Well, I finally did it. I had a book end up being overdue at the library. It's been a long time, and I feel a bit guilty because I knew it was going to be overdue but I couldn't bring myself to turn it in, knowing that I had already started reading it. Besides, if over 3,200 people have already reviewed it on Amazon, then I had to read it, right?
I read Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari's tale about how and why Homo Sapiens ended up as the dominant species rather than neaderthals or wombats or any other option. It's a fascinating journey through our common history -- it's easy to forget that humans have only been around for the blink of an eye when compared to the history of life on this planet. We obviously can't imagine life without us, but Mother Nature did just fine for billions of years before we showed up and started using dinosaur remains to fuel our cars.
There's two theories that Harari puts forth that I think are worth mentioning. The first is his theory on why Homo Sapiens evolved into the dominant species. He posits that it is our ability to imagine things that do not exist in the material world. While a monkey can talk about a nearby tree that is loaded with fruit or a lion on the prowl, we have the ability to talk about things that do not exist in real life, such as an idea or corporation or religion. You can't see or touch God, but we can tell stories and share a common belief in God, despite not being able to see him. Harari suggests that this ability allowed for humans to act for a common cause in a way other species couldn't do so.
As a pastor and a Christian, I have a strong belief that humanity exists because we were created in the image of God. Harari disagrees, seeing no truth behind any of the meta-narratives that bind us together. He sees them as merely collective acts of imagination that have been harnessed by cultures to unify humanity. I see our collective grasping of religion as evidence that we were made by a power greater than us, designed with a hunger for God as part of the hard-wired system, and that the beauty of the earth points to the one who designed the earth out of creativity and love.
The second theory that I think is worth mentioning in a brief review is that Harari talks about wheat domesticating humans. When we were foragers in the woods and another tribe threatened us, we could simply move about and continue to live off the abundance of the land. However, wheat demands time and attention. It demands a commitment to the land, and once you've made that commitment, you have to work the land, and you have to defend the land, so you develop societies and armies and industry to cultivate wheat. Before long, you are enslaved to the seasonal cycles and thinking about wheat all the time -- how to grow more and store more and make it through the winter. You no longer own the wheat -- it owns you.
I think this is fascinating because God warns us about the power of material things to enslave us. If we're not on guard, the things we think we own, they end up owning us. We don't have freedom any more because we're trapped by stuff. We have to maintain a certain lifestyle to support our stuff, and we forget that we made a choice to have all this stuff -- it becomes our life. We work ourselves to the bone so that we can continue to own all these things that are owning us, all the while forgetting that it doesn't have to be this way. Our things, and the maintenance of them, shouldn't rule our lives.
It's a great book, and it will certainly make you think, which is reason enough to read it. I don't agree with all of the conclusions, but am better for having considered them.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Acts 19:1-10
Acts 19:1-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the age of social media scandal and outrage and the general lack of human decency we see at every level of society, there is a story that ought to be the lead in every major news channel out there. An umpire was walking to a baseball game in Pittsburgh and noticed a woman in despair climb over the railing of a bridge, about to cast herself into the murky depths below. He rushed over and held her, refusing to let go, refusing to allow her to fall to the fate she thought she wanted. When she told him that he would forget her, he said he'll never forget her.
This is the Gospel, wrapped up in real life. When we pursue what we think we want, unaware of the true cost of our actions, God rushes to us, holding on so tightly that we cannot break free from his love, and he whispers words of love and assurance into the depths our hearts when we are breaking in despair. This is the Gospel, that when hope is about to disappear into the murky depths, God appears from on high and radiates life back into our bones. This is the Gospel, that people are called to act out the selfless love of God in one another's lives, rather than just sit back and watch as society, as lives, crumble into the dust that surrounds us.
I don't know that I've heard a better true story than one of man refusing to let go of a stranger who simply wanted to resign herself to despair. When her hope had run out, he was willing to share his.
Friends, this is how God loves you. He never lets go, he never gives up, and there is hope beneath the pain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the age of social media scandal and outrage and the general lack of human decency we see at every level of society, there is a story that ought to be the lead in every major news channel out there. An umpire was walking to a baseball game in Pittsburgh and noticed a woman in despair climb over the railing of a bridge, about to cast herself into the murky depths below. He rushed over and held her, refusing to let go, refusing to allow her to fall to the fate she thought she wanted. When she told him that he would forget her, he said he'll never forget her.
This is the Gospel, wrapped up in real life. When we pursue what we think we want, unaware of the true cost of our actions, God rushes to us, holding on so tightly that we cannot break free from his love, and he whispers words of love and assurance into the depths our hearts when we are breaking in despair. This is the Gospel, that when hope is about to disappear into the murky depths, God appears from on high and radiates life back into our bones. This is the Gospel, that people are called to act out the selfless love of God in one another's lives, rather than just sit back and watch as society, as lives, crumble into the dust that surrounds us.
I don't know that I've heard a better true story than one of man refusing to let go of a stranger who simply wanted to resign herself to despair. When her hope had run out, he was willing to share his.
