galatians, chapter 5) is an important quality to receive, and to develop. Most of us are not necessarily born with self-control. It needs to be continually worked into us by the Holy Spirit. It’s not one of the “glamorous” fruit, such as “love,” “joy,” and “peace,” but it is an essential one for many areas of our lives, and it is a discipline that will make a big difference in our time of need.
Questions to consider: Have you been in a situation when you wish you had more self-control? What are you doing to encourage or develop this fruit of the Spirit in your life?
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for modeling for me a life that exemplified self-control. Give me a heart that is able to receive a deepening of this spiritual fruit in my life. Amen.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
March 4, 2010 - Acts 12:9
“Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.” Acts 12:9.
Peter thought he was having a vision, which is another way of saying that he thought he was dreaming. And who could blame him? After all, he had been shackled and in jail for his faith. It was now night and he was sound asleep when an angel from God appeared in his cell. The angel woke Peter up and led him out of the jail, with no shackles or guards to deal with. Yet, Peter seemed to be in a fog, as if he were dreaming.
Sometimes in my faith walk, it seems as though I am floating along in a dream-like state. It is as though I were gliding through life. Actually, at times it seems as if I were ricocheting through life – yet, I am not fully engaged in the present moment. The word, “intentional,” has much meaning for me lately, and it seems that when I make myself intentionally be in the moment, my faith becomes alive and present; very actively engaged.
Once released from the prison, it was as if Peter awakened from his dream-like state, took stock of the reality of the moment, rejoiced in God’s deliverance, and returned to where he knew the followers of Jesus were gathered. He was back in the moment, fully alive and fully engaged.
Questions to consider: Do you feel as though you are sometimes walking around in a dream-like state, too? If so, how do you shake yourself out of it? How do you live in the present moment? What do you need to do to be fully alive and fully engaged?
Prayer: Father, thank You for showing me the way to know Your active presence with me in the moment, and for making me alive in that moment. Help me to walk in the moment more regularly. Amen.
Peter thought he was having a vision, which is another way of saying that he thought he was dreaming. And who could blame him? After all, he had been shackled and in jail for his faith. It was now night and he was sound asleep when an angel from God appeared in his cell. The angel woke Peter up and led him out of the jail, with no shackles or guards to deal with. Yet, Peter seemed to be in a fog, as if he were dreaming.
Sometimes in my faith walk, it seems as though I am floating along in a dream-like state. It is as though I were gliding through life. Actually, at times it seems as if I were ricocheting through life – yet, I am not fully engaged in the present moment. The word, “intentional,” has much meaning for me lately, and it seems that when I make myself intentionally be in the moment, my faith becomes alive and present; very actively engaged.
Once released from the prison, it was as if Peter awakened from his dream-like state, took stock of the reality of the moment, rejoiced in God’s deliverance, and returned to where he knew the followers of Jesus were gathered. He was back in the moment, fully alive and fully engaged.
Questions to consider: Do you feel as though you are sometimes walking around in a dream-like state, too? If so, how do you shake yourself out of it? How do you live in the present moment? What do you need to do to be fully alive and fully engaged?
Prayer: Father, thank You for showing me the way to know Your active presence with me in the moment, and for making me alive in that moment. Help me to walk in the moment more regularly. Amen.
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