God Doesn't Show Favoritism

Today's Verses -- Acts 10:44 - 48

Context:
After Cornelius had a vision from God to go seek the man staying at Simon's home in Joppa, Peter had a vision, too. Peter was on Simon's roof when he fell into a trance. Three times God showed him 'unclean' food and told Peter to eat it. When the vision ended, Cornelius's men had arrived to request that Peter go with them to Caesarea. They arrived to see that a crowd had gathered at Cornelius's home and Peter was asked to share the message of Christ.

Text:

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who
heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were
astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the
Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[a]
and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep
these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit
just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Acts
10:46 Or other languages

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Up to this point, only Jews or those who were converted to Judaism had received the Holy Spirit. It was a shock to see Gentiles who had obviously received the Spirit, and had it not been for the vision Peter saw, he probably wouldn't have believed it was possible.

Have you ever felt like someone (or a group of someones) didn't deserve the love of God? It is reported that Jeffrey Daumer, the serial killer who ate his victims, received salvation and spent the last few years of his life as a devout Christian. Many doubt his conversion. And what of men like Saddam Hussein, Adolf Hitler, and Attila the Hun? Would you be shocked to see them in Heaven?

Anyone can have a deathbed conversion...if he or she honestly believes, repents, and seeks salvation, even in the last moments of life, we are told that God will welcome him or her with open arms. Somehow that doesn't always seem fair.

But a sinner is a sinner...there isn't any priority of 'good sins' and 'bad sins'. We don't deserve to be in the presence of God any more than these men do, for all have sinned and fallen short of God's expectation. We are all 'unclean'.

It is up to us to show others that they can receive Christ's salvation...even if they don't consider themselves 'worthy'. Because in reality, none of us is worthy. Praise God that he loves us anyway!

Great Gifts

Today's Verses -- Acts 10:1 - 8

Context:
After bringing Dorcas back to life, Peter stayed in Joppa for a while with a tanner named Simon.

Text:
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.
The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Sometimes it is easy to see God as the Ruler of the Universe, almost like the CEO of some major corporation. He is in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly, but doesn't really pay attention to any specific employee out in the workforce.

These verses throw that 'model' of God out with the trash! God is specifically paying attention to the prayers of a Gentile, a soldier reporting to those who have caused great harm to His son and His people. He pays close attention to our prayers, our gifts, and our service to others.

On the one hand, this is rather scary. God knows the gory details of the times I chose to give hesitantly or not at all. He seeks out those who have been devout and have given generously. Compared with the widow who gave her last penny, I'm sure I don't have a very outstanding giving record.

On the other hand, God loves us and sees us as out children. This morning one of our sons, Kevin, wanted two quarters from his 'spending' jar. It is Popcorn Day at school, and he wanted to take an extra quarter in case one of his friends forgot. It made my heart melt to realize that he is thinking of others and is more than happy to share.

God looks at us the same way. While he does have expectations that we tithe, he smiles when we willingly give to others without thinking much about the impact on our own lives. He isn't counting the pennies we give in an attempt to punish us when we don't give enough...He wants to bless us because we care for others.

I want God to feel good about my giving, just like I felt good about Kevin's. What can you do to make God smile today?

Back Home From Paradise

Today's Verses -- Acts 9:36-42

Context:
The Church has enjoyed a time of peace and strengthening by the Holy Spirit. Peter has been traveling around the country, healing people and growing the Church.

Text:
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas[a]), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"
39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Acts 9:36 Both Tabitha (Aramaic) and Dorcas (Greek) mean gazelle.
There has been quite a bit of controversy in the Church about people who claim to have died, gone to Heaven, then been brought back to Earth. I wish Luke (the presumed author of Acts) had interviewed her about the experience and recorded her story in more detail! Likewise we don't hear what happened to Lazarus during his days of death.

When Jesus was on the cross, he told the thief next to him "Today you will be with me in paradise." Before Christ's death a Jew had to be obedient to the laws of God to get into Heaven. Afterwords we are told that only by believing in Christ, repenting and being baptized will provide entrance to Heaven. We know that Dorcas was a disciple, so it makes sense to suppose that she was a resident of Heaven after her death.

It was wonderful for the followers of Christ to have their dear friend back, and we presume she went back to her acts of love and service for others. And many more believed in Christ as a result of this resurrection.

But I really wonder how she felt about the whole incident. After all, she'd been in paradise! I'm not sure I'd be thrilled to come back to earth after an experience like that.

There were many believers who died ...both for their faith and from illness or old age. Why did Peter bring Dorcas back and not Stephen?

Does God bring people back from the dead in our time?

Standing Firm

Today's Verses -- Acts 9:23-29

Context: Saul has been obedient to Christ, and he is able to see again. He has been baptized and after spending several days with the disciples in Damascus, he has begun preaching the Good News in the synagogues.

Text:
23After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

God didn't give Saul much time to perfect his sermon before throwing him in to the fray! He went from persecuting to being persecuted in approximately one week.

It would be one thing if the people just ignored him, taunted him, or labeled him a fool. But they were so upset with his teaching that they were ready to kill just to silence him. In just a few days Saul's message was so powerful that devout Jews knew they had to eliminate him or their way of life was endangered.

Why was the message of Christ such a threat? Even today, people are at risk of death in certain countries for preaching, or even living, the Gospel.

We live in a country where all religions are supposedly tolerated, which in essence makes the Christian message (or any other message) meaningless. It's ok for people to believe whatever they want, our society says, because in the end it doesn't really make any difference. Religion is seen as a crutch and there isn't any true right or wrong, or all would be flocking toward the truth.