Friends, this is how God loves you. He never lets go, he never gives up, and there is hope beneath the pain.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Acts 18:24-28
Acts 18:24-28
English Standard Version (ESV)
Let's all be honest -- at one point in our lives, we've been the person spouting off facts that we have later discovered weren't exactly true. We had heard something somewhere and hadn't bothered to check into it, and it turns out that our source either wasn't reliable or we didn't hear it correctly, and if we're lucky it wasn't that embarrassing and no one was listening to us anyway.
While we really don't want to be spouting fake news, it takes a special kind of courage and wisdom to play the role that Priscilla and Aquila play in this story. They confront Apollos -- but not in an effort to make a fool out of him, like some might do, but rather to redirect him towards the truth. They reach out in love to encourage and correct, in the hopes that his enthusiasm might not be dashed but his information will be correct. What an amazing gift they have given him, and he uses this wisely -- to continue to show that Jesus is the Messiah. Priscilla and Aquila deliver the message in such a caring way that he carries on with his goal, encouraged by the love that was shown to him.
So the next time you come across someone who doesn't have their facts straight, consider your approach. In the social media age, it's tempting to try and score points by embarrassing someone else and making them look bad. To follow the example here, though, means encouraging someone and potentially sending them down a road that will lead others to be transformed. Which is the better path?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Let's all be honest -- at one point in our lives, we've been the person spouting off facts that we have later discovered weren't exactly true. We had heard something somewhere and hadn't bothered to check into it, and it turns out that our source either wasn't reliable or we didn't hear it correctly, and if we're lucky it wasn't that embarrassing and no one was listening to us anyway.
While we really don't want to be spouting fake news, it takes a special kind of courage and wisdom to play the role that Priscilla and Aquila play in this story. They confront Apollos -- but not in an effort to make a fool out of him, like some might do, but rather to redirect him towards the truth. They reach out in love to encourage and correct, in the hopes that his enthusiasm might not be dashed but his information will be correct. What an amazing gift they have given him, and he uses this wisely -- to continue to show that Jesus is the Messiah. Priscilla and Aquila deliver the message in such a caring way that he carries on with his goal, encouraged by the love that was shown to him.
So the next time you come across someone who doesn't have their facts straight, consider your approach. In the social media age, it's tempting to try and score points by embarrassing someone else and making them look bad. To follow the example here, though, means encouraging someone and potentially sending them down a road that will lead others to be transformed. Which is the better path?
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Acts 18:18-23
Acts 18:18-28
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's your plan for the next five years? What about next year? Next month? How about tomorrow?
We all make plans. We make plans about where we'll vacation and when we'll see people and what our careers will look like and where the kids will graduate and what retirement will look like. We make plans based on what we know to be true and what we hope to be true. Sometimes they are plans, sometimes they are dreams, usually they are a combination of both. We make plans and we save for the plans.
Throughout Scripture, God gently reminds us not to get too wrapped up in our plans. God's will doesn't always align with our plans. Sometimes we are called in different directions. Sometimes, life happens and things just don't work out like we had planned. Sometimes that's for the best. Sometimes... not.
The warning for us is not to get so wrapped up in our plans that we forget what we depend on. We live and move and have our being in the hands of God. We live for his glory, not for our plans. We must not hold our plans too tightly, for if we have to abandon them, God is still with us, still in our midst. When plans don't work out, we shouldn't blame God for that -- we should remember that our plans are just plans, and that in the midst of whatever life throws our way, we will trust God's will and look for the hope and peace he brings to every situation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's your plan for the next five years? What about next year? Next month? How about tomorrow?
We all make plans. We make plans about where we'll vacation and when we'll see people and what our careers will look like and where the kids will graduate and what retirement will look like. We make plans based on what we know to be true and what we hope to be true. Sometimes they are plans, sometimes they are dreams, usually they are a combination of both. We make plans and we save for the plans.
Throughout Scripture, God gently reminds us not to get too wrapped up in our plans. God's will doesn't always align with our plans. Sometimes we are called in different directions. Sometimes, life happens and things just don't work out like we had planned. Sometimes that's for the best. Sometimes... not.
The warning for us is not to get so wrapped up in our plans that we forget what we depend on. We live and move and have our being in the hands of God. We live for his glory, not for our plans. We must not hold our plans too tightly, for if we have to abandon them, God is still with us, still in our midst. When plans don't work out, we shouldn't blame God for that -- we should remember that our plans are just plans, and that in the midst of whatever life throws our way, we will trust God's will and look for the hope and peace he brings to every situation.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Acts18:12-17
Acts 18:12-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
Supreme Court rulings are interesting to me -- so much depends on how 9 people are interpreting a case. People gather around the court and wait to see if something will be allowed or not. Their rulings truly echo through generations, as they either enable or ban certain activities.
