Do As I Say...

Today's Reading Acts 16:1-5 - A short one!

Text:

1He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

The fact that Timothy had not been circumcised tells us a lot about how he grew up. His father was obviously the head of the household and ruled in matters of key religious rituals or his mother would have insisted that he be circumcised on the eighth day as required by her faith. She may have continued to follow the laws of Moses as best as she could, and may have passed on her faith to her children when possible, but it can be presumed that Timothy was also well versed in whatever religion his father professed. The text doesn't tell us that his father was a believer in Christ, so it is logical to presume that he wasn't.

We have just read about a major meeting of the elders and apostles where they determined that circumcision was not necessary for Gentile believers. Why would Paul, who was the primary speaker against circumcision, require that Timothy undergo this painful ritual? Wouldn't it have been a good example to show that it wasn't necessary since the purpose of their trips at this point was still to deliver the decisions of the council in Jerusalem? Besides, how would they know?

It is encouraging to see that the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew daily in numbers. Do you believe the church is still doing that?

First Letter of the New Testament

Today's Reading Acts 15:22-41

Text: Acts 15:22-23

22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This is the first evidence of a letter sent from any of the apostles or church elders to a group of believers in the early church. It is interesting that they sent both a written letter and two men to confirm what was written about the issue of what was to be required of Gentile believers. No mention was made of circumcision, the key issue that caused the uproar in the first place.

It says the people were glad for its encouraging message. I'm sure they were encouraged that there were very few rules to follow in the message, but if you look at the message itself, it doesn't give very much information about how to live as a Christian -- not nearly as much as we have today from all the later letters of Paul. Here's the text of the letter:

24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

I think I'd be asking for more...so what do we need to do to be closer to Christ, to be more like him? How do we get closer to God? How do we go deeper in our faith? Could it be that those weren't the most important things to discuss?

How Come He Doesn't Have To Follow The Rules?

Today's Reading Acts 15:1-21

Context:
In Antioch some men were teaching that people could not be saved if they were not circumcised and were not following the laws of Moses. Paul and Barnabas began a sharp debate with them, causing several people to go up to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders about the issue. After much discussion, Peter got up and talked about how God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles and had purified them by their faith alone, not by having them follow the law.

Today's Text Acts 15:12-21

12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon[a] has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16" 'After this I will return
and rebuild David's fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things'[b]
18that have been known for ages.[c]

19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." (NIV)
Footnotes:

1. Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
2. Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12
3. Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things'— / 18 known to the Lord for ages is his work

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It is interesting to see how the early church leaders decided what should and what should not be a 'rule' in the church. Since they only had the Old Testament law, which was now superseded by the sacrifice of Jesus, it was hard to know for sure what must be followed and what was covered by grace. Jesus himself said that the law was important, yet God had given the gift of the Spirit to those who where totally ignorant of the law. So what did that mean?

The elders looked first at what actions God had taken, then they verified them with scripture to be sure they were consistent with God's character. Then they chose to ensure that they weren't applying anything additional to the new Gentile Christians that God wasn't requiring. It is interesting to see the things that they thought were still important for the Gentiles to remember -- food polluted by idols, sexual immorality, strangled animals, and blood.

Why would they choose these things and not the myriad of other things that were listed in Leviticus? Later Paul himself would say that eating food dedicated to idols was ok if you believed God said it was ok for you. Other times they would say to remember the widows and the poor.

What would we say were the most important things for new Christians to remember today? Do we make it too hard for them to become believers?

Sticks and Stones

Today's Reading Acts 14

Context:
Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium and preached so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But again the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the crowds and they were chased out of the city. They preached in the surrounding countryside. In Lystra they healed a man who was lame since birth, and the crowd believed Paul and Barnabas were the gods Zeus and Hermes in the flesh. They tried to offer sacrifices to them but Paul and Barnabas shouted back at them the truth about the only living God, barely keeping the crowd contained.

