“When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’” Acts 14:11.
The people of Lystra had never seen a healing like this before (see vs. 8-10), and they responded in the only way they knew how. They thought that their gods had come in human form and that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes, Zeus’ chief spokesman. Evidently, Paul and Barnabas were unaware that the people were responding to the healing in this way, and it was only when the priests of Zeus brought sacrifices that Paul and Barnabas realized what was happening. Paul and Barnabas protested by tearing their clothes, which was an expression of great anguish in their culture. It was, evidently, quite a chaotic scene!
Paul and Barnabas knew that they weren’t “gods”, and they were not about to allow others to celebrate them as such, even if it offended the crowd’s beliefs. Paul and Barnabas knew that they must clearly make a stand for the one, true God that they believed in and followed.
There are times when I have made a clear stand for Jesus. Usually it is within circumstances where I am more comfortable. There are, also, times when I have been more cautious in my stand for Jesus. I am much more protective (read: more fearful of rejection!) of myself. Yet, it is always helps to remember that God is always with me and willing to work through me, if I am willing to allow Him to do so.
Questions to consider: How do you make a stand for God? What would you say to someone who to know more about the God you serve? In what ways do you make a stand for God within your circumstances?
Prayer: Father, give me wisdom and courage to make a stand for you in the uncomfortable situations, as well as the comfortable. Help me to always be ready with a word to share about Your love and goodness. Amen.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
August 19, 2010 - John 1:12
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12.
The right to become children of God! We can become God’s children! This is an amazing restoration of who we were created to be – the children of God. I believe that every human was created with this possibility for their life.
Yet, there are many things that keep us from really embracing this for our lives. One thing that has challenged me from embracing being God’s child is my sin. I allowed my sin to separate me from the love of God. I could believe that God forgives all sin, and that He forgives other people’s sin, but I struggled with embracing God’s forgiveness for my sin. How could He, as my sin was so dark and messy? I understand intellectually God’s forgiveness for all my sins but have struggled believing this in my heart. I came to realize that I was allowing my sins to define who I was.
Since then, I realized that I am not defined by my sins. I am defined by who God says I am and not by my own feelings. I am a personally loved child of God. And because of this, I realize that I am not defined by my sins. I am not my sins. I am a child of God.
It is my hope that each of us will take some time to think through what keeps us from embracing – really embracing – the amazing fact that we are God’s children.
Questions to consider: Do you realize that you are God’s child and that He loves you with all of His heart? What separates you from embracing the fact that you are a child of God? What can you do embrace God’s love for you?
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your deep, personal love for me. Help me to break through those things that separate me from Your love. Amen.
The right to become children of God! We can become God’s children! This is an amazing restoration of who we were created to be – the children of God. I believe that every human was created with this possibility for their life.
Yet, there are many things that keep us from really embracing this for our lives. One thing that has challenged me from embracing being God’s child is my sin. I allowed my sin to separate me from the love of God. I could believe that God forgives all sin, and that He forgives other people’s sin, but I struggled with embracing God’s forgiveness for my sin. How could He, as my sin was so dark and messy? I understand intellectually God’s forgiveness for all my sins but have struggled believing this in my heart. I came to realize that I was allowing my sins to define who I was.
Since then, I realized that I am not defined by my sins. I am defined by who God says I am and not by my own feelings. I am a personally loved child of God. And because of this, I realize that I am not defined by my sins. I am not my sins. I am a child of God.
It is my hope that each of us will take some time to think through what keeps us from embracing – really embracing – the amazing fact that we are God’s children.
Questions to consider: Do you realize that you are God’s child and that He loves you with all of His heart? What separates you from embracing the fact that you are a child of God? What can you do embrace God’s love for you?
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your deep, personal love for me. Help me to break through those things that separate me from Your love. Amen.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
August 5, 2010 - Acts 14:9-10
“He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed, and called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.” Acts 14:9-10.
Paul was speaking about Jesus to a crowd of people in Lystra when he noticed a crippled man listening intently as he spoke. Paul noticed something different about this man and looked directly at him. Paul saw that there was the seed of faith in this crippled man, and he commanded the man to stand up on his feet. At that, the man, who had not walked in his lifetime, “jumped up and began to walk.”
This miracle is amazing in many ways. One way that I would like to mention in particular, is the fact that this man’s muscles had never been developed to enable him to walk. Plus, this man had never experienced what it was like to walk, yet he immediately started walking around as if he had done so for his whole life. This truly was amazing! All this happened because Paul saw that this man had faith.
As I thought about this, I realized that when I talk to people, I do not look at them with eyes to see the faith within each person. I am convicted, and realize that I need to look for the seed of faith in those I come into contact with. I want to be aware of God’s activity in the lives of those around me, and I want to speak up about what I notice in others.
Questions to consider: How do you look at those around you? Have you ever seen that seed of faith in someone and spoke to them about it? What was that experience like?
Prayer: Father, may I have eyes to see the seed of faith in those around me? Please help me to see Your activity in their lives and to speak encouraging words to them regarding Your plans for their lives. Amen.
Paul was speaking about Jesus to a crowd of people in Lystra when he noticed a crippled man listening intently as he spoke. Paul noticed something different about this man and looked directly at him. Paul saw that there was the seed of faith in this crippled man, and he commanded the man to stand up on his feet. At that, the man, who had not walked in his lifetime, “jumped up and began to walk.”
This miracle is amazing in many ways. One way that I would like to mention in particular, is the fact that this man’s muscles had never been developed to enable him to walk. Plus, this man had never experienced what it was like to walk, yet he immediately started walking around as if he had done so for his whole life. This truly was amazing! All this happened because Paul saw that this man had faith.
As I thought about this, I realized that when I talk to people, I do not look at them with eyes to see the faith within each person. I am convicted, and realize that I need to look for the seed of faith in those I come into contact with. I want to be aware of God’s activity in the lives of those around me, and I want to speak up about what I notice in others.
Questions to consider: How do you look at those around you? Have you ever seen that seed of faith in someone and spoke to them about it? What was that experience like?
Prayer: Father, may I have eyes to see the seed of faith in those around me? Please help me to see Your activity in their lives and to speak encouraging words to them regarding Your plans for their lives. Amen.
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