As Christians, we're called to be good citizens, but we aren't called to sit around and wait for us to receive permission from others to share our faith. Just imagine if Paul and the apostles had gone through all the proper diplomatic channels to begin telling the story of faith. They could have followed the approval channel up through the proper delegates before hopefully having a hearing in Rome to get the blessing of the right people. All along the way, the opposition could have tried to derail the movement.
Instead, Paul and the apostles went forth and proclaimed the Gospel, overcoming hurdles as they appeared. They were dragged to court and arrested and persecuted, but all along they followed their conviction and proclaimed the Gospel in love. They were not violent or cruel - they took whatever was handed out, always focusing on the Gospel, not allowing themselves to be distracted.
So let us not wait for the time when all is right. Instead, may we follow the call of the Gospel to spread the love of God in word and deed in all we do.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Supreme Court rulings are interesting to me -- so much depends on how 9 people are interpreting a case. People gather around the court and wait to see if something will be allowed or not. Their rulings truly echo through generations, as they either enable or ban certain activities.
As Christians, we're called to be good citizens, but we aren't called to sit around and wait for us to receive permission from others to share our faith. Just imagine if Paul and the apostles had gone through all the proper diplomatic channels to begin telling the story of faith. They could have followed the approval channel up through the proper delegates before hopefully having a hearing in Rome to get the blessing of the right people. All along the way, the opposition could have tried to derail the movement.
Instead, Paul and the apostles went forth and proclaimed the Gospel, overcoming hurdles as they appeared. They were dragged to court and arrested and persecuted, but all along they followed their conviction and proclaimed the Gospel in love. They were not violent or cruel - they took whatever was handed out, always focusing on the Gospel, not allowing themselves to be distracted.
So let us not wait for the time when all is right. Instead, may we follow the call of the Gospel to spread the love of God in word and deed in all we do.
Monday, June 26, 2017
Acts 18:1-11
Acts 18:1-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
How persistent are you?
Here's Paul, who travels the known world proclaiming the Gospel, hated and reviled at most stops, occasionally thrown in jail. He has his life threatened, and yet time after time he returns to preaching the Gospel. It's not something he does when he can -- it's part of who he is. His identity is wrapped up in what Jesus Christ has done for him, and he can't not talk about it. He's compelled to engage in debate, even when it leads him to dangerous places, because he believes this is a message that the entire world needs to hear.
And so he keeps going back, unafraid to risk his life, because his life is caught up in what God is doing. When he is opposed and reviled here, he went elsewhere, but he continued to preach the Gospel, continued to invite others to experience the grace and love of Jesus Christ. And when opportunities presented themselves, he stayed -- for 18 months here! -- and preached the Good News, teaching and preaching and showing and loving, so that all may know the Gospel.
So we, too, are invited to live within the Gospel, to show up day after day and look for how God is at work, watching and waiting to see what God has in store for us, loving our friends and neighbors and enemies, telling others of how good God is. You're part of the story. When opposition arises, how will you respond? Will you look for other avenues, continuing to show up? Will you search for those who haven't heard?
English Standard Version (ESV)
How persistent are you?
Here's Paul, who travels the known world proclaiming the Gospel, hated and reviled at most stops, occasionally thrown in jail. He has his life threatened, and yet time after time he returns to preaching the Gospel. It's not something he does when he can -- it's part of who he is. His identity is wrapped up in what Jesus Christ has done for him, and he can't not talk about it. He's compelled to engage in debate, even when it leads him to dangerous places, because he believes this is a message that the entire world needs to hear.
And so he keeps going back, unafraid to risk his life, because his life is caught up in what God is doing. When he is opposed and reviled here, he went elsewhere, but he continued to preach the Gospel, continued to invite others to experience the grace and love of Jesus Christ. And when opportunities presented themselves, he stayed -- for 18 months here! -- and preached the Good News, teaching and preaching and showing and loving, so that all may know the Gospel.
So we, too, are invited to live within the Gospel, to show up day after day and look for how God is at work, watching and waiting to see what God has in store for us, loving our friends and neighbors and enemies, telling others of how good God is. You're part of the story. When opposition arises, how will you respond? Will you look for other avenues, continuing to show up? Will you search for those who haven't heard?
Friday, June 23, 2017
Acts 17:22-34
Acts 17:22-34
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Cincinnati Bengals, it would seem, are wired to lose playoff games. It's a yearly tradition, if they're fortunate enough to even make it to the playoffs. Their identity, at this point, seems shaped by their failure on the big stage.
Some people are wired to be happy. No matter what, they look at the world through a positive lens, always upbeat no matter how fiercely the storms of life may rage. Some companies seem wired to be great places to work, while others might be less so.
Humans, Paul is saying, are wired to worship God. There is something inside of us that recognizes that we are not our own Creator, that there is a greater force at work in the universe, that we are loved beyond measure by a God who intends for us to live an abundant and gracious life. The world is not as it should be, and there is a God at work to restore things to the way they should be.
