August 31, 2022 – Ps 69, Pr 29, Acts 4

Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:1‭-‬2 NIV

I am feeling these truths in my life. I see some stiff-neckedness happening. Even in the face of the people groaning there is no change visible. I cannot say that I see wickedness ruling but I can see that rebuke is not taken as such and may be misunderstood because of stiff necks not being able to look around and see the truths.

Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!
Acts 4:6‭-‬8 NIV

If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:9‭-‬13 NIV

Look at this list of audience to what is happening. All those who condemned and handed Jesus over to be crucified. Again the change in the disciples is enormous. When Jesus was crucified, they all went into hiding for fear that they would be next. Now they stand in front of the men who put this all into action and speak confidently against them and speak the truth without fear of punishment. This is support for the truth of the resurrection. These men who were in hiding would never have become the men they are here if Jesus had not really risen from the dead and appeared to them in person. This is support from a human perspective alone. We know that their boldness and ability to know what to say is because they also are filled with the Holy Spirit, but if you look for evidence of the resurrection, the change in the disciples disproves a lot of the alternative theories for why Jesus was not still in the tomb. As believers we too can call on the Holy Spirit to give us the words and actions that we need when confronted with opposition to our faith.

 

August 30, 2022 – Ps 68, Pr 28, Acts 3

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Acts 3:6 NIV

Have you ever had the right words to direct someone toward God and just known it was the Holy Spirit because afterward you think “where did that come from?” I imagine the disciples had so many of those times that it didn’t even surprise them. This would be one of those times. Look at the difference in Peter. When Jesus was with them and before the Holy Spirit came the disciples rebuked people who were bringing their children for Jesus to lay their hands on them. They also were still caught up in the social attitude of looking down on the crippled and poor. Here we see a complete change in the response. Now Peter has something more valuable than silver or God and he gives it joyfully and freely through the direction of the Holy Spirit and the man is healed.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:9‭-‬10 NIV

Responding with full surrender to the Holy Spirit not only allowed Peter to heal the man physically but it also began the healing process for all those who saw the man. It opens the door.

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:16 NIV

Now that the door is open and their hearts, minds and souls are tuned to hear the truth Peter shares with them who has really healed the man.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Acts 3:19 NIV

And he shares the gospel with them.

And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’
Acts 3:25 NIV

And reminds them of everything they had been taught about the Messiah so they could see Jesus for who He really is.

God can and does do the same thing through our lives. I have recently been put at the right place at the right time to talk to a woman who shared much of her recent history with me and even some long ago history. I had told her that I would pray for her about a certain situation and she politely said I don’t believe in God but if you believe for the both of us that is fine. God opened the conversation and brought to my mind the story of Ruth. How Boaz her kinsman redeemer had the servants pull some of the wheat from the bundles and scatter them before her so that she might be able to collect more. Boaz knew who she was and that he was her kinsman redeemer and he took care of her before she even knew who he was. I shared the story with her and told her Jesus does the same thing for us even before we believe in Him. He knows He is our redeemer and He will scatter blessings in front of us even when we don’t know who He is or what He is doing. He loves us and wants to provide for us even when we don’t know Him. She stopped by my office latter that day just to talk. We exchanged phone numbers and I look forward to seeing what else God will do.

August 28, 2022 – Ps 66, Pr 26, Ecc 5

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 NIV

Lord God help me to see where I have allowed hasty words to taint the truth that you have given me. Shut my mouth when I am preparing to speak from my own heart. Give me only words that you would have me speak before you and for you.

 

August 27, 2022 – Ps 65, Pr 25, Ecc 4

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV

This is why a married couple who is doing marriage God’s way is so strong. Yes, when they come together and work together, they can defend themselves. Cam described the wife as the one with her eye on the weapon man. He showed marriage as a man and a woman back touching back so that they have a 360 view of the enemy’s attacks. But when you add the third strand and that is God not only can they defend themselves, but they will not be easily broken. If each spouse is deep in their relationship with God, then they will naturally be deep in their relationship with each other. Picture 3 strands of a rope being twisted tightly together. They work together and create a strength that one or two cannot achieve.

Now if you are not in a marriage this principal can still apply. If you make your relationship with God, your priority you are a strand of 2. When you choose the friends that you depend on the most, they should be the people who have a close relationship with God as well so that their strand will easily entwine with yours. The beauty of this is you can have more than one person who can add that strength when you need it. God knows what we need when we need it and will often bring the right one of our friends to us or into our minds just when we need them. They are the ones that will be able to strengthen your stand of 2 and keep you from breaking. They are the one who will have your back and can keep their eye on the enemy for you in areas you may not be able to see. Think about the times in your life when you separated yourself from one or both of your 3 strands. Married or single think of a time you separated yourself from the God strand. Did you feel weaker and less connected to others especially those who stay connected to God. Or maybe you stay tight with God, but you disconnect from the other important person in your life. Is it more difficult to defend yourself from the enemy’s attacks. Did you feel like you were losing the battle? Do you miss seeing things that the other person may have seen and brought your attention? Does it feel like no one has your back? Now think about a time when you disconnected from both of them. This is most likely a time when you felt alone, overwhelmed, defeated, lost, hopeless. We need to keep our cord tight all 3 strands tightly woven together to give us the most strength and power we can possibly have.