Today's Text Acts 14:19-23

¹⁹Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
²¹They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²²strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. ²³Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

The first time we ever hear about Paul/Saul is in Acts 8:1, when he is watching over the cloaks of those who are stoning Stephen. During that episode, Stephen fell to his knees in prayer and vocally forgave his persecutors. I imagine that scene was heavily imprinted in his mind as each stone hit his body. Do you think he felt that he deserved this punishment? I wonder if he knew that he would live through this or if he was hoping he would die sooner rather than later. Was he able to muster up forgiveness for his tormentors?

Just a few days later he is again preaching the Good News. As he revisits the very city where he was stoned, maybe even before all the cuts and bruises have faded, he tells the believers of Jesus' words that there will be trouble in this world. I'm not able to find any information in my reference books about Paul's statement that "we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." It almost sounds like there is a need for us to be persecuted and complete difficult tasks to accomplish entrance, although there are many passages that convince me that salvation is attained at the moment of repentance/surrender.

I know that entire religions have been formed to address passages like this, and I won't pretend to have theological wisdom for this argument. I do know that we in America are pretty clueless about the realities of persecution the folks suffered in the early days of the church. I've never been purposely hit with stones for what I believe, have you? Regardless, Paul was a very credible witness. I think I would have gone far out of my way to avoid revisiting a city that had caused so much physical pain and I would have let someone else strengthen the members of that church. How about you?

Shake off the dust

Today's Reading Acts 13:13-52
NOTE: While we are in Acts, I'll add a link for daily reading in case you want to read both chapters before we have class. Just click on the text reference above and it will take you directly to http://biblegateway.com and the verses for the day.

Context:
Paul and his companions sailed to Pisidian Antioch (please note this is not the Antioch where they started this first missionary journey) and they went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Upon the request of the rulers, Paul told how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and many of the Jews followed him to hear more. The following week almost the whole city gathered to hear Paul preach and the Jewish leaders were jealous and began speaking abusively against Paul and Barnabas.

Today's verses -- Acts 13:46-52

⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
" 'I have made you^a]">[a] a light for the Gentiles,
that you^b]">[b] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'^c]">[c]"

⁴⁸When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

⁴⁹The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. ⁵¹So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. ⁵²And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Footnotes:

1. Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
2. Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
3. Acts 13:47 Isaiah 49:6

I wonder what it must have felt like to be a Gentile in those days. The Good News had always been preached first to the Jews and most likely not many had heard of the few times Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit up to this point. I imagine they stood outside the synagogue (because they weren't allowed in) or on the edges of the crowd anxious to understand what all the excitement was about.

If they heard the message and believed, did they think that they first had to become a Jew to receive the gifts of Christ and the Holy Spirit? Were they facing the pain of circumcision and significant life changes due to all of those rules? It says that they were glad when they heard that Paul and Barnabas were commanded to turn to the Gentiles -- what a relief that must have been! They honored the word of the Lord and they believed.

I do find Paul's words interesting in verse 46. Instead of berating the Jews for their disbelief, he instead lays full blame for their decision at their feet, "Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life . . .." I wonder how that technique would work today for some of the folks we witness to? I imagine we'd have to use those words carefully.

It would have been easy for Paul and Barnabas to be discouraged as they left Pisidian Antioch since they were expelled from the region amidst great persecution, however the text tells us they were filled with joy as they shook the dust from their feet (verse 52). Aren't you discouraged when you give others good news and advice that can change their lives forever but they refuse to listen -- they even go so far as to tell you to butt out of their lives? We've had several situations in our lives where we have had direct experience and training in the very thing others are struggling with, but even when they requested our help they refused to believe our recommendations were better than the way they had always done it. And to be honest, we were never filled with joy as we watched them continue to struggle.

Maybe we need to shake the dust off of our feet and admit that they have rejected the advice and they don't consider themselves worthy of what it is they seek. Let them take the responsibility for their choices and move on to other areas, allowing ourselves to be filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and work in areas where His light can shine more brightly.

I wish it were as easy to do as it is to type. . .

Following Blindly?

