Hymn: And Can It Be (Amazing Love)
And Can It Be (Amazing Love)
“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.”
“And Can It Be” is known as one of the most joyfully touching hymns of the over 6000 hymns written by Charles Wesley, penned on Pentecost Sunday in 1738.
While staying in the home of John Bray, a poor mechanic, he heard a voice declare “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, arise, believe, and thou shalt be healed of all thy infirmities.” He immediately got up, read from Psalm 40 and wrote in his journal “I have found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in the hope of Christ’s love.”
No other hymn expresses the rapturous joy of receiving salvation that only comes from having faith in Christ.
“Died He for me? Who caused His pain! For me? Who Him to death pursued?
Amazing Love! How can it be? That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Seize the moment today and reflect on the words of this hymn! God demonstrated His love for us, that while we were yet sinners, He gave His one and only Son to die for us so that we could find salvation!
YOUTUBE:
If you would like to read the words to this hymn or hear the melody played, click on this link:
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/(296)
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 10
A Good Name
“A good name is more desirable than great riches,
and loving favor is better than silver and gold.”
Reputation is defined as: “the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.” Growing up, my mom always told me that your reputation will always go before you, and you are only as good as your name.
But, how many times have you heard when you are introduced to someone for the first time, “Oh yeah, I‘ve heard about you. Aren’t you related to so and so?”. So, then you are not only being held responsible for your actions, but also the actions of “so and so.”
It really upsets me when people group me together with those who call themselves Christian, but do not exhibit the true characteristic of Love that comes from having a relationship with Jesus.
Jesus told His disciples in John 13:35: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” So, it is important to realize that it is not only your name that is on the line, but we are putting Jesus’ name and the names of our fellow believers there as well.
I don’t want the only time good things are said about me to be done at my funeral. I want everything I say and do to bring glory to God and shine brightly on the lives of those I love and serve with until Jesus comes back for us!
Seize the moment today to reflect and think of how you can have a good name and live in loving favor with others.
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 09
Take the Time
“A wise man scales the city of the mighty,
and brings down the strength of its confidence.”
There are times we are faced with big problems, not the ordinary things, but those huge, almost overwhelming problems that are very intimidating. This is when we need God’s wisdom, letting Him lay down the strategy and giving us His strength to overcome and pull down that stronghold.
It is important to wait on Him for the answer. All too often, a big problem causes us to want to respond immediately. If we wait, we feel we are ignoring it. But we need to take the time to hear from God for a suitable response. This way, God gets the glory and our faith grows knowing He has intervened on our behalf.
Seize the moment today by waiting on the Lord. Be still and know that He is God and He has you in the palm of His hand.
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 08
Planning takes Preparation
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
Solomon once again points out the importance of planning. As we heard yesterday, our plans have to be committed to God so that He will lead us. And being diligent in doing God’s plans bring us blessing and abundance. This is His promise to us. But all too often, we don’t take the time to seek God, and so then we come up with our plans quickly, only to see them fail. Then we get frustrated and ask God “why didn’t this work? I was doing what you told me to do!”
I was blessed growing up to have a music teacher in my life that encouraged my ‘natural talent.’ But she would stress that I could not just rely on my natural ability, but I had to practice and plan ahead for each performance. Her catch phrase was “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.” While I know she was not the one who came up with it, she drilled it in my head, and I realized that it was true not only for my music, but also in every area of my life. Preparing for a race, preparing for a dinner party, preparing for a job, or preparing for a Sunday message all require being diligent to a plan.
Seize the moment today and take time to create a plan of action for a project you feel God leading you to do. Seek His direction and then set out together to see it accomplished.
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 07
Surrender to Commitment
Commitment is defined as “the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause or activity”. Synonyms are devotion; allegiance; loyalty or alignment.
King Solomon was challenging his son to not only be a man of his word, but also of deed. In other words, if you’re gonna talk the talk, you better walk the walk.
