Influence

Readings for today: Acts 27-28, Psalms 132

Lately, I’ve been thinking about influence. All of us have it on some level. It could be with family, friends, at work or school, perhaps in our church or in society as a whole. Influence is what you gain over time as you invest in those around you and work hard to earn their trust and achieve some measure of success alongside them in life. Trust breeds confidence and confidence breeds influence as the people around you learn to look to you for wisdom or advice. Influence does not come from any position or title. It must be won through sacrifice and service to others. Influence takes a long time to cultivate but can be lost in a moment if one uses it to their own advantage. As a Christian, I treat influence as a sacred privilege, something to protect and never use for my own personal gain. It is humbling to think of the people who trust me and who allow me to have influence in their lives. My wife and children. My mom and in-laws. My church family. Not only do I have influence in their lives but they have a huge influence in mine as well. In this way, influence is reciprocal and reproduces itself in all sorts of ways.

The Apostle Paul is a man of influence. Not just with the churches he planted or the church planting teams he led but even with the pagan Roman authorities who imprisoned him and escorted him to Rome for his trial. Listen again to part of the story we read for today, “Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss. Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me. But we have to run aground on some island.”…Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.” (Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭21‬-‭26‬, ‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭CSB) The Apostle Paul clearly had a reputation. He was a man who heard from God. A man who served God. A man who was known for his faithfulness to God. So when the captain went against the advice of Paul and ran his ship and crew into trouble, they all turned back to Paul for advice. What should we do? Where should we go? What’s going to happen to us? Thankfully, Paul stewarded his influence well. He didn’t pout when the captain disagreed with him. He didn’t stop seeking the Lord on behalf of those he sailed with. He didn’t isolate or withdraw or tell them to go jump in the sea. Instead, he comforted them by sharing his vision from the Lord of their salvation. And they trusted Paul so much, they were even willing to cut the ropes to their lifeboats! How crazy is that?!

What kind of influence do you have over the people in your life? Do you steward that influence well? Do you seek the Lord on their behalf? Do you seek their welfare above your own? Do you seek to serve them rather than be served by them? Do you act out of their best interest or your own self-interest? Do you use underhanded techniques like manipulation or coercion to get your way? Bend them to your will? Make them do what you want them to do? Or do you set them free to choose their own way and make their own decision and honor them by continuing to walk alongside them no matter what? Even if they disagree or don’t take your advice? At the end of the day, the Apostle Paul was granted influence because of his faithfulness. Faithfulness to God’s will and faithfulness to those around him. How can you exercise the same faithfulness in your life today?

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 1-2, Psalms 133

Evangelism

Readings for today: Acts 25-26, Psalms 131

I’ve recently spent a lot of time with friends who are navigating heartbreaking situations with those they love. Children who have walked away from the faith. Spouses who no longer believe. Parents who have drifted away towards the end of their lives and no longer consider a relationship with Christ a priority. In each of these cases, the people involved are making foolish decisions that carry great risk. They are experiencing a growing sense of isolation and depression. They are even cutting themselves off from those who love them most. What I tell my friends is it’s like those they love are entering the valley of the shadow of death where they become incredibly anxious and afraid for they have lost any sense that God is with them. Their only hope is for my friends to walk into that valley with them. Hold onto them even as they themselves hold onto Christ with the hope that one day, the light of Jesus will break through the darkness and cause them to return to faith.

I thought about my friends when I read these words from Paul this morning. “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am — except for these chains.”(Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬) I think Paul wrestles with many of the same feelings my friends do. He looks around at his fellow Jews and he cannot fathom why they do not believe. Why can they not accept Jesus as their Messiah? He even mentions in some places that he would rather be accursed, he would rather be cut off from God, if it would mean his fellow Jews would come to saving faith. Paul grieves over those he loves who refuse to believe. He grieves over their resistance to their Messiah. His greatest desire is that they would see the light as he has seen the light. He could care less about his sufferings or his imprisonments or his fate. He knows his life is in God’s hands. He willingly sacrifices it all for the sake of knowing Christ and helping others do the same.

What about us? Is this our burning passion as well? To draw those we love to Christ? Do we pray for them? Do we share the gospel with them? Are we willing to walk with them no matter what dark valley they enter? Are we willing to go places with them that are uncomfortable? Are we willing to risk everything we have to see them come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ? I know I wrestle with these questions myself. I have people in my life who I love dearly who no longer believe or struggle with faith or who have walked away from Christian community. My heart and my prayer is that God will give me the privilege and opportunity to walk alongside them, love them the way He loves them, suffer alongside them if necessary, all with the hope they will experience Christ in and through me and come saving faith.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 27-28, Psalms 132

Good Trouble

Readings for today: Acts 23-24, Psalms 130

John Lewis was a strong Christian. In fact, it was his belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ that compelled him to get into “good trouble” as leader in the American Civil Rights movement. Lewis risked his life countless times as he organized voter registration drives, sit-ins at lunch counters, and challenged the systemic racism of the Jim Crow laws in the Deep South. On March 7, 1965, Lewis led over 600 peaceful protestors over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL in a march for voting rights. They were brutally attacked by Alabama State Troopers in what later became known as “Bloody Sunday.” The leaders of the Civil Rights movement were considered “agitators.” Everywhere they went, they fomented unrest. They disrupted society. They created all kinds of problems with their peaceful, non-violent protests as they advocated for a more just and frankly, more biblical society where every human being would be of equal worth and value, having been made in the image of God.

I thought about John Lewis as I read our passage this morning. Like Lewis, the Apostle Paul got into “good trouble.” Everywhere he went, he stirred things up by preaching the good news of the gospel. He was considered “a plague” and “an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” (Acts 24:5 CSB) Paul was considered a threat by both Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities. To the former, he was considered a heretic and a traitor to his religion. To the latter, he was considered a danger and disturber of the peace. The last thing either group wanted was a new religion popping up that refused to bow the knee to Caesar and acted with such evangelistic zeal. Paul’s preaching was politically, socially, economically, and culturally de-stabilizing. It upended the power systems of the ancient world. It leveled the caste system, redefined the family, re-ordered human society, and disrupted the cultic system on which the Pax Romana was built. Little wonder a group of Jewish zealots took a vow to seek Paul’s death at all costs.