After a long 'vacation', I am starting up the daily devotions again since we are once more on a regular study schedule with our Sunday School lessons. We are back in the book of Acts, and this week we are studying chapters 13 and 14.

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Today's Verses: Acts 13:6-12

Context:
There was a meeting of prophets and teachers at the church in Antioch, and the Holy Spirit requested that Barnabas and Saul be set aside for special work. After fasting and prayer, they went to preach the word of God in Jewish synagogues in Cyprus, and John (probably John Mark) was there to help.

Text:

⁶They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, ⁷who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ⁹Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹²When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Verse 9 is the first time that Saul's new name, Paul, is referenced. Saul is a Hebrew name meaning "asked (of God)", and Paul is a Roman name which means "little". From this point on, he is called Paul in Acts. We don't know if Paul chose his new name himself or if someone else gave it to him. Some believe that he earned this new name at the time of this particular passage -- from preaching so successfully to Sergius Paulus. I've also heard (but can't quickly find a valid reference) that when people got baptized in Bible times they often took on a new name to reflect their new life in Christ. Kind of a neat concept! What does your given name mean and what new name would you take on to reflect your life in Christ?

As we read a little further, we see that Paul chastises Bar-Jesus, a false prophet and Jewish sorcerer, the same person whom is also called Elymas later in the passage, for being a "child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right!" Then Paul performs his first recorded miracle -- to cause someone else to be blind as a way for him to see the true light. It is interesting that he uses this treatment on someone who is "perverting the right ways of the Lord" just as he was (maybe not with exactly the same intent, but with the same end result -- anything against the will of God takes people further away from God), most likely with the hope that it will turn Elymas around just as significantly as it did himself.

We see in this situation it had a significant effect on Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, but we don't know what happened to Elymas. Did he convert? Did he get his sight back? Did he become an advocate for Christ? His name means 'sorcerer' in Hebrew, so I imagine he changed it if he converted to Christianity, so he could well be referenced in future texts, but we may never know. And we don't hear any more information about Cyprus, although Barnabas and Mark spent time there after they separated from Paul's ministry for a time.

I wonder if any of the people who were with Saul at the time of his conversion were also amazed at the work of the Lord?

More Thoughts from Robert Jeffress' Clutter Free Christianity

On Forgiveness

Two of the greatest examples of forgiveness in the Bible are Jesus on the cross saying, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NIV), and Steven crying out "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" as he is stoned to death. (Acts 7:59-60 NIV) Both of those are amazing situations where truly godly witnesses were able to overcome severe pain to remember to request good for their tormentors. We aspire to be that holy. I think I would have instead cried out something like "God, why is this happening to me? I've been good....please make it stop."

But in reality, how do we feel others people who forgive. Do we truly believe it is possible for a child to forgive a molester? For a parent to forgive the one who murders his child? For an Auschwitz survivor to forgive her captors? For someone like Jeffrey Daumer to be forgiven by God?

And what about those who are forgiven? Will those who are forgiven for heinous crimes think that it's ok to kill or mutilate again -- especially in those cultures where forgiveness is expected? Would that make groups like the Amish, who forgave the man who killed ten school children, or Christians, who forgave the man who killed their preacher, targets?

And when we feel like the wrongs against us are just too big to forgive...do we lose the forgiveness of God? Look at the following verse:

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions.

And how about the servant who had a huge debt forgiven, only to demand payment of a small debt owed to him. When this was discovered, the man to whom he owed a fortune threw him into prison and tortured him until he could pay (essentially for the rest of his life).

Our salvation is secure, but will God withhold our forgiveness for sins perpetrated after we refuse forgiveness for others?

You may want to do some Bible study on that one -- I'm not going to profess to know the answer.

We've all heard that unforgiveness hurts us more than the one against whom we hold a grudge. Writer Anne Lamott suggests it is like drinking rat poison and expecting the rat to die!

We are not capable of truly forgiving on our own. It takes the assistance of Jesus. But do you truly want to forgive? Do you think the things done to you are worse than the things done to Jesus or to Stephen?

Where do you really stand?