I'm a planner.
And I love it when all goes as planned. But how often does that happen? I mean, let's get real... life gets in the way, and interruptions happen. Just take laundry, for instance. Unless I want to keep hitting the button to 'refresh' the load in the dryer so I can fold the warm clothes later, I'm going to have to stop what I'm doing when that buzzer goes off. I'm going to have to take orders from an appliance and interrupt the plan I made that day. Even if my plan includes laundry. I still get irritated when it keeps me from the flow of finishing something more important I started on my to-do list. So I typically use it as an excuse later if I don't accomplish all that's on my list. Because, I'll be honest, I'm not always as focused as I should be. But God is determined. And He has a plan for the whole world, as it says in our verse today. Wow! That blows my mind. I mean, I can barely plan my day for just me... and get it all done. But here is God, who has had a plan for the whole world for all of eternity. And He is DETERMINED to accomplish it. And no one can thwart Him. Because He has a purpose. And God's purpose's are good toward us. And no matter what people on earth do... no matter what evil they conjure or how far they wander from God, He will still accomplish His purpose. Because He is MIGHTY. Here, let's consider what Luke wrote in the book of Acts... You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Acts 4:25-28 NIV The hand of God is powerful. God's going to accomplish His good purposes toward us, no matter what. And He can use even the most wrong-hearted people to finish His to-do list. To Him, they're probably just like that annoying laundry buzzer. His hand is mighty... so He stops to fold, no big deal. God will get His way. He will finish. And His purpose and plan is good. Won't you trust Him today? No matter what is going on in the news? No matter what you think of this leader or that social pressure? God is still sitting securely on His throne. He's not ruffled or upset by what He sees. Nothing's 'news' to Him. He can work all things for good with His capable hand. And His hand is over you today.
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You know those times when you find yourself in a jam... when even your best intentions got you stuck in a bad position? What a relief when help finally comes!
So the last thing you want to do is go back to a place where you could get stuck all over again, right? But what if an angel told you to? For that's what happened to Peter and John. They continued to preach about the death and resurrection of Jesus in the temple complex even when the teachers of the law had warned them not to. So they got arrested and thrown in jail. But somehow without the notice of anyone else, an angel opened the door, releasing them with instructions to go back to the temple... and tell the people about this life. It's pretty clear these guys had never seen a jail-break movie because they do exactly as the angel says. They don't even consider making a run for it. It would seem that when God wants to be Our Open Door, releasing us from what binds, His intention is that we openly use it to tell others about the life it brings us, the freedom found in it. Even though it's possible that it may bring persecution and trouble. But I guess if He sent one angel, He can certainly send another. It's not like God is short on angels or open doors. And He wants us to realize that His word of life has more meaning when we boldly return to the scene of the crime and share it from our personal experience. Thank You, Lord for being Our Open Door of opportunity. Let us enter in boldly to tell others about this life You gave, so that we could live. Don't you hate it when you think of something clever to say, but the moment has passed? You wish you had been quicker, sharper, wittier?
If I'm honest in those moment, all too often I realize it's just me wanting to impress others. Then I read about people like Peter and John who made a real impact, who had something amazing to say at just the right moment... and said it. In the depth of my heart, that too is my desire. But does my prayer life truly reflect it? The early church was started by the apostles of Jesus. These were the eye-witnesses of His life, death and resurrection. They were convinced and convicted to spend the rest of their lives telling and re-telling His story to spread the good news, even if it meant persecution. And their prayer life showed it. When they were threatened... like literally threatened, by rulers who could imprison and put them to death for such, they prayed all the more for boldness and the hand of God to show wondrous signs. When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness. Acts 4:31 HCSB How I desire this boldness as well. How I desire to be like these. So what holds me back? I'm not persecuted for my faith. What are my threats? Could they be the doubts in my mind which tell me I'm not good enough? Could they be the daily distractions of a life I've built too busy? Could they be the wrong influences I allow to cloud my vision like social media feeds and binge watching? Lord, consider these... my threats, and grant that I can serve as Your slave. Help me to speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. Let the place where I stand be shaken, let me be filled with Your Holy Spirit and begin to speak Your message with boldness. I wish I could tell you that life was just a string of sunshiny days... one after another with smooth sailing through life. But once we decide to leave the safety of the shore, we soon find that out for ourselves. Whether we spring a leak in the hull of the boat and our finances drain away, or the tempest winds will simply not stop tossing us to and fro in the working world of "gotta-be-on-top." Life has a way of telling us that what we thought about control, was simply a prideful and childish dream. But some of us take a little longer to wake up than others. And our friend Paul often found himself surrounded by many of those late bloomers. When we join him today, he is still a prisoner, two years after the Commander lifted him from the angry mob of Jerusalem. Captive to the system, he waited for justice as rulers delayed judgement, simply because they were intimidated by the Jewish High Council. Until finally, Paul pleaded for an appeal to Caesar. So off to Rome he went, But this voyage would be nothing but smooth sailing. Paul was certain, early in the voyage, that this ship would not make it to it's destinaton. He was one of many prisoners and warned the officer in charge. But why would he listen to a convict aboard? After fourteen days of tossing and turning at sea, many began to realize that maybe this Paul had some wise advice for them. Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat... all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard. Acts 27:33-38 NLT Paul's advice was, of course, given to those tossed about in a sea of troubled waters. Men so worried, working so hard to keep the ship afloat and steered on course, that they never stopped to eat, nor care for themselves. But how true this advice is for us, when we are tossed about by life's storms... no matter the size. Oftentimes, we get so focused on the problems and circumstances that surround, and all that we can do to fix them, we forget to stop and nourish ourselves in God. We neglect our relationship with the One true Helper who can give us more strength and support for the journey than any other thing will do. I know this... because I've been there. I've tried desperately to do my job, take care of my family, keep my house and budget afloat... all by myself. And as much as I'd like to pridefully say that I'm wonderwoman and can do it all... I just can't. Because even on the sunniest day it's too much for me. And let a storm roll in and I'm sunk. That's when I begin to start throwing things overboard to lighten the load... sometimes things that are necessary for the jouney. But I can't make right decisions, not really wise ones... unless I'm nourished and fed. Not on junk food from the world, which looks at life from the outside, but by the One who has a greater perspective on my life than me. God can see all that I have and don't have. God can see the storm coming way before it hits. And God can be the calm in the middle of it, if I will just take the time to humble myself and listen. Paul clung to that ship, tossed about at sea, the winds raging, the waves spilling over the sides and he saw the fear in their eyes even though they never stopped working to stay afloat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good." God also sees us hanging on. He knows our grip is getting weak, but He doesn't want us to rely upon the boat to keep us safe. Rather, our faith to be in Him. So we need to take Paul's advice... “Please eat something now for your own good." A bite of God's word, a simple whispered prayer... Help, I need You now! A humbled heart, saying, I can't do this alone. God really does want to be our safe haven in the storm, and He will guide and direct us, even giving us wisdom as to what is the uncesssary load that we need to toss overboard to lighten us up for the journey. But He's waiting on us to take the time to be nourished by Him. And at the risk of mixing metaphors, if there had been a steward on Paul's ship... anyone like a flight attendant who warns in cas of an emergency, we ought to put the oxygen mask first on ourself, then on those whom we have around us... this nourishment is much the same. We can't help those in our family, or our surrounding circle, if we aren't being properly fed. We need to take what God has offered. There is much more than a snack. He's actually prepared for us a meal... a feast, if we will only take the time. It's actually ok to take a lunch break in the storm. Word of God train me today... To lean on, rely upon and be fed by You. To let go of my tight grip of control and realize that You want to guide my life safely to the shore and our of the storm. We are not that different... you and I. Even though I don't know you, I can say that for a fact. Two people in a crowd can find something in common and become best of friends if they meet on the right day, at the right time, in the right frame of mind. But bump them into each other on a hectic day, in the rain, when they're hungry, running late, and low on cash, and they might just find each other as mortal enemies. Because crowds have a way of bringing out that pushy, shovey, anamalistic way in us that can keep us from seeing connections and drive us to draw divisions. And that's where we left Paul... after rumor turned to riot yesterday. The people of Jerusalem were in an uproar, not understanding who Paul really was, nor what he preached in truth. They only focused on the fact that their strict ways of following the laws of Moses were being challenged. And almost in an encore performance of the crowds crying for Jesus to be crucified, we hear these men shouting as they beat Paul in the street seeking his death in anger. Until the Commander of the guard chained him and had him carried overhead toward the barracks. But just before entering, Paul requested to have an audience with the people. And the Commander gave him permission. Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying... Acts 21:40 NKJV (Please understand this picture, realizing that the hands Paul is waving are still chained and he standing between guards in the process of being arraested.) Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now. And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Acts 22:1-2 This the beginning of connection in the middle of a crowd... as Paul knows just how to speak their language. Then he said: I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. Acts 22:3 Paul is not just being polite by introducing himself. He is very purposely laying common ground with them. He wants to connect with them so if they see him as being one if them, they may consider his viewpoint. These are the commonalities of the people of this Jerusalem. And Paul continues as the riotous crowd has now settled. And he tells of his former life as a Pharisee and the many Christians of the Way whom he persecuted, imprisoned and pursued unto their death, even at a time when he was proud of it. Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' Acts 22:6-8 Now this is what I love about Paul. As a good communicator, after he hooked them in with all that he had in common with them, and even though he knows they have judged him wrongly with rumor, now he transitions to tell of the change. The people in this crowd had not yet given consideration to the truths of the gospel because it meant change. Change from tradition. Change from ritual. Change from comfortable. And people often resist change. But Paul knew if they could see it from his perspective... once being just like them, then maybe they would be more willing to listen and consider this truth. After all, Paul knows he was just as stubborn as they, until God stopped him in his path... suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, a blinding light, a necessary heavenly change. He tells witness of how God opened his eyes, even through blindness. God gave him a taste of a new flavor, God gave him a view of a new vision, God gave him a chance at new life. Blindness allowed him to truly see. And Paul was hoping that his story would help change the hearts of these men as well. But as he finished telling them and was coming to the conclusion of his testimorny, he spoke of a vision and a word that God gave to him... Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’” And they. (the crowd) listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” Acts 22:21-22 Seriously? I mean.... Seriously! He had them wrapped up in his testimony until he said the word, Gentiles. Talk about a hot button. And they said, "He is not fit to live!” This surely IS a sad bunch! I know you had hoped for a better ending than yesterday. And here, we thought Paul might escape imprisonment. Nope! Paul was taken away in chains, almost scourged, but spared when they realized he was a Roman citizen. While they didn't whip him, he was still imprisoned and made to stand trial before the High Council. But you haven't heard the best part. While he awaits travel to Rome, he has a visitor... But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 23:11 I bet no one in that crowd found the Lord standing by them in the night encouraging them, Be of good cheer... Can you imagine? The Lord, Himself. Not an angel sent, but the Lord came a stood by him to encourage. Amazing. Word of God train me today... To be a patient and faithful witness for You, even to those who struggle to see the true me. To know that You will stand beside me even when the night seems darkest. |
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January 2019
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