The world still finds herself in desperate need of those who will make “good trouble.” Those who will agitate in the name of Jesus and for the cause of Jesus in politics, economics, and human society. To be sure, such people will not be embraced. They will not be welcomed. They might even be considered a threat or a plague because the values of the Kingdom of God have a tendency to turn this world upside down. Over the course of the next month, we will be voting in my country. Voting for our next president. Voting for members of Congress. Voting for governors of particular states and legislatures of such states. We will be voting on new laws, new programs, and new policies. It can be difficult to resist the urge to vote as a member of a particular political party rather than as a Christian. It is tempting to put our own desires ahead of what’s best for society at large. It can be tempting to place our trust in a particular outcome and make dramatic changes if the result doesn’t go our way. This is an opportunity for Christians to stand up and stand out. To “agitate” for the values of the Kingdom of God and seek to advocate and vote in alignment with them for the good of our communities, our states, and our nation.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 25-26, Psalms 131

Discerning the Will of the Holy Spirit

Readings for today: Acts 21-22, Psalms 129

Discernment isn’t always easy. Sure, there are some things the Bible makes clear. Moral issues like murder, theft, deceit, and sexual immorality are consistently addressed throughout the Scriptures as are deeper issues like anger, lust, and greed. These things have no place in a Christian’s life. As we are sanctified in the Spirit, we should expect these things to diminish and the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to flourish. But what about discerning the will of the Spirit? Where He may be calling us to go? Who He may be calling us to meet? What He may be calling us to do? That is more difficult.

Today’s reading puts this issue front and center. Paul is heading back to Jerusalem. Presumably, he believes this is the will of the Holy Spirit for his life. It’s an unshakable conviction for him and one that drives him to leave those he loves dearly with no guarantee he will be safe. As he travels, he stops along the way to spend time with other Christians. Men and women who are the literal fruit in some cases of his ministry. They implore him - by the Spirit - to not go to Jerusalem. But Paul will not be dissuaded. Finally, he lands at Caesarea and stays with Philip the evangelist. A prophet named Agabus comes to meet him and declares to him - by the Spirit - that he will be bound and handed over to the Gentiles for judgment. Once again, the local people plead with Paul not to go. Once again, Paul is resolute. “I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13 CSB) So what’s going on here? Is Paul being stubborn? Is Paul being foolish? Is Paul being proud? Is Paul resisting the will of the Holy Spirit?

It’s honestly tough to know. What we do know is the prophecy of Agabus comes true. Paul is arrested, imprisoned, and handed over to Caesar who eventually executes him. And this raises some interesting questions for us as believers. How do we discern the will of the Holy Spirit for our lives? Surely, it starts with God’s Word. We listen for the voice of the Spirit as we read through the Scriptures. God’s Word is confirmed to us in prayer. We intentionally seek the will of the Spirit as we pray over our lives. We also need to listen to the voices of other believers who have our best in mind. They may receive a Word from the Lord for us. At the same time, the Word they share with us must be confirmed by the Word of God and the Spirit as He speaks to our hearts. We shouldn’t just accept it at face value. As one can see, discernment is a complex process involving a lot of different voices. Perhaps the most important thing we can do is walk with open hands, a humble heart, and a listening ear that is attuned to God’s voice.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 23-24, Psalms 130

The Impact of the Gospel

Readings for today: Acts 19-20, Psalms 128

We’ve already seen how the early Christians were accused of “turning the world upside down” with their preaching of the gospel. It is impossible to separate the preaching of the gospel from the social, political, and cultural impact of the gospel. Preaching Jesus by definition challenges our notions of justice, power, social class, economics, etc. because He Himself challenged those same things through His preaching and ministry.  

Ephesus was one of the great cities of Asia Minor in the 1st century. A commercial trading center. A major port. In the early second century, the great library of Celsus was built here, housing over 12,000 scrolls and putting Ephesus on the map alongside Alexandria as a center of learning. It had an amphitheater that held over 25,000 spectators. But perhaps the greatest draw was the famed Temple of Artemis. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Pilgrims came from all over to pay their respects to the great goddess. As a result, tradesmen and craftsmen made a lot of money supporting the cult by selling idols and little shrines for the people to carry home with them. Enter the Apostle Paul. He comes preaching a gospel of a God not made with human hands. A God who cannot be represented by idols here on earth. A God who is the maker of heaven and earth. A God greater than Artemis (the moon goddess) and many of her former adherents came to faith. Sales drop. Profits crumble. Money is lost. A riot ensues as the entire economic structure of the city is now in danger. 

Such accusations are nothing new to Paul. He’s already been accused of preaching a “king other than Caesar.” Already been accused of treason and sedition. Already been accused of upending entire social systems. Already been accused of blasphemy by his fellow Jews. No wonder he’ll remark to his Corinthian friends, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” ‭(2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-10‬ CSB) Paul understands preaching the gospel places one at odds with the social systems of this world. The economic systems of this world. The political systems of this world. The gospel is the good news of another Kingdom. A Kingdom that is in this world but not of this world. A Kingdom ruled from a heavenly throne not an earthly one. A Kingdom driven by eternal values not temporal ones. A Kingdom that is pure and noble and righteous. Unwilling to compromise with the sinful and broken ways of this world. So one cannot preach without meddlin’ in politics, social systems, economics, and justice. The gospel cannot be privatized. Jesus will not rest until He is Lord over every facet of human existence. Until every knee will bow in heaven. On earth. Under the earth. And every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 21-22, Psalms 129

Navigating Church Conflict

Readings for today: Acts 15-16, Psalms 126

I frequently come across people who are surprised when conflict takes place in a church. They have a false impression that because all Christians love Jesus we would never have a difference of opinion or an argument or disagreement. They seem to think “unity” is the same as “unanimity” which simply is not true. From the very beginning, the church has struggled over significant issues. Struggled to come to one mind and one accord on various things. Because we are all sinners and naturally self-centered in many ways, it is not easy to discern the will of God. 

Today’s reading highlights a number of different conflicts. Conflict over circumcision and the role of the Jewish law in a Christian’s life. Conflict over restoring an individual who proved untrustworthy in the past. Conflict over where the Spirit was leading different evangelism teams to go. Conflict in Philippi over the deliverance of a slave girl. Conflict in prison which results in the conversion of the jailer. It is messy. It is a bit chaotic. The process of discernment often involves lots of trial and error. Mistakes are made. I imagine feelings get hurt. Frustrations mount. Divisions are created. But through it all, the Spirit is faithful to make His will known. And the result is the churches are strengthened in their faith and increase in numbers daily as God adds to them those who are being saved. Is it possible that these chapters are paradigmatic for today? Do they reflect real life in the real church in the real world? Should we expect conflict? Expect disagreement? Expect arguments over where to go and what to do and who to involve? And if so, how can we resolve conflict peacefully? In a way that glorifies God and brings honor to His name?  