 

August 26, 2022 – Ps 64, Pr 24, Ecc 3

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Proverbs 24:3‭-‬4 NIV

Is this not the same for the house of God? Wisdom is how to grow and build our church. Wisdom that comes from God and His word. That is how we grow our church and fill it with rare and beautifully gifted people. Thank you Lord for this daily reading of Proverbs that regularly reminds me to seek and trust your wisdom.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

When it comes to my prayers and wisdom seeking regarding our church time has been a recuring theme. Trusting God does not mean do nothing. It means seek wisdom and truth and pursue the truths that He reveals when He says its time.

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
Ecclesiastes 3:5 NIV

This reminds me of people who say that’s the way we always do it. I am well known at work for asking “why do we do it this way?” because I have ideas on how to be more efficient. The answer has almost always been because that’s the way we do it. When we embrace something so tightly that we cannot let it go even when it is not the best option we miss out on so much. In a church it is easy for people to get stuck in the box of this is the way we do it instead of letting it go. Refraining from embracing is good. It may mean we don’t worry about scattering some stones because there is a time for that as well.

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
Ecclesiastes 3:7

I have been quite a lot. Many people would probably have difficulty believing me but it is true. I have a lot of ideas and opinions but I have learned they are not always to be shared but I have been prompted to speak recently and I know that many of those  I have spoken to believe it is just me reacting to feelings and opinions but had I done that I would not have said what I said. God has put a heart of action and truth in me and has confirmed it through His word. I don’t care what people think about me. I know that I have been given the gift of exhortation and I believe God has given me the time to speak and my trust in Him is that He is in control, and he will use it for his purpose.  Because…

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Ecclesiastese 3:14

It does not matter what others think it only matters what God says. Thank you Lord for giving me the ability to trust you and respond as you call regardless of what others may think.

 

 

August 25, 2022 – Ps 63, Pr 23, Ecc 2

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
Ecclesiastes 2:1‭, ‬6 NIV

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV

Is that not what we try to do all the time. Seeking pleasure out of things of this world. Contentment with what we have is difficult when we live in a time and place where there is always so much more that can be gained but even in gaining more and doing more it all proves to be meaningless.

So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
Ecclesiastes 2:20‭-‬21 NIV

All that we think we are gaining here on this earth cannot go with us. In the end no matter what our station in life is we all end the same way. As the saying goes you can’t take it with you. Have you ever seen a child blow through the inheritance from their parents and be left with nothing. All their parents labor to leave something behind is meaningless. I have also heard of people who win the lottery who end up homeless. Why because they did not labor for it so it doesn’t have meaning to them.

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
Ecclesiastes 2:24 NIV

All we can do is survive and be content. And be instruments in God’s hands.

August 24, 2022 – Ps 62, Pr 22, Ecc 1

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV

In the intro to Ecclesiasties on the You Version bible app it says that the repeated reference to everything being meaningless warns us that lifes rewards are uncertain and ultimatelly unsatisfying.

What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 1:15 NIV

The intro also says when he says this he reminds us that “something wrong has intruded into our world. This fits the larger Jewish story told in the rest of the scriptures. Setting things right again is what this bigger drama is about. The teacher, howerver, does not tell us about God’s attempts at straightening the world. He is content to say that God is soverign over all things and in our duty to follow his ways for living, since God will bring every deed into judgement.”

As long as we are in this world we will experience difficulty and frustration. But, God who is soverign can and will know exactly what to do with it all.  As many people in our church are experiencing frustration disapointment and distress i pray that God in his soverignty will be our guide and give us direction and purpose to fulfill His good work as we look forward to the new heaven and new earth. Where there will be no frustration, disapointment and distress. Where we will finally see and understand how God used all these things for His good.

 

August 23, 2022 – Ps 61, Pr 21, Acts 2

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42‭-‬47 NIV

The church I want to be part of.

August 22, 2022 – Ps 60, Pr, 20Acts 1

“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’
Acts 1:20 NIV

The Holy Spirit revealed to the disciples the connections such as these to the old testament. I don’t think this is something that they grew up being taught from the priests. I also don’t think Peter would have made this connection on his own. But as we will see the disciples did not get it all right we wont either. We must remember that everything that God has revealed through the writters of the bible is complete. There is no new revelation. But He still speaks to us through His word in the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the hard part is knowing what to do with the information and when.