A Simple Story Bears Repeating

Focus verses: Acts 13:14-52

Today's reading details the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. These verses recount the first recorded sermon of Paul. You will notice that it closely parallels the first sermon of Peter from the second chapter of Acts.

God's faithfulness to His people is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. The story of our redemption never changes.

Evangelizing is not hard. One simply tells the truth. You will notice that both sermons relate the history of God with the nation of Israel. Both quote Jewish scriptures prophetic of Jesus. Both sermons are laid out in a simple order. Both culminate in proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.

But evangelizing is sometimes unpopular with the established religious institutions. Peter was taken before the Sanhedrin and cautioned to quit teaching about Jesus. Paul was expelled from the region where he was preaching because he shared the good news with the Gentiles since the Jews rejected the inclusiveness of his teaching.

Institutions seem to prefer indoctrination to evangelization.

Indoctrination says "this is what we do and this is why we do it. It's always been this way."

Evangelization says "this is what Jesus did for us. We can do nothing to add to His sacrifice. We can only believe."

Notice the difference in emphasis. Indoctrination is all about us and what we do. Evangelization is all about Jesus and what He has done.

The simple truth is that Jesus paid it all. He paid the ransom for all of us - each one of us individually. From the most innocent child to the most heinous criminal, each of us has an advocate with the Father. He doesn't try to claim our innocence because we are guilty. He simply says "I paid the price."

Nothing we can do will earn us heaven. Jesus bought it for us and gave it to us as a gift. We need only to receive Him and that gift into our lives by faith. That is the simple story we can tell others.

Father, God,

So fill our hearts with this simple story that we cannot remain silent about Your magnificent gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Give us the wisdom to speak gently, but firmly, when others are ready to hear.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Forgiveness And Restoration

Focus verses: Jeremiah 50:19-20

Here is the promise of restoration. God says that Israel and Judah will be restored to the fullness of their land. That they will be a holy people because God will have forgiven the remnant he restores.

What a beautiful promise. After seventy years in exile, the people of God will come back to their land. God will see to it that their land is fruitful for their needs. They will be satisfied with the pastures and hills.

This restoration did not come easily. Israel was conquered by Assyria and then by Babylon. The people were decimated and imprisoned. Their young men were deprived of their manhood, made eunuchs to serve in the court of Nebuchadnezzar.

The search for guilt in the people of God will be fruitless because when God forgives sin, it is erased entirely. This is a picture of our redemption under the blood of Christ.

There is a victory for the believer in the atoning blood of Christ. It is our only claim to God's mercy.

Father, God,

Help us to remember that there is only one way to Your forgiveness, through the atoning blood of Jesus. Keep us ever faithful in speaking to others, lest we be drawn into tolerance of other paths - paths which can only lead to destruction.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Nothing New

Focus verses: II Kings 19:20-34

In days of old I planned it, now I have brought it to pass... (v. 25)

This verse gave me much comfort in a time of bitter trial. It let me know that God had this event in mind before it happened.

Because God gave man a free will, many things happen that God would not have ordained. But God is all-knowing and is aware of the bad choices that man will make. Because He is aware, He makes provision for our frailties and turns the evil of this world into eventual good.

That is not to say that He needs the evil in this world to bring about good. He simply redeems the situation from it's evil by using it for good. Joseph told his brothers who sold him into slavery that what they meant for evil, God used for good.

There is nothing new under the sun. The evils man has done in the past will be continued in the future. And the redemption that God has planned will continue as well. Our only hope is in Him and His provision for our well-being. God is never surprised.

Father, God,

Help us to put into perspective the temporal things that seem designed to destroy us. Reassure us that nothing can separate us from Your loving provision.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Grandmothers Assurance

Psalm 103

I love this psalm!

We praise God for who He is, not for what He has done, but this psalm reminds us of all that He has done for us.

Forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, satisfaction,and perpetual youth. And that's just in the first stanza. The most amazing thing is His love for us - His graciousness towards us.

His unfailing love for us can be the foundation of all our beliefs. He mentions it again in John 3:16. Read it, but insert your name for "the world" and "whosoever." This is personal. God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.

The Lord's love is with those who fear him and his righteousness with their children's children--with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

This is His promise to grandparents. He promises to love my grandchildren. His love is unfailing to all generations.

Father, God,

Help us to train up our children and our children's children in Your law and Your love. Keep us faithful stewards of Your righteousness.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.