One of the keys to navigating conflict in a godly manner is mutual submission. In Acts 15:1, a question is raised. Is circumcision required for salvation? This was no small matter. It was a question of identity. For centuries, the rite of circumcision had set the Jewish people apart. Marked them as God’s chosen people. They suffered for this belief. They’d been persecuted for this spiritual practice. No matter where in the Roman Empire they found themselves, they were easily identified by the fact they had been circumcised so there was no way to blend in. Since Abraham, circumcision had formed the core part of their shared identity and linked them intimately with the covenant promises of God. Now it was being threatened...what should they do? Paul and Barnabus had strong opinions. Based on what they had seen and experienced, it appeared the Holy Spirit was moving among the Gentiles. Non-Jews. People who were not circumcised. Who were they to stand in God’s way? Why add to what the Spirit was doing? This stirred up quite a bit of dissension and debate. So they go up to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles to make their case. Again, there was much debate. Passionate opinions expressed on all sides. Finally Peter stood up. Shared his heart. Shared his experience. Sought to apply the Scriptures. Paul and Barnabus shared about what they had seen in their travels. James called for a decision and the council decided to make circumcision a secondary matter. Non-essential when it comes to salvation. 

Make no mistake, this decision had huge implications but they found unity as their conclusion “seemed good to the apostles, elders, and the whole church.” Though the issue will pop up at various times throughout the Book of Acts and Paul’s letters, this moment represents a turning point for the early church. A general willingness of all parties to mutually submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Another aspect that’s highlighted is their ability to differentiate between essentials and non-essentials when it comes to the gospel. Again, just because a compromise was reached doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Unity is not the same as unanimity. I imagine quite a few of the Pharisees who had come to faith walked away with serious reservations. But they set those reservations aside for the sake of unity. They recognized the danger of division and how much harm would come should the church fracture over this issue. They made sure to focus on the essentials - not getting mixed up in idolatry, sexual immorality, and maintaining purity which are all matters of the heart - rather than force Gentiles to become Jews before becoming Christian. 

Imagine how different the church would be if it could practice the same kind of mutual submission that so marked the early church? Instead of fighting over secondary matters like baptismal practices, worship styles, spiritual gifts, etc., imagine what would happen if we could exercise mutual forbearance and submission and keep the main thing the main thing? Rather than pull up stakes the moment we disagree with the preacher or the elder board or another brother or sister in Christ, imagine what God could do with a church that was unified around the gospel? What might happen if we obeyed the call to forgive and reconcile rather than bounce the moment we are disappointed or let down? Friends, unity does not always mean unanimity so we should never expect we will always agree. The key to doing life together is navigating conflict with a humility that honors God and keeps Christ at the center.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 17-18, Psalms 127 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Radical Inclusivity

Readings for today: Acts 11-12, Psalms 124

Today’s reading contains one of the most explosive stories in the New Testament. The gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading rapidly around the region, moving from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and now to the ends of the earth. As that happens, it isn’t just Jewish people who come to saving faith but Gentiles as well and this presents one of the greatest questions to the early church. How in the world can Jews and Gentiles, separated from almost the beginning, be joined back together in one covenant family of God? These two groups were separated not only ethnically and socially and culturally and geographically but also theologically, tracing their division almost all the way back to the beginning. And though Israel was called by God to be a light to the Gentile nations, she had spent centuries at war with them and had turned inward, becoming far more concerned with her ritual purity than embracing her role as priests, interceding for an unbelieving world and teaching them about the one, true God.

But now the Holy Spirit has been unleashed. He was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost and He is moving so rapidly, the apostles can barely keep up. He awakens Jew and Gentile alike. He brings them all to saving faith. He fills Samaritans, Ethiopians, and all sorts of people in places like Antioch. The apostles send representatives to these places to follow up on what He is doing, seeking to verify the fantastic claims they are hearing. Then one of their own - the Apostle Peter himself - testifies to what he witnessed at the house of Cornelius. He walked the church leaders in Jerusalem, many of whom were Jewish believers and still held to circumcision as the sign of the covenant, through his vision and what happened afterwards when he preached the gospel to the Gentiles. He quotes Jesus Himself who said, “John baptized with water but you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.” And he went to share how God had broken through all the ethnic, social, cultural, and theological divisions that existed between Jew and Gentile and was bringing all people into His family. “If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?” (Acts 11:17 CSB) And how do the leaders respond? “When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.” (Acts 11:18 CSB)

It’s an incredible story. One that sets the tone for the rest of the book. If Peter had not obeyed God’s voice or closed his eyes and heart to God’s vision, who knows what might have happened to the mission? Would it have remained a small Jewish sect like the many others that existed in the first century? Would it have died a quick death due to the self-limiting factors being imposed by the Jewish Christian leaders? Would it have been stifled by entrenched theological system of Judaism? I doubt it. The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. It cannot be contained by a theological system or inherited tradition or the limitations of leaders or any other created thing on the earth. The gospel will break free from any bonds we try to impose because it is a movement of the Holy Spirit and He cannot be contained. He cannot be constrained. And He is still at work today! He is still drawing all people to Himself. Still crossing every human boundary and division and faction and dividing wall of separation we try to set up. ‭‭

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 13-14, Psalms 125

Ananias

Readings for today: Acts 9-10, Psalms 123

I had a conversation with a friend recently who asked me about the work I do in Africa. After sharing with them all the incredible things God was doing in some of the hardest to reach places on earth, he asked me, “But isn’t it dangerous?” “Yes”, I replied. “But God never promised me I would be safe serving Him.” It may sound like I’m being a bit flippant but I’m not. I’ve been to some dangerous places. I’ve worked with men and women who are persecuted, imprisoned, beaten, tortured, and even killed for the cause of the gospel. The last time I was in Ethiopia, we were in an area where we were the only Westerners. Everyone else had pulled out of the region due to the conflict in the area, including the UN. I don’t say this to brag but to simply illustrate the fact that sometimes God calls us to do hard things, even dangerous things for Him.

If you don’t believe me, consider the situation Ananias found himself in. He’s a disciple of Jesus living in Damascus probably minding his own business. He’s not a pastor. He’s not an apostle. There’s nothing in the text that suggests he’s even a leader in the church. He’s just an ordinary guy who is called to an extraordinary task. He is to go and meet Saul and pray for him to be healed. Saul? The church’s greatest enemy? The man who is pursuing and imprisoning and murdering Christians all over the Roman Empire? This is the man Ananias is called by God to go and meet? And not only to meet him but to lay hands on him and pray for him? Can you imagine the courage this would take? Imagine the conviction Ananias must have felt from the Holy Spirit. Imagine the fear he had to overcome. And yet he still went. There doesn’t seem to be any hesitation in his heart. Once the Lord had spoken to Ananias and shared with him the purpose behind God’s call, Ananias went. He obeyed. He laid hands on Saul. He prayed for Saul to not only receive back his sight but be filled with the Holy Spirit. And Saul’s life was never the same.