If we truly trust God to lead us and we confess that with our mouths, then why are we not only walking in faith, but also commitment to His promises. When we focus our lives on God and the plans that He desires for us, we must walk in accordance to His leading. That is what it means to have the mind of Christ.
Paul wrote to the Romans, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2)
He was calling them out to walk in their commitment, devotion, allegiance and loyalty to the will of God. And that can only take place when we have committed or surrendered our work to the Lord so that He will establish our plans according to His good and perfect will.
Seize the moment today by taking time to stop and commit your day to the Lord. Let Him establish your plans. You may find your day to go a lot better than you had planned!
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 06
Wisdom is Better than Jewels!
Once again King Solomon, the wisest and richest king, was telling his son to pursue after his words of instruction and to pursue wisdom. Maybe because he knew that the time that would be wasted by pursuing silver, gold, jewels or the success measures of the world and would take time away from that which his son should value most…God’s Wisdom.
Let’s be honest. When our schedule starts to fill up with our regular job, caring for our families, and school/sports/club activities, we trim our schedule by reducing our time with God. First to go is our personal time. Then it may be our time for family devotions. Or maybe we cut back on the time that we spend at church because we are so busy.
Ouch, Ken, that’s not fair. Maybe, but remember I love you. if you are honest with yourself, you may find some of this to be true. We pursue the things that we want to do, and God gets the leftovers.
Solomon was trying to tell his son to pursue after God and His wisdom first, because nothing can compare with it. Wisdom shows us the truth, helping us to see what is right and sensible and staying away from what is wrong and full of folly. Wealth is volatile and fleeting, but wisdom is eternal.
The goodness of wisdom is based on its incomparable value in life. It is knowing God’s Word and its truth that will not only bring meaning and joy to our lives, but also the priceless favor of the Lord!
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Responding to the Priorities of Jesus – Week 5
Responding with Love
We continue the series today with what most would say is the driving force of all the priorities of Jesus…LOVE. Think about it! For it was out of love for us that God sent his one and only Son to save us. It was out of love, that Jesus came to earth and walked among mankind, sharing the message of God’s love for them. Along the way, it was out of love that He healed the sick, the blind, the lame and brought the dead back to life. It was love, not nails, that held Him on the cross to die for our sins. When He rose again, He had a heart to heart talk with Simon Peter, and out of love for him, restored the call with “if you love me, feed my sheep.” He was not asking, giving him options to only care for the ones that loved him back. No, he was telling him to love, care for, protect all of the ones that Jesus was now placing in his care.
Even with Paul’s transformation, he moved from being a religious bully to a proclaimer of God’s amazing love, grace and mercy for all mankind, Jews and Gentiles alike! We are going to study today what Paul wrote to the church of Colossae, which in reality could be written to the church today!
Colossians 3:12-15
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
So, let me ask you…Do you believe God has chosen you by calling you out of darkness into His marvelous light and love? YES or NO. If so, then you are to do the following:
I. Clothe Yourself with Tenderhearted Mercy, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness and Patience, and Forgive.
This is a six point sermon topic in itself! But if we look back at the beginning of this chapter, it helps us keep this in context and understand the directions that Paul was giving to the church members.
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. “ Colossians 3:1-2
They are reminded that since they are raised to a new life in Christ, they cannot think or act the way they used to in their sinful nature. It is no longer “What about me and my rights?”, but rather “What is it that God wants me to do?”
This is a really tough one for me sometimes, especially when someone I care for is being affected by something that I feel is out and out wrong. My Papa Bear mode kicks in and I want to protect them and hurt the ones that are causing the pain. But then here comes God, using His Word to remind me that I am no longer of this world, and I have to react first and foremost as Jesus would react.
