Wednesday, March 30, 2011
March 31, 2011 - Acts 17:22
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: ‘Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.’” Acts 17:22. Upon arriving in Athens, Paul was distressed by the number of gods and idols the Athenians worshipped. As he was debating with some of the philosophers of the city, they realized that Paul was talking of a foreign, unknown god. They encouraged Paul to come with them to the Areopagus, which was the place where the philosophers gathered to debate and discuss religious and moral issues. During the meeting, Paul stood up to speak and began with a positive statement that these Athenians were very religious in every aspect of their lives. This was a high compliment to this gathering and it paved the way for Paul to gain their full attention. Without compromising his beliefs, Paul built a platform of acceptance from which he proclaimed the good news of Jesus and his resurrection. Paul had a history of boldly stirring up crowds, yet here in Athens, he spoke in an appealing way so as to win the right to be heard with his audience. It seems that he learned a lesson in understanding the people he was speaking to. There have been times when I have come across in an abrasive way, which would sound judgmental or angry or both. What I thought was speaking with passion was perceived by my audience as something all together different. I actually had someone come to me to apologize for being a disappointment to me after one of my talks. As a result of not understanding my audience, I have been attempting to discover how to communicate in a loving way without loosing my passion. Questions to consider: When relating to people, whether giving a message or just talking, how do you think you come across to them? Does it matter to you how you come across? Should it? What can you do to understand your audience better? Prayer: Father, help me to learn how to communicate in a loving manner, yet with the passion You’ve given me. Help me to win the right to be heard with my audience, whether that be one person or many. Amen.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
March 24, 2011 - Acts 17:11
“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11.
Some of the Jews in Thessalonica made trouble for Paul and Silas to the point that the local brothers asked Paul and Silas to leave for their own safety. Not far from there was Berea, and, once they arrived, Paul and Silas went to the local synagogue to tell the Jews and God-fearing Greeks about Jesus. These people were more gracious in their acceptance of Paul and his message, listening and interacting with Paul concerning the message of salvation through Jesus. Each day the Bereans studied the scriptures to see the truth in what Paul said. As a result, many of the Jews and Greeks were convinced and became followers of Jesus. Paul found in the Bereans a receptive, gracious audience who were eager to listen and examine for themselves the truth in the scriptures.
When it concerns truth of what the scriptures say about God and His Son, Jesus, some of us are very dogmatic and not particularly interested in listening to those who may have a different understanding. On the other hand, there are those who seem to not have a firm belief, but flow from one new idea to the next. One is close minded and not interested in listening while the other is double minded and easily swayed. There seems to be an area where we can listen to other’s thoughts, while holding onto what we believe. Just as the Bereans showed, the challenge for us is to judge what is said without being judgmental.
Questions to consider: In which direction do you tend to lean – the one not interested in listening to others or the one who is easily swayed? Have you discovered that area where you can judge without being judgmental? Are you able to listen to what someone states without judging them for how they look or act?
Prayer: Father, help me to find that place where I can listen to others without being judgmental about them. Help me to hear what they say without rejecting who they are. Amen.
Some of the Jews in Thessalonica made trouble for Paul and Silas to the point that the local brothers asked Paul and Silas to leave for their own safety. Not far from there was Berea, and, once they arrived, Paul and Silas went to the local synagogue to tell the Jews and God-fearing Greeks about Jesus. These people were more gracious in their acceptance of Paul and his message, listening and interacting with Paul concerning the message of salvation through Jesus. Each day the Bereans studied the scriptures to see the truth in what Paul said. As a result, many of the Jews and Greeks were convinced and became followers of Jesus. Paul found in the Bereans a receptive, gracious audience who were eager to listen and examine for themselves the truth in the scriptures.
When it concerns truth of what the scriptures say about God and His Son, Jesus, some of us are very dogmatic and not particularly interested in listening to those who may have a different understanding. On the other hand, there are those who seem to not have a firm belief, but flow from one new idea to the next. One is close minded and not interested in listening while the other is double minded and easily swayed. There seems to be an area where we can listen to other’s thoughts, while holding onto what we believe. Just as the Bereans showed, the challenge for us is to judge what is said without being judgmental.
Questions to consider: In which direction do you tend to lean – the one not interested in listening to others or the one who is easily swayed? Have you discovered that area where you can judge without being judgmental? Are you able to listen to what someone states without judging them for how they look or act?