I wonder how many times Saul - who became Paul soon after this event - looked back on that day. How many times did Saul thank God for sending Ananias into his life? How many times did Saul pause in the midst of all his missionary journeys to reflect on how his ministry began? I know as I look back in my own life I marvel at the ways God used different people to not only bring me to saving faith but encourage me to become a pastor. I am blessed by so many men and women who invested in my life along the way. Yes, I wasn’t a persecutor of the faith like Saul was but I was resistant and rebellious in so many other ways. All of us not only need an “Ananias” in our lives but we need to be an “Ananias” to others as well. They may be people whom you love and live with or among. They may be people you work with or attend class alongside. They may be people on the other side of the political or social or cultural aisle. They may even be people who otherwise would be your enemy. I think back to my friends in the Horn of Africa. So many of them sacrifice their lives to reach people of a different tribe. They reach across all kinds of cultural and ethnic boundaries to proclaim the gospel to those whom God loves. Many of these tribes have been at war for generations and yet these men and women seek to intentionally reach their enemies with the good news. It’s a powerful testimony to what God can do when we make ourselves available to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 11-12, Psalms 124

Filled with the Spirit

Readings for today: Acts 7-8, Psalms 122

I love the Book of Acts. The chaos of the early days of the church. God pressing His people outside their comfort zones. Blowing up their expectations. Transforming how they see themselves, one another, and the world.

Jesus told His disciples that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The gospel was so disruptive in Jerusalem and Judea that believers were being dragged from their homes and thrown in prison. Many were being tortured and killed. The Pharisees were coming after them with a vengeance and Saul - who would later become the Apostle Paul - was at the forefront of it all.

As the disciples scattered, running for their lives, they continued to preach the gospel. And that’s how Philip came to Samaria. He preached and performed many signs and wonders and many Samaritans believed. They received the Word of God with open hearts. They were baptized in the name of Jesus. But they had not yet received the blessing of the Holy Spirit so the Jerusalem church sent Peter and John to lay hands on them. Frankly, we do not know why they didn’t receive the Holy Spirit at their conversion. It seems in the early days of the church that the Holy Spirit was moving in different ways. Coming to different people at different times. In Acts 2, He comes with power over the disciples as they are praying together, giving them the miraculous gift of tongues. In Acts 8, He comes at the laying on of hands by Peter and John. In Acts 10, He comes as Peter preaches the gospel to Cornelius and his household. It’s important not to build our doctrine on these isolated passages but simply to accept the fact that God was doing a new thing in those days and it manifested itself in different ways.

One thing we can take away from this passage is the importance of being filled with the Spirit. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised His followers they would not be alone. He would not leave them as orphans in this world. He would send His Spirit to dwell with them. To guide them into all truth. To lead them to a deeper understanding of Christ. To empower them for Christ’s service in the world. The Spirit imparts gifts to God’s people. The Spirit bears fruit in the lives of God’s people. The Spirit is active, constantly transforming us and sanctifying us and making us into the image of Christ.

Most of all, the Spirit brings unity. He brings us together across our differences. It is the Spirit who reconciles Jews and Samaritans. Healing racial divisions going back centuries. It is the Spirit who will bring Jews and Gentiles together into one church. Overcoming cultural and social and ritual divisions that had always kept them apart. It is the Spirit who sends Philip to the side of an Ethiopian official as he returns home. Opening his eyes to the truth of the gospel and sending him forth to proclaim the good news to his own people.

Friends, this same Spirit is on the move today! He regenerates the heart of every believer who comes to faith in Jesus Christ. He dwells within us, bearing His fruit in our lives. He teaches us, opening up the Scriptures to us in ways we can understand. He empowers us, giving us gifts to serve the church and our community in Jesus’ name. He brings unity to His people, crossing every divide you can imagine. Breaking through every dividing wall of hostility we tend to set up that keeps us apart. He heals. He reconciles. He drives us from our places of safety and security and comfort to bring this ministry of reconciliation to the world.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 9-10, Psalms 123

Sharing the Sufferings of Christ

Readings for today: Acts 5-6, Psalms 121

Something very powerful takes place when we share in the sufferings of Christ. The Apostle Paul experienced it as did the Apostles Peter and John and the new believers in Jerusalem. Christians throughout the ages have experienced it in places like Russia, China, Iran, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia. I have had the privilege of meeting some of them. Over the past ten years I have personally trained hundreds of church planters in the Horn of Africa. Many of them bear on their bodies the scars of the persecution they face on a daily basis. They’ve been threatened. Beaten. Shot. Stabbed. Imprisoned. Some of them have even died in the field. And still they go. When I ask them how I can pray over them, they never ask for personal safety but always for boldness to preach the gospel in the face of the opposition. It is deeply humbling and inspiring. 

I think about these men and women when I read Acts 5. I love the boldness of those first believers. Peter and John are arrested, imprisoned, and tried for preaching about the resurrection of Jesus. They were not among the elite. They had no wealth. No power. No education. They were just ordinary people whom God used to proclaim an extraordinary message. The gospel stirred up the city - as it always does - and threatened those in power - as it always does. So Peter and John were threatened. They were roughed up. They were imprisoned. They were put on trial. But they return home praising God for the opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ. They praise God for the persecution. Praise God for His sovereign will and plan. Praise God for the opportunity to proclaim the gospel. “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” (Acts‬ ‭5:41-42 CSB)

What do you pray for when you come against opposition? What do you pray for when you experience suffering and hardship? What do you pray for when you are in pain? For most of us, I imagine we pray for relief. Healing. Safety. Comfort. These are not necessarily bad things to pray but they certainly are not the most important things. The Apostle Paul experienced all these things and more in his life. He was mistreated, abused, left for dead. He gave up his home. His family. His livelihood. He sacrificed everything for the sake of knowing and serving Christ. And what did he gain in return? Christ. Peter and John and the early believers made similar sacrifices. They considered everything “rubbish” when compared to knowing and serving Christ. And what did they gain in return? Christ. What if - instead of safety and security - you prayed for boldness to proclaim the gospel? What if - instead of comfort and peace - you prayed for courage to share your faith? What if - instead of provision and protection - you prayed for God to use all that you are and all that you have - even your sufferings and pain - to grow His Kingdom in this world?