Even within our own Protestant faith there are so many denominations that outsiders see us as multiple religions who can't even define right from wrong within specific issues. If there is a strong disagreement within a church, people simply split and go their separate ways. The result is an entire country of lukewarm Christians.

What is truth, and how do we know? What do YOU stand for when it comes to God?

Instructions from God

Today's Text -- Acts 9:10 - 19

Context: Saul has just met Jesus for the first time on his way to Damascus to imprison the Christians. He's been blinded by the light from Heaven and is being led by his traveling companions into the city.

Text:
10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.
11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever been told by God to do something that seemed unusual, dangerous, or even ridiculous? I've heard stories of people who are convinced that God has told them they should send certain amounts of money to particular addresses, without any particular reason. If they obeyed, the recipient was someone who needed that specific amount for a godly purpose!

Others, like Philip and the eunich, were told to go to a certain place or talk to a specific person.

I've had similar experiences, and it's hard to explain how I knew what I was supposed to do, but it was very clear. Sometimes I obeyed, and I am haunted by the times I didn't.

I'm not aware of anyone who claims God has spoke audibly to them (but I know he could if he wanted to), yet we can be certain we are receiving instructions. In today's text, Ananias had a vision, maybe a dream, and the Lord spoke clearly to him. I like that the author of Acts has included Ananias's response. He wanted to be really sure that God wanted him to go to Saul, because if he had misunderstood the message he could have easily ended up in jail.

The Lord didn't seem to be upset with Ananias (as we know, he could have taken any one of many measures to discipline Ananias for disbelief), but he patiently explained why it was important.

He even added in that Saul was going to have to suffer a lot. You notice Ananias didn't report that to Saul...at least not in record of the conversation.

Does God give each of us instructions that cause us discomfort at different times in our lives?

If it has happened to you, think about times when you thought God was asking you to take action. How did you know it was God? Did you act, or did you miss the opportunity? If we hesitate too long, does God bring someone else into the picture so his will is ultimately met?

An Encounter with God

Today's Text -- Acts 9:1-6

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's
disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the
synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,
whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he
neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?"
5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now
get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." NIV

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Frequently people will seem to be on a mission from God. They have decided, maybe they even believe they have heard from God himself, that they should take up a cause in the name of the Lord. Saul firmly believed he was doing God's work when he set out to make prisoners out of the followers of Jesus. He even had the blessing of the head honchos of the Synagogue. He wanted to be sure that the religion was not sullied by people who were promoting irreverent ideas.

I found an interesting twist in the King James Version. There, verses 5 and 6 read:

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I
am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he
trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord
said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou
must do.

I don't know which version is 'correct' from an original text perspective, but the Strongs Reference has the translation of these words from the Greek. When it talks about the pricks, it is referring to a large stick that had spikes or nails sticking out of it, often called a goad. It was used to prod oxen forward when they worked. To kick against it meant significant pain!

Jesus himself was telling this devout member of the Jewish race that he was not only doing something counter to God's wishes, but he was hurting himself in the process.

I also like the response of Saul to the Lord. He immediately knew that the speaker was God, but in the flash of a moment, when God identified himself as Jesus the son, Saul knew that he was on the wrong mission.

I wonder if he was waiting for that flash of light to turn into lightning or fire, searing him off of the face of the earth? Remember, the God of the Old Testament turned quickly to vengeance.

Saul was savvy enough to know that he needed to change his course. He truly desired to serve the Lord, and he wanted to know exactly what he should be doing instead, so he asked.

Jesus didn't bore him with a long instruction list telling Saul that he must convert to Christianity, leave his home and family to travel the world with the Good News, be shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, ridiculed, imprisoned, and eventually killed. All that would have been too much for Saul to handle.
Instead Jesus just told him the very next instruction...go into the city and you will hear what to do next. Almost like a treasure hunt...take six paces and find your next instruction hiding in the branches of the tallest tree!

I often wish God would let me know why certain things happen. But I can take encouragement from knowing that he only provides the information we need for the very next step. Perhaps we can't comprehend or handle the vision of the future. I just have to trust him enough to follow the clues which will eventually lead to the greatest treasure of all!

Are you on the right path...God's path not the worlds' (even if that worldly path is sanctioned by the church)? What is God telling you to do next?

So Many Questions

Today's Text -- Acts 8:14-17

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of
God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet
come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord
Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the
Holy Spirit. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Today we back up a few verses to one of the more controversial scriptures. I don't have any answers for you, but hopefully the questions this raises will cause you to think about what you believe!

If we look back to the beginning of this chapter, Philip had gone to Samaria and proclaimed Christ. He did a lot of miraculous signs, healing many and exorcising demons. The Samaritans paid close attention and there was great joy in the city.

It doesn't tell us how Philip baptized them, or even if he did, but our text for today tells us that the Samaritans had only been baptized into the name of Jesus. Therefore they hadn't received the Holy Spirit.

If we go back a little further, in chapter 2 Peter tells us to "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".

So what had been done incorrectly? In our Sunday morning baptisms, we say something to the effect of 'I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins and to walk in the newness of life' (amazing how I hear it every Sunday and can't remember it word for word....). Does that mean that we did it correctly?

Do you know that you have received the Holy Spirit? How do you know?

Then there are the issues of those who died without baptism, like the man on the cross next to Jesus. He was going to Heaven that same day. But because he hadn't been baptized was he going to see Heaven and then be sent to Hell on the first available elevator?

This is one of the major controversies of the modern church -- is baptism required? Do you receive salvation only when you are baptized? Is sprinkling ok, or do you have to be immersed? When do you receive the Holy Spirit? Do you have to prove that you have the Holy Spirit by demonstrating a gift such as tongues?

What is the difference between legalism and obedience?