Prayer: Father, help me to find that place where I can listen to others without being judgmental about them. Help me to hear what they say without rejecting who they are. Amen.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
March 17,2011 - Acts 17:5
“But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. Acts 17:5.
For three Sabbaths, Paul proclaimed the good news concerning Jesus in the synagogue at Thessalonica. Some of the Jews at the synagogue became followers of Christ. There were others, though, who did not like what they were hearing and they were jealous of Paul and his ability to convince fellow Jews to follow Jesus. They formed an angry crowd and came after Paul. They acted on their jealousy by attempting to get rid of Paul and Silas by any means that they could.
Jealousy was a distinct problem that I struggled with, particularly in dating relationships. When those feelings of jealousy rose up within me, I usually said or did things that I regretted later. I was claiming territorial rights over people and in areas that I had no right to control. The Jews, too, where claiming territorial rights over their fellow Jews, and they acted on their jealousy with destructive anger. Instead of latching onto people, as if to control them, it is my goal to approach people openhandedly, placing them into the hands of the One who cares deeply for them.
Questions to consider: Do you have, or remember having, feelings of jealousy? If those feelings rise up in you, how do you deal with them? Have those feelings led you into any actions or statements that you later regretted? How can you avoid this from happening?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for acting out on feelings of jealousy. Help me find appropriate ways to openhandedly love those who I might feel jealous of. Amen.
For three Sabbaths, Paul proclaimed the good news concerning Jesus in the synagogue at Thessalonica. Some of the Jews at the synagogue became followers of Christ. There were others, though, who did not like what they were hearing and they were jealous of Paul and his ability to convince fellow Jews to follow Jesus. They formed an angry crowd and came after Paul. They acted on their jealousy by attempting to get rid of Paul and Silas by any means that they could.
Jealousy was a distinct problem that I struggled with, particularly in dating relationships. When those feelings of jealousy rose up within me, I usually said or did things that I regretted later. I was claiming territorial rights over people and in areas that I had no right to control. The Jews, too, where claiming territorial rights over their fellow Jews, and they acted on their jealousy with destructive anger. Instead of latching onto people, as if to control them, it is my goal to approach people openhandedly, placing them into the hands of the One who cares deeply for them.
Questions to consider: Do you have, or remember having, feelings of jealousy? If those feelings rise up in you, how do you deal with them? Have those feelings led you into any actions or statements that you later regretted? How can you avoid this from happening?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for acting out on feelings of jealousy. Help me find appropriate ways to openhandedly love those who I might feel jealous of. Amen.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
March 10, 2011 - Acts 17:4
“Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.” Acts 17:4.
In Thessalonica, Paul and Silas proclaimed the good news concerning Jesus. The two of them visited the synagogue for three consecutive Sabbaths and reasoned with the Jews and others who had gathered to seek God. As a result of their efforts, Paul and Silas influenced some Jews and God-fearing Greeks to become followers of Jesus. In making this commitment, these Jewish followers of Jesus were disowned and treated as dead by their families and Jewish friends. All of the followers of Jesus, Jew or Greek, women or men, had to withstand persecution from the Romans, as well as from all those who lived around them. Because there was a big price to be paid by these people when they decided to follow Jesus, they must have really been hungry for this new life in Christ.
When I first heard about who Jesus was, I was intrigued and fascinated. I was at a place in my life where I was hungry for a new life. Since then, there has been many times when I have lost that hunger and I have been complacent, sarcastic, or cynical…or maybe combinations of all three.
With the persecution that was going on during the time of Paul and Silas, these early followers of Jesus did not have the “luxury” or the time to grow negative or become complacent. Possibly, it would have taken being in a time of persecution for me to have kept that hunger for Jesus alive. In other places in the world where persecution is occurring, the hunger for Jesus is alive and well. It’s even growing, as it was Paul and Silas.
Questions to consider: How hungry are you for new life? How hungry are you for Jesus? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to follow Jesus and keep that hunger alive?
Prayer: Father, give me a heart that is willing to do whatever it takes to follow You, even if You ask me to do something that I am resistant to doing. Please give me the strength to say, “Not my will be done, but Your will.” Amen.