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 7-8, Psalms 122

The Power of God

Readings for today: Acts 1-2, Psalms 119:153-176

The promise of the Holy Spirit is the promise of power. Divine, supernatural power filling us so that we might be Jesus’ witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. It’s a good thing Jesus gives us His power because we couldn’t accomplish His mission without it. The stakes are too high. The challenges too great. The obstacles too daunting. The trials too hard. The suffering too painful. Whether you’re walking across the street to share Christ with a neighbor or you are at work sharing Christ with a co-worker or you’re headed across the world to share Christ with someone who’s never had access to the gospel before, it requires power to accomplish. God’s power not our own.

Every Christian I’ve talked to over the years wants this power. They want to experience the miraculous power of God in their life. They want to see the miraculous power of God on display. They want to feel the miraculous power of God within them. But for so many Christians, God’s power remains an abstract concept. An elusive idea. Something they acknowledge as possible but don’t expect to actually ever experience. Why is that? What is it that holds us back? What is it that keeps us from living and walking in God’s power as His followers? Simply put, we aren’t serious enough about God’s mission. God grants us His power not to use for ourselves. Not to use to enrich our own lives. Not to make us healthy and wealthy and wise. This is where the prosperity preachers have it all wrong. God’s power is not given to us so that we can spend it on ourselves. No, God gives us His power so that we might be His witnesses to a dead and dying world. He gives us His power so that we might serve His Kingdom purposes. He gives us His power so that we might spread the good news of the gospel.

Being a witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth requires risk. It requires us to take steps of faith. It requires us to sacrifice. When we do these things for the sake of God’s mission in the world, we see miraculous things take place. Hell is emptied and heaven is filled as people come to saving faith. The blind see. The deaf hear. The lame walk. The diseased are cured. The demon-possessed are set free. The dead are raised. I’ve seen all these things and more in my travels around the world as Christians put themselves at great risk in order to proclaim the gospel and plant churches where the name of Jesus has never been spoken or even heard. I’ve also seen some of these same things in my own home town as believers that I know and love take risks to share their faith, stand for the gospel, proclaim truth, and sacrifice in incredible ways to reach the lost and least resourced.

If you want God’s power in your life, there is only one way to get it. Get on mission for Jesus! Join Jesus on His mission to reach the lost and serve the least resourced. Intentionally go to places and meet people who need Jesus desperately. Take risks. Prayerfully sacrifice. Find ways to serve. Step out in faith. God will meet you there in a powerful way and you will experience Him in ways you never thought possible.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 3-4, Psalms 120 (No devotionals on Sundays)

The End of the Story?

Readings for today: Acts 27-28

The Book of Acts ends with the Apostle Paul living under house arrest in Rome awaiting trial before Caesar for his faith in Jesus Christ and his belief in the resurrection. During that time, he seems to enjoy a bit of freedom. He’s able to teach and preach. He welcomes visitors regularly into his home. And he never stops sharing the gospel. He knows his time is growing short. He knows he’s about to finish his race. He knows his life has been poured out as an offering before the Lord. And even though many scholars, including myself, believe Paul was released from house arrest, set free by Caesar at this point, and continued his missionary endeavors for another couple of years; it won’t be too much longer before Emperor Nero goes insane, rounds up the Christians, persecutes them terribly, and eventually imprisons Paul in the infamous Mamertine Prison which was essentially a dark hole in the ground where political prisoners were kept before being executed.

Through it all, Paul remains faithful. As you read these final chapters of Acts, Paul seems completely oblivious to his fate. Almost like he doesn’t care what happens to him. Paul has settled in his heart that to “live is Christ and to die is gain” so no matter what comes, he is content. He is perhaps the most free person in history. Free from the cares and worries of this world. Free from the need to jockey for position or power. Free from the need to be successful. Free from the need to be comfortable and safe. Just as the boat he was on was tossed about on the waves of the sea before shipwrecking on Malta, his life is being tossed about by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is no longer under control. He is not the master of his fate. He is not the captain of his destiny. He has embraced his Lord fully and completely and surrendered all into his hands.

It’s tempting to get to the end of Acts and think we’ve come to the end of the story. Not so fast! There is a 29th chapter being written even as we speak! The generations that have come after the Apostle Paul and the other leaders of the early church risked their lives in many cases - just like Paul - to carry the gospel around the globe. They too were filled with power as the Holy Spirit came upon them. They too were Jesus’ witnesses in their own Jerusalems, Judeas, Samarias, and to the furthest corners of the earth. Almost 2000 years have elapsed since Paul walked the earth. In that time, billions of people have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Revivals have broken out at different times and in different places all over the world. Indeed, the story of the Book of Acts will not be complete until Jesus returns because the “Acts” the book refers to are the acts of the Holy Spirit not the acts of the apostles. Their actions ended with their deaths. The acts of the Holy Spirit continue to this day and you and I get to be part of it!

Readings for tomorrow: Philippians 1-4

Resurrection = Life without Fear

Readings for today: Acts 24-26

Everything for Paul hinges on the resurrection. When he met the Risen Christ outside of Damascus, a door opened in his heart that could never be closed. He was transformed. Suddenly all his zeal and passion for the Law was re-focused as he realized everything the prophets foretold had come true in Christ. His hope as a Pharisee for the eventual resurrection of the dead had actually taken place in his lifetime. Jesus was the firstfruits. He was the forerunner. He was the Messiah whom God had sent. And with this knowledge, all the tumblers fall into place. Jesus is the key that makes sense of the Law and Prophets. Jesus is the filter now through which all of Scripture should be read and understood. The Risen Christ brings new life and new meaning to everything Paul had learned over the course of his lifetime. And with this knowledge Paul is transformed from a violent, raging Pharisee intent on destroying Christianity to its foremost evangelist, pastor, and theologian. 

Of course, wrapping your life around the resurrection will not make you popular. Paul found himself at odds with the Romans who believed he was nuts. Paul found himself at odds with his former friends and colleagues in Judaism who tried to have him killed. Paul even found himself at odds - as we have already seen - with some of his fellow Christians who could not grasp the depths of his message of unconditional love and grace. Living the resurrection life will certainly make you strange. Weird. Odd. Because your values and priorities and thoughts and attitudes and actions are shaped by another Kingdom. A Kingdom not of this world. Ruled by a King who is not of this world. Submitting your life to Him means living an “other-worldly” life. A life not ruled by fear. A life not centered around self. A life untangled and unecumbered by the cares and worries of this world. 