We don't always get the worship of God right. I'd go so far as to say we rarely do, but prophets and preachers alike do their part to redirect our worship away from false gods and back to the one true God. We go to church and read the Bible and gather together in an attempt to direct our hearts to worship God and our lives to rejoice in the Savior who loves us more than we can ever ask or imagine.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Cincinnati Bengals, it would seem, are wired to lose playoff games. It's a yearly tradition, if they're fortunate enough to even make it to the playoffs. Their identity, at this point, seems shaped by their failure on the big stage.
Some people are wired to be happy. No matter what, they look at the world through a positive lens, always upbeat no matter how fiercely the storms of life may rage. Some companies seem wired to be great places to work, while others might be less so.
Humans, Paul is saying, are wired to worship God. There is something inside of us that recognizes that we are not our own Creator, that there is a greater force at work in the universe, that we are loved beyond measure by a God who intends for us to live an abundant and gracious life. The world is not as it should be, and there is a God at work to restore things to the way they should be.
We don't always get the worship of God right. I'd go so far as to say we rarely do, but prophets and preachers alike do their part to redirect our worship away from false gods and back to the one true God. We go to church and read the Bible and gather together in an attempt to direct our hearts to worship God and our lives to rejoice in the Savior who loves us more than we can ever ask or imagine.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Acts 17:16-21
Acts 17:16-21
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's so easy to shrink back from conflicting ideas. You can close a browsing window or just walk away from a person now. Or, there is the preferred method of making disparaging comments and discarding their entire argument simply because it makes you uncomfortable. We see this a lot in both political parties -- we use labels to shut down debate.
Here, 2,000 years ago, they did that as well. But some people weren't afraid to engage -- they brought Paul in and wished to know more. They asked tough questions in order to find the truth. They listened, they shared, and they were changed through the experience.
One of the things I love most about Christianity is how robust it is. It has been intellectually challenged for thousands of years. People have been poking it, prodding it, exposing every weakness and trying to find a fatal flaw. At its best, Christianity doesn't back down from these challenges, but engages them, willing to listen and be examined because of our confidence -- not in ourselves, but in our Creator and Savior. We are willing to allow people to ask big questions because we trust that what we believe is true, and we believe that the questions will only make us more amazed at the depth and love of God.
So let us not shrink back from examination, or be afraid of questions, and even opposition. For centuries people have been trying to disprove God. The Gospels are the most examined pieces of literature in human history. We can engage in debate and conversation, because we trust in the Truth of the message and the One who delivers it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's so easy to shrink back from conflicting ideas. You can close a browsing window or just walk away from a person now. Or, there is the preferred method of making disparaging comments and discarding their entire argument simply because it makes you uncomfortable. We see this a lot in both political parties -- we use labels to shut down debate.
Here, 2,000 years ago, they did that as well. But some people weren't afraid to engage -- they brought Paul in and wished to know more. They asked tough questions in order to find the truth. They listened, they shared, and they were changed through the experience.
One of the things I love most about Christianity is how robust it is. It has been intellectually challenged for thousands of years. People have been poking it, prodding it, exposing every weakness and trying to find a fatal flaw. At its best, Christianity doesn't back down from these challenges, but engages them, willing to listen and be examined because of our confidence -- not in ourselves, but in our Creator and Savior. We are willing to allow people to ask big questions because we trust that what we believe is true, and we believe that the questions will only make us more amazed at the depth and love of God.
So let us not shrink back from examination, or be afraid of questions, and even opposition. For centuries people have been trying to disprove God. The Gospels are the most examined pieces of literature in human history. We can engage in debate and conversation, because we trust in the Truth of the message and the One who delivers it.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Acts 17:10-15
Acts 17:10-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Word spreads throughout the known world. 3,000 years ago, who would have predicted that the Gospel could spread as it did, like wildfire across the prairie, racing around the known world through the passionate proclamation of the apostles and disciples? It's a miracle to think of how the Gospel spread from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond. The Holy Spirit was using ordinary people to deliver an extraordinary message to a vast audience.
Fast forward to today, and the cacophony of the world is deafening to a message of humility and servitude. The Gospel calls us to selflessness in the face of a world that preaches the gospel of self. We are called to lay ourselves down in a world where we build monuments to ourselves through our social media platforms.
But just as there was fertile soil then through the work of the Holy Spirit, God is still alive and on the move today. God is calling people to live out the Gospel, to proclaim the love of God, and to share the message of grace and peace with all the world. It's not an easy call, but we are all part of how God is calling us to live -- as missionaries in the world, caught up in God's work, focused on others before we focus on ourselves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Word spreads throughout the known world. 3,000 years ago, who would have predicted that the Gospel could spread as it did, like wildfire across the prairie, racing around the known world through the passionate proclamation of the apostles and disciples? It's a miracle to think of how the Gospel spread from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond. The Holy Spirit was using ordinary people to deliver an extraordinary message to a vast audience.
Fast forward to today, and the cacophony of the world is deafening to a message of humility and servitude. The Gospel calls us to selflessness in the face of a world that preaches the gospel of self. We are called to lay ourselves down in a world where we build monuments to ourselves through our social media platforms.