In Thessalonica, Paul and Silas proclaimed the good news concerning Jesus. The two of them visited the synagogue for three consecutive Sabbaths and reasoned with the Jews and others who had gathered to seek God. As a result of their efforts, Paul and Silas influenced some Jews and God-fearing Greeks to become followers of Jesus. In making this commitment, these Jewish followers of Jesus were disowned and treated as dead by their families and Jewish friends. All of the followers of Jesus, Jew or Greek, women or men, had to withstand persecution from the Romans, as well as from all those who lived around them. Because there was a big price to be paid by these people when they decided to follow Jesus, they must have really been hungry for this new life in Christ.
When I first heard about who Jesus was, I was intrigued and fascinated. I was at a place in my life where I was hungry for a new life. Since then, there has been many times when I have lost that hunger and I have been complacent, sarcastic, or cynical…or maybe combinations of all three.
With the persecution that was going on during the time of Paul and Silas, these early followers of Jesus did not have the “luxury” or the time to grow negative or become complacent. Possibly, it would have taken being in a time of persecution for me to have kept that hunger for Jesus alive. In other places in the world where persecution is occurring, the hunger for Jesus is alive and well. It’s even growing, as it was Paul and Silas.
Questions to consider: How hungry are you for new life? How hungry are you for Jesus? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to follow Jesus and keep that hunger alive?
Prayer: Father, give me a heart that is willing to do whatever it takes to follow You, even if You ask me to do something that I am resistant to doing. Please give me the strength to say, “Not my will be done, but Your will.” Amen.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
March 3, 2011 - Acts 17:2
“As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days, he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” Acts 17:2.
Whenever Paul came into a town or city for the first time, he made it his habit to first go to the local synagogue to meet with the Jews of that city. These were Paul’s people, the people of his own heritage, and, even though he didn’t specifically know these people, he knew that God desired for him to first go to the Jews to present the good news concerning Jesus. Paul didn’t just do his duty and then disappear, he invested time. Paul wasn’t concerned about whether or not he was rejected, he continued showing up to the synagogue. He had a deep burden to share Jesus with all that he met, especially his own people, the Jews.
There have been times when I have just done my duty in sharing Jesus, and, when rejected, I gave up and went my way. I tended to give up on people pretty easily, and I got fairly negative about being rejected. It was not a pleasant experience for me, so I didn’t put myself in that position very often, if at all. Paul seemed to relish going before people that he’d never met so that he could tell them about Jesus. He didn’t care what people thought of him. Paul’s only concern was what God thought of him. And he stuck with it.
Questions to consider: Are you more concerned with what those around you think of you or what God thinks of you? How willing are you to take the risk of reaching out with the good news concerning Jesus to people that you don’t know? What would it take for you to step out of your comfort zone to talk about Jesus with someone you don’t know?
Prayer: Father, help me to be more concerned with what You think of me, so that I would be free to share Jesus without worrying about what people think of me. Give me the strength and humility to do Your will and not my own. Amen.
Whenever Paul came into a town or city for the first time, he made it his habit to first go to the local synagogue to meet with the Jews of that city. These were Paul’s people, the people of his own heritage, and, even though he didn’t specifically know these people, he knew that God desired for him to first go to the Jews to present the good news concerning Jesus. Paul didn’t just do his duty and then disappear, he invested time. Paul wasn’t concerned about whether or not he was rejected, he continued showing up to the synagogue. He had a deep burden to share Jesus with all that he met, especially his own people, the Jews.
There have been times when I have just done my duty in sharing Jesus, and, when rejected, I gave up and went my way. I tended to give up on people pretty easily, and I got fairly negative about being rejected. It was not a pleasant experience for me, so I didn’t put myself in that position very often, if at all. Paul seemed to relish going before people that he’d never met so that he could tell them about Jesus. He didn’t care what people thought of him. Paul’s only concern was what God thought of him. And he stuck with it.
Questions to consider: Are you more concerned with what those around you think of you or what God thinks of you? How willing are you to take the risk of reaching out with the good news concerning Jesus to people that you don’t know? What would it take for you to step out of your comfort zone to talk about Jesus with someone you don’t know?
Prayer: Father, help me to be more concerned with what You think of me, so that I would be free to share Jesus without worrying about what people think of me. Give me the strength and humility to do Your will and not my own. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