Can you imagine living a life without fear? That’s the life Jesus offers. The resurrection life. Resurrection places us beyond the fears of this world. No longer do we fear death. No longer do we fear danger. No longer do we fear hunger or nakedness or prison or sickness. No longer do we fear the loss of possessions, reputation, position and privilege. No longer do we fear failure or pain or suffering. These “fears” are what the world uses to keep us in line. Squeeze us into its mold. Shape us into its corrupt image. But the resurrection sets us free from all of that! Now we are transformed as our hearts and minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead now lives in us and is at work through us! This is what Paul understood. This is what Peter understood. This is what millions of Christians have understood throughout history and it is why the Kingdom of God continues to move with power on the earth. 

Readings for tomorrow: None

Complete Surrender

Readings for today: Acts 20:4-23:35

What does total surrender to Christ look like? It looks like the Apostle Paul. Paul leaves his home. His friendships. His business. His ministry all behind in order to suffer for Christ. He was compelled by the Holy Spirit to return to Jerusalem where he knew he would be put in chains. Prophecy after prophecy had been made. Warning after warning had been given. There was no more dangerous place for Paul to go and yet he went. Not out of pride or arrogance but out of obedience to His Lord. It was Jesus who sent him to testify in Jerusalem and it would be Jesus who would send him to testify in Rome. From the heart of Judaism to the heart of the empire. Paul was Jesus’ chosen instrument to declare the good news of the gospel in front of kings and rulers and authorities. Though it would eventually cost him his life, Paul considered it a privilege to serve. 

I have met many “Apostle Paul’s” in my life. Men and women who sacrifice everything for the sake of the gospel. They leave their homes. Their families. Their friendships. Their businesses. And they go to faraway places. Towns and villages who have never heard the name of Jesus. They place themselves in danger. They endure persecution. Many of them will bear the scars for the rest of their lives. Some of them even lose their lives. Why do they do it? They feel compelled by the Holy Spirit. Constrained by His will to go to the places He shows them in order to share Christ with those who are lost. They do not act of pride or arrogance. They do not trust in their own resources or strength. They are not naive or ignorant. They go with the understanding that they may not return. But they cannot help themselves. It is Jesus who commands them. It is Jesus who sends them. It is Jesus who calls them into the harvest field. They are Jesus’ chosen instruments to make His gospel known among a people who have never heard. They preach in places that do not show up on any map. They cross borders into places where the gospel has never gone. They confront principalities and powers we cannot fathom, armed only with the gospel. And though it costs them their health. Their wealth. Their family. Sometimes their lives. They consider it a privilege and honor to serve. 

All of us are called by Jesus. All of us are sent by Jesus. All of us have a field to harvest for our Lord. Sadly, too many of us never show up for work. Our fields are wild and overgrown. They have gone untended for far too many years. Sure, we mean well. We think we’ll get to it one day. Once we’re financially secure. Once our kids are grown. Once we get married and settle down. Or we work the edges of of the field. Close to the gate. In the places where it’s safest. After all, we wouldn’t want to place ourselves at risk, right? God wants us to be safe, right? He would never call us to sacrifice our comfort or lifestyle or livelihood or family or friendships for the sake of His mission, right? Isn’t the dangerous work reserved for the truly holy? The super Christians? Surely that’s not me. Surely that’s not what Jesus wants me to do. 

The Word of God is clear. It leaves us very little wiggle room. All that we have been given. All that we’ve earned over the course of our lives. All our success. All our wealth. All our possessions. All our relationships. All our friendships. Everything in our lives must be surrendered and laid at the feet of our Lord. It has come from His hands and must be returned to Him. This is the price of following Jesus. We relinquish it all. We surrender it all. We let go of it all and walk with open hands and open hearts before Him. Our first call is to serve Jesus. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else is allowed to get in the way. Not our families. Not our careers. Not our friendships. Not our possessions. Not our retirement. Not our fears. Not our failures. Not our anxieties. Not our worries. Not our doubts. Not our questions. Nothing. Jesus is Lord. When He calls me, I will answer. Where He sends me, I will go. I am Jesus’ chosen instrument to make His will known in my community and to the ends of the earth. And it is a privilege and honor to serve. 

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 24-26

Spirit-Filled

Readings for today: Acts 18:19-19:41

The Christian life is a Spirit-filled life. There simply is no other way to live it. It is not just a system of ethics. It is not just another human philosophy. It is not just a man-made religion with all sorts of rules and regulations on how to get to heaven after you die. It is a life animated and empowered by the very Spirit of the Living God. It is a life full of miracles and signs and wonders. It is a life blessed by the Creator and Sustainer and Redeemer of the universe. It is a life that looks like the one Jesus led.

In our reading from the Book of Acts today, we run across a curious story. A gifted Christian preacher named Apollos was proving to be very effective in sharing the good news of the gospel but his message was incomplete. He taught the way of Jesus “up to a point but only went as far as the baptism of John.” (Acts 18:25 MSG) What does that mean? Paul explains it in the very next chapter. John preached a baptism of repentance, of radical life-change, in order to prepare the way of the Lord. John was the last Old Testament prophet sent by God to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. He was Elijah reborn as it were and God used him powerfully to prepare the soil for the message of the Kingdom of God. John’s message served a particular purpose for a particular season but that season ended with the coming of Jesus. Jesus was the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. John himself said he was unworthy to untie his sandals and by clinging to and teaching John’s message, Apollos was actually leading potential believers astray.

Thankfully, Apollos was humble and teachable and submitted to the leadership of Priscilla and Aquila. It made his preaching even more powerful because now he was armed with the message of grace. Grace, friends, is the key difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism. John’s baptism is a baptism of repentance. It is a baptism based on our desires and our thoughts and our actions. Jesus’ baptism, on the other hand, is much greater and much more profound. It is a baptism based on grace. God’s unmerited favor towards those He loves. God’s unconditional pardon and forgiveness of our sins. God giving us the free gift of righteousness in Jesus Christ. God transforming us from the inside out through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. This is what those “almost believers” who were responding to the preaching of Apollos had missed and it is what the Apostle Paul corrects when he arrives in Ephesus.