But just as there was fertile soil then through the work of the Holy Spirit, God is still alive and on the move today. God is calling people to live out the Gospel, to proclaim the love of God, and to share the message of grace and peace with all the world. It's not an easy call, but we are all part of how God is calling us to live -- as missionaries in the world, caught up in God's work, focused on others before we focus on ourselves.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Acts 17:1-9
Acts 17:1-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
Do you read the comments on links of news stories people post to Facebook? I will admit to occasionally doing so, and the one thing that stands out, more than any other, is that most of the people commenting don't actually bother to read the articles. They read the headline and get the general gist of the story, assuming they know everything else they need to know. Their argument is formed from the headline.
Now, a good headline writer can capture the general sense of the article, but no one can grasp the nuance and complications of real-life stories just by reading the headlines. That takes an investment of time, but in our over-busy and headline-driven world, we don't really bother to do more than read the headlines, even if we have time or interest. We just assume we have a full understanding of the situation.
So when I read that Paul spent three days reasoning with the good people in Thessalonica, I'm a bit amazed. It reminds me a bit of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, where they would debate for hours with a huge crowd gathered. They would take a break, everyone would go home and eat dinner, then they would come back (!) for more hours of debate. People wanted to know the detail and nuance.
If we're going to grasp the entirely of the Christian story, the truth of God's love and come to a full understanding of what the Gospel means for us, we can't just invest in soundbites. We can't settle for only a verse of the day or an inspirational snippet -- we have to invest our time, our energy, into growing closer to God. We have to be interested enough in what God has to say to us that we put ourselves in a position to listen to what God has to say, and it may take days, weeks, month, years. Spiritual development is a serious investment, and if we expect instant results after a headlines' worth of time, we'll be inevitably disappointed.
The people of Thessalonica heard enough to be interested, but they kept coming back for more, until they had the full story.
Will we keep coming back, day after day, to be fed by the Spirit and nourished by grace?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Do you read the comments on links of news stories people post to Facebook? I will admit to occasionally doing so, and the one thing that stands out, more than any other, is that most of the people commenting don't actually bother to read the articles. They read the headline and get the general gist of the story, assuming they know everything else they need to know. Their argument is formed from the headline.
Now, a good headline writer can capture the general sense of the article, but no one can grasp the nuance and complications of real-life stories just by reading the headlines. That takes an investment of time, but in our over-busy and headline-driven world, we don't really bother to do more than read the headlines, even if we have time or interest. We just assume we have a full understanding of the situation.
So when I read that Paul spent three days reasoning with the good people in Thessalonica, I'm a bit amazed. It reminds me a bit of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, where they would debate for hours with a huge crowd gathered. They would take a break, everyone would go home and eat dinner, then they would come back (!) for more hours of debate. People wanted to know the detail and nuance.
If we're going to grasp the entirely of the Christian story, the truth of God's love and come to a full understanding of what the Gospel means for us, we can't just invest in soundbites. We can't settle for only a verse of the day or an inspirational snippet -- we have to invest our time, our energy, into growing closer to God. We have to be interested enough in what God has to say to us that we put ourselves in a position to listen to what God has to say, and it may take days, weeks, month, years. Spiritual development is a serious investment, and if we expect instant results after a headlines' worth of time, we'll be inevitably disappointed.
The people of Thessalonica heard enough to be interested, but they kept coming back for more, until they had the full story.
Will we keep coming back, day after day, to be fed by the Spirit and nourished by grace?
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Acts 16:35-40
Acts 16:35-40
English Standard Version (ESV)
I will freely admit that I don't know what things will look like at the end of the world. The book of Revelation provides some clarity on these things, but there's still a lot we don't know, so we trust in God that things will work out according to his promises.
What we do know is that good will definitively triumph over evil. God will win the day, and at the end, evil will recognize its peril. Those who are devoted to evil will have the scales fall from their eyes and see how they have missed the truth and glory of God. They will recognize that they have been opposing the truth, and there will be sorrow and lamenting.
Here in Acts, Paul refuses to leave without an apology. He has been wrongfully imprisoned, and he demands an apology. At the end of the day, those in power recognize their mistake and apologize out of fear.
It is a healthy reminder that the Word of God will always progress, will always move forward. Nothing can oppose God's Word. At the end of the day, those opposing God will be defeated. It is our responsibility, as Christians, to ensure that the Word of God is proclaimed in all we do, that the Gospel might be shared as widely as possible, so that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
English Standard Version (ESV)
I will freely admit that I don't know what things will look like at the end of the world. The book of Revelation provides some clarity on these things, but there's still a lot we don't know, so we trust in God that things will work out according to his promises.
What we do know is that good will definitively triumph over evil. God will win the day, and at the end, evil will recognize its peril. Those who are devoted to evil will have the scales fall from their eyes and see how they have missed the truth and glory of God. They will recognize that they have been opposing the truth, and there will be sorrow and lamenting.
Here in Acts, Paul refuses to leave without an apology. He has been wrongfully imprisoned, and he demands an apology. At the end of the day, those in power recognize their mistake and apologize out of fear.