Zondervan’s Bible Commentary says:
“As they have been chosen to be holy they must put on the garments of salvation, the new robe of character whose texture is sympathy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience…These are the qualities to prevent friction and will help to settle their quarrels if any exist, their forgiveness being prompted by Christ’s forgiveness to them, as is expected of them.”
https://www.picturemosaics.com/photomosaics/id/180
II. ABOVE ALL, Clothe Yourself with Love
Have you ever had a new shirt on, and there was this random thread? (or you thought it was random) You pull it out, only to discover that it was a vital thread holding the seam together or a button on. Now I am fortunate enough to be married to someone who knows how to sew, but it still doesn’t mean that it wasn’t needed. It was a connective thread.
Love is vital. And if it these qualities are present in the community of believers, it will reduce or eliminate frictions of all kinds. Paul would not have reminded them of this command if it were automatic or was effortless for us to do. You have to work at loving each other, giving and receiving grace and forgiveness. The core of love is not emotion, but commitment. And not commitment to make the other person happy, but rather genuine concern for their well being and seeking to help them be more like Christ.
Also, it is not like they could just pull out the Bible and have a copy of the letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians in their struggle with loving others. But we can!
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
III. Let the Peace of Christ Rule Your Heart and Be Thankful
“…it is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20).
Jesus comes into our lives, not to bully us or make us mindless puppets, but rather to help us experience life to its fullest. If we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, then we will keep His commands and live in peace. And out of that love flows our love for one another, which leads to living in peace with Christ and each other. When everything is peaceful, then it is truly easy to be grateful and thankful.
And just like love, peace is something we have to work at by allowing grace to work in and through our lives. It is also important to remember to not only be thankful to God, but to be thankful to others around you. That will also help promote peace and harmony in a fellowship of believers.
CONCLUSION:
If we as a body of believers would make this the norm, the standard by how we live each and every day, imagine the difference we could make for the Kingdom of God. We say that we are friends with Jesus, but too many are treating that friendship as an acquaintance. Get back to your first Love, that deep, genuine, personal love between you and the One who created you. When you put Him first, in your thoughts, in your plans, in your schedule, you will find that peace that passes all understanding.
Benediction Blessing:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 2:16-17
You can listen to the message here.
You can watch the service HERE.
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Hymn: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Joseph Scriven, the writer of the beloved hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” faced many tragedies. On the eve of his wedding, his fiancée fell into a lake and drowned. He left his home of Dublin, Ireland at the age of 25 to move to Canada.
He later received word that his mother was facing a crisis. He wrote her this poem and it inspired her to share it with a friend who had it published anonymously. It quickly became a popular hymn, even though no one knew who had written it.
Joseph fell in love again, but before they were married, his fiancée had contracted tuberculosis and passed away. He poured himself into ministry, doing charity work, and lived a simple life in Port Hope, Canada. He would cut firewood for widows, giving away his clothes and money to those in need.
Shortly before his death, a neighbor was sitting with him reading and shared the manuscript of this hymn. When he started quoting it, they asked him if he had heard it before. His reply was “The Lord and I did it between us.”
What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!
Seize the moment and celebrate the friendship you have with Jesus today!
YOUTUBE:
If you would like to read the words to this hymn or hear the melody played, click on this link:
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 05
Trust in the Lord
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
This is a familiar proverb that many have heard or even memorized from Sunday School or Children’s Church. But have you applied it to your life?
King Solomon was challenging, even commanding that his son would do these things. He knew the importance of trust, in recognizing that God was leading his life, and in the assurance that He would lead the way that he should go. To not do so would be making unwise choices.
I want to remind you that TRUST is defined as ‘TRUE HOPE in Him!’ God does not want us to just casually follow Him, when we feel like it or when we have nothing better to do. NO! He wants us to trust Him with all that we are, knowing that He will always lead us and guide us in His paths of righteousness.
Seize the moment today to tell God that you will fully trust and rely upon Him, acknowledging that you need Him every day in your life!