I meet so many believers today who align more with John’s baptism than the baptism of Jesus. They rely more on their own works rather than on grace as they seek to win God’s favor. They come to the end of their lives and they trust they’ve “done enough” or been “good enough” for God. These are all signs we are still struggling to believe rightly about the Christian faith and we still need the Priscillas and Aquilas of the world to teach us the true way of Jesus. The way of grace.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 1-4

Conflict

Readings for today: Acts 17:1-18:18

Jesus was clear that His followers would face trials and tribulation. We will face hostility and conflict and persecution. People will attack us for our beliefs and they will consider our way of life a threat. They will not understand why we live the way we do and even try to have us thrown in prison for our faith. We’ve seen this happen throughout history and even in many places around the world today. Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart. It will place you in conflict with the principalities and powers of this present age. It will not win you friends or make you much of an influencer. If it does, you’re probably doing it wrong. The way of Jesus remains a “stumbling block” to the religious and “foolishness” to the irreligious so you will take heat from both sides. This is why so many struggle to remain faithful over the long haul. Frankly, it’s why so many of my pastoral colleagues are burning out, washing out, or opting out of full-time ministry. They get tired of taking the shots. They get tired of having to wake up to yet another fight. They get tired of being beaten down and targeted for their faith.

There is a growing hostility in our nation today towards followers of Jesus. Our beliefs and our ethics pose a threat to the emerging moral order. Our views on gender and sexual ethics, in particular, have not just come under fire, they are considered abusive and dangerous. Our beliefs about God and His final judgment on sin and death and evil are considered laughable, intolerant, and unacceptable. Our commitment to Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” is considered exclusive, biased, and narrow-minded. It’s becoming increasingly clear that anyone who holds such views will be denied positions in government or business or the classroom. Anyone who proclaims such views will be sanctioned or cancelled in the public sphere. They will be labeled a hate-monger, immoral, and a bigot. So what’s a Christian to do?

We follow the example of Paul. Everywhere Paul went, he faced hostility. He dealt with conflict. He was shouted down. He was disrespected. He was chased by lynch mobs and dragged before the courts. He was attacked and ridiculed for what he preached and still he persevered. He endured. He refused to repay evil with evil. He resisted the temptation to use human means to achieve divine ends. He turned the other cheek. He stood his ground without lashing out. He kept on preaching even in the midst of all his pain and suffering. He trusted God with the results. We would do well to learn from him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Thessalonians 1-5

Essentials

Readings for today: Acts 15-16

It’s so easy for human beings to divide. We’ve been doing it for centuries. We divide over language, culture, ethnicity, and tribal affiliation. We divide over land, money, wealth, and power. We divide over politics, social action, and religious faith. We divide over disappointments, hurts, and fears. Christians are no different. Despite the fact that we are bound by a spiritual bond in Jesus Christ that is thicker than blood or water, we cannot seem to help ourselves. We are vulnerable to the same pressures that divide every other group of human beings.

The early church had to fight to stay together. Despite the cultural forces arrayed against them and the persecution they suffered at the hands of their enemies, they still found the time and energy to fight amongst themselves. Circumcision was the pressing issue of the day. The cultural practice had set apart the Jewish people since the beginning. All the way back to Abraham. It was essential to their identity as God’s covenant people. But now Gentiles are coming to faith in droves. Their numbers are threatening to overwhelm the early church. The Jewish Christians are rapidly becoming a minority and probably feeling under threat. Like all these new people had stolen “their” church. So a group of them band together and begin teaching the new Gentile Christians that faith in Jesus Christ was not enough. Baptism was not enough. They needed to be circumcised in addition to these things if they truly believed and wanted to belong. This created all kinds of controversy. Paul and Barnabas go nuts. The early church is wracked by conflict and so they call a meeting of all the leaders in Jerusalem. The case is presented. They seek the mind of Christ together. The Holy Spirit makes His will known. And the mark of circumcision is rejected as a requirement.

This won’t be the end of the story, of course. Human beings are notoriously rebellious and many of those early Jewish Christians will continue to cause Paul headaches as he plants his churches around the Roman world. So will the Gentile Christians, by the way! It’s just so easy for any of us to fall prey to focusing on the non-essentials rather than the essentials of our faith. It’s so easy for us to focus on what separates us rather than what holds us together. It’s so easy to focus on our differences rather than our shared convictions which is why there are so many different denominations and churches in the world today. Boil the Christian faith down to it’s essentials and what do you have? Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Readings for tomorrow: None

Missions

Readings for today: Acts 12-14

It is amazing to read about Paul’s first missionary journey. Coming on the heels of persecution in Jerusalem which cost James his life and put Peter in prison, the church in Antioch responds to the call of the Spirit to send out missionaries to proclaim the good news of the gospel. Barnabus and Paul are chosen after a lengthy time of prayer and fasting and worship. They travel from Antioch to Cyprus to Perga which is a gateway city to the region of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). From there, they hit the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. All told, they travel around 1500 miles in about two years before returning to report the great news that many Gentiles are turning to faith in Jesus Christ! 

Three things to note that will become paradigmatic for future missionary endeavors, including in our own day and age. First, the bold proclamation of the gospel. Paul was utterly convinced God had raised Jesus from the dead and that this was the fulfillment of all the promises given to Israel. Many have argued that Paul’s conversion represented a radical break with his prior Pharisaism. On the contrary! Paul himself argues that the resurrection of Jesus is the fulfillment of all he believed. “And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus...” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:32-33‬) Everything changed for Paul that day he met the Risen Christ outside of Damascus. He was confronted with the truth that everything he believed about Israel had now come true in Jesus Christ. Yahweh had indeed raised His Son from the dead in vindication of everything Jesus had taught. Far from being an enemy of the Jewish faith, Jesus was the fulfillment! And Paul’s zealous passion for the faith of his fathers now would make him the greatest evangelist the world has ever known.  

Second, the proclamation of the gospel was confirmed by signs and wonders. Wherever Barnabus and Paul went, the sick were healed. Demons were cast out. People were set free from oppression. Paul shows no fear in confronting powerful witch-doctors like Bar-Jesus. He calls down God’s judgment on the man and strikes him blind. This was not an act of self-promotion. In fact, when the people of Lystra attempt to worship Paul and Barnabus because of the miracle they performed in making a lame man walk, they tore their garments. They refused to let it happen. They assured the people they were not gods but simply ordinary men serving the One True God, the maker of heaven and earth. No, the point of all the miracles and signs and wonders was to bring people to saving faith. To confirm the truth of the gospel they preached. 

Finally, persecution. No matter where Paul and Barnabus went, they faced opposition. From the pagans in power like Bar-Jesus to the Jews who refused to receive their message. They were beaten. They were stoned. They were attacked and left for dead. The Word of God is a double-edged sword and it stirred the hearts of those who listened. Some received the good news with glad hearts and came to faith. Others perceived it as a threat and lashed out. There is no such thing as being neutral when it comes to Jesus! 