It is a healthy reminder that the Word of God will always progress, will always move forward. Nothing can oppose God's Word. At the end of the day, those opposing God will be defeated. It is our responsibility, as Christians, to ensure that the Word of God is proclaimed in all we do, that the Gospel might be shared as widely as possible, so that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Acts 16:29-34
Acts 16:29-34
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you're in a position of power, you're not used to serving others. The way the modern world works, the world bends to serve the rich and powerful. There are typically legions of servants ready to tend to every want and need of those who are privileged with power. It's interesting to see how much infrastructure rotates around those with means.
So watch the jailer. He is a man in power, and he is accustomed to having prisoners in his power. And yet, as soon as he accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, what happens? He is washing the wounds of his prisoners, serving others who would have previously been beneath him.
When we accept Christ as King, we take on his attitude of service. There is no longer anyone beneath us, but all around us are worthy to be served by us, no matter what. We can wash their wounds and set food before them. We can seek ways to serve anyone and everyone, because that is what Christ did -- he died on the cross to serve those who loved him and those who hated him, and everyone in between.
No one was too lowly for Christ to serve. May the same heart and mind guide our words and actions.
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you're in a position of power, you're not used to serving others. The way the modern world works, the world bends to serve the rich and powerful. There are typically legions of servants ready to tend to every want and need of those who are privileged with power. It's interesting to see how much infrastructure rotates around those with means.
So watch the jailer. He is a man in power, and he is accustomed to having prisoners in his power. And yet, as soon as he accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, what happens? He is washing the wounds of his prisoners, serving others who would have previously been beneath him.
When we accept Christ as King, we take on his attitude of service. There is no longer anyone beneath us, but all around us are worthy to be served by us, no matter what. We can wash their wounds and set food before them. We can seek ways to serve anyone and everyone, because that is what Christ did -- he died on the cross to serve those who loved him and those who hated him, and everyone in between.
No one was too lowly for Christ to serve. May the same heart and mind guide our words and actions.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Acts 16:25-34
Acts 16:25-28
English Standard Version (ESV)
We read these stories quite a bit, and we're always amazed at the incredible things God can do, but we tend to skip over an important step -- Paul and Silas were busy praying. There they were, in jail together, and they put their time to use praying and singing hymns. They could have been arguing that they were wrongfully imprisoned or looking for an escape, but they instead opt to worship God.
Now, contrast this to today's world. What does everyone do while they wait? Go into any bank, or airport, or any place where people routinely are waiting, and we're all staring at our phones. I'm not sure I could say exactly what we're all doing, but it's highly likely that we're not spending that time in prayer.
Think about how you wait. Do you think of idle moments as opportunities to pray? When you're waiting, do you seek ways to spend that time with God? Or do you let idle distractions fill your time? I know which end of the spectrum I often land on!
It's about paying attention and looking for opportunities to pray and worship. It's letting God shape our hearts so that we get excited about these chances, these little windows of time where we can open ourselves to God. It's hard... but slowly it will shape our character into the kind of person who seeks God at all times, and reacts to life through prayer and worship.
English Standard Version (ESV)
We read these stories quite a bit, and we're always amazed at the incredible things God can do, but we tend to skip over an important step -- Paul and Silas were busy praying. There they were, in jail together, and they put their time to use praying and singing hymns. They could have been arguing that they were wrongfully imprisoned or looking for an escape, but they instead opt to worship God.
Now, contrast this to today's world. What does everyone do while they wait? Go into any bank, or airport, or any place where people routinely are waiting, and we're all staring at our phones. I'm not sure I could say exactly what we're all doing, but it's highly likely that we're not spending that time in prayer.
Think about how you wait. Do you think of idle moments as opportunities to pray? When you're waiting, do you seek ways to spend that time with God? Or do you let idle distractions fill your time? I know which end of the spectrum I often land on!
It's about paying attention and looking for opportunities to pray and worship. It's letting God shape our hearts so that we get excited about these chances, these little windows of time where we can open ourselves to God. It's hard... but slowly it will shape our character into the kind of person who seeks God at all times, and reacts to life through prayer and worship.
Monday, June 12, 2017
Acts 16:16-24
Acts 16:16-24
New International Version (NIV)
In the midst of transition, you always wonder how things are going to settle in. You're often curious how much change there is going to be, and what that means. You wonder if life will be the same, and if it changes, will it be better, or could it be worse? For many of us, myself included, we tend to orient ourselves around fear -- when we see change, we immediately become afraid. We wonder what we might lose. There is a general sense of anxiety, where it feels as if we're tenuously holding onto what we have and afraid that our hands might slip and we might slide into some unknown and uncomfortable new way of life.
As Christians, God calls us to give the entirety of our allegiance to Christ. When we do, nothing is the same -- the landscape of our lives are inexorably changed, and we see everything through a lens of grace and selflessness. It's a hard adjustment -- being willing to die to ourselves daily isn't a natural sensation, and there is much that could cause us to be afraid.