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 04
Let Your Heart Keep My Commandments
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”
Let’s be honest. When we were the kids and our parents told us something, they had to repeat it two or three times until we finally said, “Okay! I got it!” And if we are totally honest, it is probably still true today!
The same was true back in King Solomon’s day, as he gives these instructions that can be traced back to Deuteronomy 6 with what God instructed the people of Israel to do with their children. Keep the commandments, be loving and faithful, and let it be seen in all you do.
These proverbs were talking about right living and general descriptions of life’s realities, not surefire promises or guarantees. These were general principles that, if applied consistently to our lives, will save us from unnecessary pain and suffering. So if we want those younger than us to follow what the scriptures are telling us, we need to be doing it as well.
Seize the moment and lead the way for others to follow after God by remembering the wise king’s teachings and keeping God’s commands.
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 03
The Knowledge of God
“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
If I were to tell you that I have a treasure map that would lead you to find a treasure greater than all the gold in Fort Knox, would you grab it from my hands and set out on a journey to find it? Or would you be skeptical and tell me that I am just sending you and anyone else on a wild goose chase? I am here to tell you that you already have that map which will lead you to something more valuable than silver or gold…and that is the knowledge of God.
Solomon was not only talking to his son, but to all of God’s children when he encouraged him to seek after God’s knowledge. He said ‘IF’ you do these things, ‘THEN’ you will understand and find it. But just like everything else, we tend to want to jump over the work required and go straight to the reward. We can’t do that! Listening carefully, having a heart of understanding and asking for insight are all the necessary building blocks to having a true fear of the Lord, which then helps us find the knowledge of God.
Seize the moment today to follow the necessary steps of not only keeping God’s commandments, but discovering the treasure that God has in store for you.
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 02
The Fear of the Lord
Seize the moment today and start being a better learner of God’s wisdom, and don’t think that you have already learned it all!
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Wisdom from the Proverbs 01
Wisdom from the Proverbs
For the next few days, I will be focusing on the Book of Proverbs, sharing some tidbits of wisdom that the Holy Spirit leads me to share. Please note…there are even more truths and tidbits that are wrapped in these scriptures. So I challenge you to take what I share and use it as a starting spot for the Holy Spirit to reveal even more to you. This will help you grow and know what God wants you to do and carry out in your life.
Proverbs 1:2-6 (ESV):
To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
Seize the moment today to reflect on these scriptures so you can receive wisdom and insight from God today.
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Responding to the Priorities of Jesus – Week 4
The Priority of Belonging!
Key Verses: John 9:1-12
One of our big 7 words at FBC is “Belong”. These 7 big words are what our church considers the priorities of Jesus and the essential marks of His Church—the people of God.
The kingdom of God is a relational kingdom. Because we are made in the Image of God, we need to belong—belong to God and belong to others. We are designed to be in union with God and one another!
Apart from belonging, we are incomplete and incapable of living God’s purposes for our lives, because we can only represent God from a relationship with God. We are designed to reflect Him, to become like Him, not become gods ourselves. Inherently, you can’t represent Him through human effort, only through divine union.
To explain this, I am going to utilize a story found in the Gospel of John 9:1-12.
As [Jesus] passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”
There are three questions I want to ask, based on this story:
- Who sinned?
In the earliest Genesis account, we learn that we were designed by God to perfectly belong to Him and to one another, but SIN deformed our relationship with God and with one another! Sin causes us to become totally depraved, separated from God, which means that there is not a part of us that can shine the light of God to the world on our own apart from God’s illuminating Spirit in us. We do nothing apart from Him (John 15:5)!
This is the effect of the Fall: apart from a relationship with God, we are in perpetual darkness. Because God is the Light of the World… Darkness does not have substance in and of itself; it has a lack of substance!
- Why did Jesus come?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Jesus came to rescue us from the perpetual darkness, which is sin and its effects, and restore us to God’s original design to belong to Him and to one another.