Friends, this same dynamic is being played out the world over even today. My friends in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Djibouti all share similar testimonies. They boldly proclaim the gospel in villages, towns, and cities where it has never been heard. Their preaching is often accompanied by many signs and wonders and miracles. The sick are healed. The demon-oppressed set free. The dead are raised to new life. But these men and women face extreme persecution as well. Beaten. Stabbed. Shot. Imprisoned. Left for dead. Their families are attacked. Their livelihoods threatened. Some of them even lose their lives for the sake of the Kingdom. And yet, the “the Word of God continues to increase and multiply!” (Acts‬ ‭12:24‬) 

God is not done! Despite what you may or may not hear, He is still very much on the move! He will not rest or relent until the whole world hears the good news of the gospel! This is His will! This is His plan! And to this great end, He calls His church! This is the reason we exist! Not for ourselves but for the sake of the world! May we understand and embrace our calling to be missionaries in our communities and to the very ends of the earth!  

Readings for tomorrow: James 1-5

Radical Transformation

Readings for today: Acts 9-11

It’s hard to get our minds around the transformation of Saul. One day, he is literally the fiercest enemy of the church and the next, he is her fiercest defender. One day, he is dragging Christians out of their homes, throwing them in prison, and calling for their execution and the next, he himself is risking it all to proclaim the gospel. One day, he is the hunter and the next, he is the hunted. Nothing short of an encounter with the Risen Christ could effect such a change and that, of course, is exactly what happened.

If you’re looking for a modern day example, you might check out the story of Mosab Hassan Yousef. Mosab is the oldest son of one of the founders of Hamas. He was groomed from a very young age to take over the terrorist organization. His father, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, lives in the West Bank where he has coordinated the activities of Hamas for decades. He has been arrested several times for inciting terrorism, most recently in the wake of the attacks on October 7th. Mosab rejected his father’s legacy of terror in favor of the way of Jesus. He even worked with Mossad from 1997-2007 to prevent terror attacks from happening in Israel. He has a powerful testimony and believes it is only by “loving our enemies” that peace can come to the Middle East.

Only Jesus Christ can make this kind of radical transformation possible. He alone can change the human heart. He alone can give us a new spirit. He alone can lead us to repentance which is a 180 degree turn in life. Most of us will probably never engage in the terror campaigns Saul conducted when he was a Pharisee. We will never join any kind of terror organization like Mosab. However, we are all born into sin and enslaved by it’s power. Only the Risen Christ can set us free. Only the Risen Christ can open our blind eyes to see Him for who He truly is. Only the Risen Christ can raise us to new life.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 12-14

Power on Display

Readings for today: Acts 5-8

Today’s devotional is a follow up to yesterday. Again, if you want to experience God’s divine power, you must engage in God’s mission to reach the world with the gospel. That’s what we see on display in the Book of Acts. It’s also what we see taking place around the world today. According to scholars like Philip Jenkins, there is a revival taking place all over the globe. Africa will have over 1 billion Christians by 2050. Latin America over 650 million. Asia over 600 million. Yes, the growth of Christianity in North America will continue to slow to a crawl and will face steep decline in Europe. As the faces of Christianity change, so will the shape of Christianity. No longer will the theological tone be set by the Reformation of the 16th century in Western Europe but by the Reformation taking place in Ethiopia, Uganda, China, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico. This new movement is decidedly Pentecostal. It is boldly Charismatic. The preaching of the gospel in these countries is often accompanied by signs and wonders and miracles. God’s power on display in and through His witnesses.

In our readings for today, we see signs and wonders all over the place. From the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit to the healings and casting out of demons by the Apostles at Solomon’s Portico. Stephen, a man full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit, performs great wonders and signs as he preaches the gospel. And Philip seems to drive out demons left and right. How awesome must it have been to be part of this movement in its earliest days? To see the miracles taking place? To watch as scores of people get saved on a daily basis? Worship services filled with new believers? Homes filled to overflowing with spiritual seekers? Everyone of one heart and one mind even in the face of persecution?

Why doesn’t this happen in America? Why doesn’t this happen in our local communities? What are we missing? What we are missing is a desperation for God. A hunger and thirst for His righteousness. An overwhelming longing for His Kingdom. Affluence is a spiritual killer. It makes us soft and complacent. It tempts us into depending on our own power rather than God’s power. We start to believe we have enough so we don’t need God. We have doctors and nurses and medication and treatment so we don’t need miraculous healing. We have psychologists and psychiatrists and an abundance of counselors to help us deal with our demons. (I am purposefully being a bit facetious here to make a point. Please don’t take these words to mean I don’t have the deepest appreciation for those who work in the medical field or am being dismissive of the complexities of mental illness.) We have plenty of food and clean water to drink. Warm homes to sleep in and closets full of clothes. We receive great education at the finest of schools. Our economy is the strongest in the world so everyone can have a job. What do we need God for? This is why Jesus Himself says it is harder for a rich person to get into heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Basically it is impossible because we become so attached to the things of this world. Our primary concern becomes safety and comfort rather than the proclamation of the gospel. Our primary goal becomes taking care of ourselves or those we love first rather than seeking to save the lost. We start walking by sight rather than by faith so is it really any wonder then that we don’t see the signs and wonders and miracles of God? 

Thankfully what is impossible for us is more than possible for God! And His great desire is for us to experience all the spiritual blessings He has stored up in heaven for His people. (Eph. 1:3) So the image I want to leave you with is Jesus standing out on the lake, having walked on water. You and I are sitting comfortably in our yachts and Jesus is beckoning to us. Calling us out. Calling us out of our comfort zones. Calling us out of our safe spaces. Calling us to leave behind our wealth and possessions. To come out of the gilded cages we find ourselves trapped in and go to him. Actually walk on water ourselves as we fix our eyes on Him. This is not an easy journey. Almost as soon as we leave the safety of our boats, we start to feel the waves rocking and rolling beneath us. We see the wind kick up and the clouds move in. The temptation is to run back to safety. Run back to what we know. Run back to what is comfortable and normal for us. But Jesus is insistent. He is relentless. His voice booms out over the waters. His voice rises above the storm. “Come to me!” He says. Let go of all you have. Unclench those fists. Relinquish your need for control. Come out to where I am and you will see My signs. My wonders. My miracles. For I am Faithful. I am True. I will not let you sink beneath the waves. 

Readings for tomorrow: None