Fortunately, Christ assures us through the promises of Scripture that the unknown to us is better than what we know. He promises us abundant life, defined by peace through the gift of the Holy Spirit. When we let go of what we have been holding onto, we will slide into the arms of Christ, and he will not lose those who have been entrusted to him.
Here in Acts, the owners of the slave react in fear and anger, for they have lost what was profitable. They do not recognize the freedom and wonder that has been granted, and they don't want to be amazed at the power of God. They focus their eyes on what has been lost.
May we have the wisdom to focus on what we gain in Christ -- eternal life, peace with God, unbounded joy.
New International Version (NIV)
In the midst of transition, you always wonder how things are going to settle in. You're often curious how much change there is going to be, and what that means. You wonder if life will be the same, and if it changes, will it be better, or could it be worse? For many of us, myself included, we tend to orient ourselves around fear -- when we see change, we immediately become afraid. We wonder what we might lose. There is a general sense of anxiety, where it feels as if we're tenuously holding onto what we have and afraid that our hands might slip and we might slide into some unknown and uncomfortable new way of life.
As Christians, God calls us to give the entirety of our allegiance to Christ. When we do, nothing is the same -- the landscape of our lives are inexorably changed, and we see everything through a lens of grace and selflessness. It's a hard adjustment -- being willing to die to ourselves daily isn't a natural sensation, and there is much that could cause us to be afraid.
Fortunately, Christ assures us through the promises of Scripture that the unknown to us is better than what we know. He promises us abundant life, defined by peace through the gift of the Holy Spirit. When we let go of what we have been holding onto, we will slide into the arms of Christ, and he will not lose those who have been entrusted to him.
Here in Acts, the owners of the slave react in fear and anger, for they have lost what was profitable. They do not recognize the freedom and wonder that has been granted, and they don't want to be amazed at the power of God. They focus their eyes on what has been lost.
May we have the wisdom to focus on what we gain in Christ -- eternal life, peace with God, unbounded joy.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Acts 16:11-15
Acts 16:11-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lydia is an interesting model of discipleship. Here she is, financially successful and a worshiper of God. She's doing well.
And yet, God has a next step for her. She may be comfortable, thinking that she has it all figured out, but God intervenes through Paul's preaching and calls her to another level of discipleship. She's called deeper into community, deeper into faith, called to give even more of herself to the church.
If you go hiking, you're always grateful to get to a level spot after a tough uphill section. You appreciate the chance to rest your weary legs. But to give up then, staying at the plateau, means missing out on the views from the mountaintop.
In the same way, our walk of discipleship often calls us to ascend touch climbs, pouring ourselves into our walk with Christ as we go deeper and deeper. God is always calling us forward, not to wear us out, but because he wants to invite us into the abundant life. God calls us deeper for our own good, and he wants us to join him at the mountaintop, to join in the beautiful community of the Trinity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lydia is an interesting model of discipleship. Here she is, financially successful and a worshiper of God. She's doing well.
And yet, God has a next step for her. She may be comfortable, thinking that she has it all figured out, but God intervenes through Paul's preaching and calls her to another level of discipleship. She's called deeper into community, deeper into faith, called to give even more of herself to the church.
If you go hiking, you're always grateful to get to a level spot after a tough uphill section. You appreciate the chance to rest your weary legs. But to give up then, staying at the plateau, means missing out on the views from the mountaintop.
In the same way, our walk of discipleship often calls us to ascend touch climbs, pouring ourselves into our walk with Christ as we go deeper and deeper. God is always calling us forward, not to wear us out, but because he wants to invite us into the abundant life. God calls us deeper for our own good, and he wants us to join him at the mountaintop, to join in the beautiful community of the Trinity.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Acts 16:6-10
Acts 16:6-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
Sometimes you believe things are going to work out and they just don't. Everything seems like it is lined up and you believe you're doing the right thing, but for one reason or another it just doesn't work out.
Here, the Holy Spirit seems to be preventing evangelism in Asia. It doesn't seem like that would be the case -- why would the Holy Spirit prevent evangelism anywhere? From our perspective, it's hard to wrap our minds around this.
It's a humbling thing, admitting that our minds and understanding are limited by our perspective. God sees from a different perspective, but we so want to understand, to wrap our minds around God, but to do so would mean that we could comprehend the fullness of God, and we aren't meant to do so. In Christ, we see the fullness of God, his love and mercy, and we get a glimpse into the riches of heaven, but until we pass through the veil of death and into eternal life, we can never fully understand, as we are limited.
So may we accept the leadership of the Holy Spirit, trusting in the wisdom of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Sometimes you believe things are going to work out and they just don't. Everything seems like it is lined up and you believe you're doing the right thing, but for one reason or another it just doesn't work out.
Here, the Holy Spirit seems to be preventing evangelism in Asia. It doesn't seem like that would be the case -- why would the Holy Spirit prevent evangelism anywhere? From our perspective, it's hard to wrap our minds around this.
It's a humbling thing, admitting that our minds and understanding are limited by our perspective. God sees from a different perspective, but we so want to understand, to wrap our minds around God, but to do so would mean that we could comprehend the fullness of God, and we aren't meant to do so. In Christ, we see the fullness of God, his love and mercy, and we get a glimpse into the riches of heaven, but until we pass through the veil of death and into eternal life, we can never fully understand, as we are limited.
So may we accept the leadership of the Holy Spirit, trusting in the wisdom of God.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Acts 16:1-5
Acts 16:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here's Timothy, living a life of integrity, probably never imagining that he would be read about thousands of years in the future, never dreaming that a book of the Bible would be named after him, let alone two. Timothy probably had no idea what God had in store for him - but lived in such a way that others spoke well of him, and eventually he rose to a position of prominence in the church, influencing others to serve Christ.
Most of us lead ordinary lives. We aren't famous, we aren't renowned, we aren't well-known. But if we lead lives of integrity, God can and will use us to influence others. We may not get books of the Bible named after us, but we can set an example and be an encouragement. We may not be as well known as Timothy, but we may point someone else to Christ, and if we can have an eternal impact on the lives of other people, what more could we ask for?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here's Timothy, living a life of integrity, probably never imagining that he would be read about thousands of years in the future, never dreaming that a book of the Bible would be named after him, let alone two. Timothy probably had no idea what God had in store for him - but lived in such a way that others spoke well of him, and eventually he rose to a position of prominence in the church, influencing others to serve Christ.
Most of us lead ordinary lives. We aren't famous, we aren't renowned, we aren't well-known. But if we lead lives of integrity, God can and will use us to influence others. We may not get books of the Bible named after us, but we can set an example and be an encouragement. We may not be as well known as Timothy, but we may point someone else to Christ, and if we can have an eternal impact on the lives of other people, what more could we ask for?
Friday, June 2, 2017
Acts 15:36-41
Acts 15:36-41
English Standard Version (ESV)
There is sometimes the perception that everyone in the church gets along peaceably. The problem this creates is that if someone thinks everyone in the church gets along, they are let down when they actually enter the church and discover that people disagree in the church just as often as they do outside of the church.
There should, however, be a difference in the way people in the church disagree. We can disagree over decorations or doctrine, but we need to remember to love one another. Just because we don't see eye-to-eye on something doesn't mean that we can't treasure and care for one another. Do you wish the best for people with whom you disagree? Can you separate issues from individuals? Can you care for people with whom you disagree?
It's important to remain rooted in love while we undergo disagreement. The church should be able to stay united while we disagree, continuing to love and serve in the midst of all we do.
English Standard Version (ESV)
There is sometimes the perception that everyone in the church gets along peaceably. The problem this creates is that if someone thinks everyone in the church gets along, they are let down when they actually enter the church and discover that people disagree in the church just as often as they do outside of the church.
There should, however, be a difference in the way people in the church disagree. We can disagree over decorations or doctrine, but we need to remember to love one another. Just because we don't see eye-to-eye on something doesn't mean that we can't treasure and care for one another. Do you wish the best for people with whom you disagree? Can you separate issues from individuals? Can you care for people with whom you disagree?
It's important to remain rooted in love while we undergo disagreement. The church should be able to stay united while we disagree, continuing to love and serve in the midst of all we do.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Acts 15:30-35
Acts 15:30-35
English Standard Version (ESV)
How would you feel if you got a handwritten letter from someone that was meant to encourage you, to tell you all the ways someone feels that God has blessed you and how they will be hoping and praying for you to move into the future with hope and joy and what a blessing it is to know you. That would be great, right? It might make your whole week. It's the kind of thing that someone might stick in their pocket and carry around for days, or even months, re-reading it whenever they needed a shot of encouragement.
We can do this for each other. Who can you write that letter to? Someone you are close to, or maybe someone you were once close to. Be an encouragement -- drop someone a note to let them know you are thinking of them, that they are a gift, that God loves them and cherishes them and treasures them. Encourage them to be strong and courageous, to be grateful. May we, as individuals and as the church, encourage those around us.
Who can you encourage? Who can you bless? How can you set aside five minutes to spread some love?
English Standard Version (ESV)
How would you feel if you got a handwritten letter from someone that was meant to encourage you, to tell you all the ways someone feels that God has blessed you and how they will be hoping and praying for you to move into the future with hope and joy and what a blessing it is to know you. That would be great, right? It might make your whole week. It's the kind of thing that someone might stick in their pocket and carry around for days, or even months, re-reading it whenever they needed a shot of encouragement.
We can do this for each other. Who can you write that letter to? Someone you are close to, or maybe someone you were once close to. Be an encouragement -- drop someone a note to let them know you are thinking of them, that they are a gift, that God loves them and cherishes them and treasures them. Encourage them to be strong and courageous, to be grateful. May we, as individuals and as the church, encourage those around us.
Who can you encourage? Who can you bless? How can you set aside five minutes to spread some love?
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