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
The story that illustrates this is found immediately before this proclamation. John 8:1-11 tells the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery and demonstrates how Jesus brings light to dark situations. When the Law demanded condemnation and death (darkness), Jesus brought conviction and life (Light).
Paul explained it this way in Romans 3:21-26. [Here is a tip to help you understand this: every time you hear the word “righteousness”, replace it with “Light “(4x in this passage).]
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Who is going to carry on the work of Jesus, of grace and righteousness, in our world today? Apart from God, all humanity, including religious people, return to the way of the darkness—to condemnation and death.
- How is Jesus made visible in the world today?
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Our story from John 9 ended with the question “Where is He?” speaking of Jesus.
The man who was healed said, “I don’t know.” But we know who is supposed to carry on the work of Jesus, it is the very people Jesus brings light to.
In belonging to Christ, we now belong to His mission: We are the Light of the World!
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
We are to live in the ways of Christ—the Light of the World—reflecting His very nature and intention; His righteousness!
Paul explains this in Ephesians 5:7-10,
“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
As Image Bearers of God, we bring glory to God by the way we love, care, and steward our relationship with Him, our relationships with one another, and our relationship with all of His creation. We have been charged with a significant work—to shine His Light to all people so that through our good works God may be glorified.
Where is He? There is a world out there asking the same question! Here is the answer: He is right there… [point to a person] [repeat]. He is right there… [point to the camera] Where is He going to show up this week?
You can listen to the message here:
This Message Video can be viewed HERE.
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Hymn: Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Psalm 113:1 “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servant of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!”
Praise is our Lord’s most righteous due; for all that He has done for us, provided for us and enables us to do. Plus, we are commanded to praise Him! We are to offer a sacrifice of praise, not because it is hard to do, but because we are offering Him our very best expression of thankfulness and love.
Fanny Crosby, born in 1820, became one of the most prolific hymnists in history, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs. In spite of being blind since shortly after birth, she dedicated her life to the mission of teaching God’s love, grace and mercy and giving Him praise in every circumstance of life. In 1869 she published “Praise Him! Praise Him!”, encouraging believers and evoking praise from the very depths of their hearts:
“Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed redeemer. Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim!”
Won’t you seize the moment today to proclaim your praise to God, no matter what you are going through! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness! It just might change your whole attitude for the day!
YOUTUBE:
If you would like to read the words to this hymn or hear the melody played, click on this link:
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/235
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Romans 4
Do not Waver… Press on!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Day 150 of these daily devotions, Friday, August 14.
I graduated from the U.S. Army’s Ranger school in 1997. One of the many ways they tried to break us was by physically and mentally pushing people past the finish line. For example, you think you are going for a 5-mile run, well they keep pushing you farther. Why? To see if you have the fortitude to press on!
Today is the 5-month anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting our small community. It was on this day in March that I sat with a group of pastors with our county health department and we all realized the sacrificial teamwork that would be required of our community leaders to help our local health care systems not get overwhelmed. Today, like in Ranger School, we are at the 5-mile mark and people are tired, frustrated, and are beyond ready to be done. But, we must keep going…
Do we have the fortitude to press on?
Listen to Romans 4:19-22,
Without becoming weak in faith [Abraham] contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.
Abraham did not waver in God’s promises! He had every reason to stop trying, to quit, but He didn’t—He kept His faith and pressed on! Friends, don’t lose hope; God is not done yet. We may not know how much further ahead the finish line is, but with God all things are possible.
Seize the moment and do not waver in your faith! God’s got this… Press on!
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Romans 3
Digging Deep into God’s Word!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 13.
Paul’s writings, starting with Romans, invites us to become students of the Bible. Unlike the story telling of the Gospels and Acts, Romans is a theological treatise of the gospel and it takes some work to mine the depths of it.
For example, listen to Romans 3:21-25a, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”
This is a very important Scripture passage as Paul is laying out the truths that lead us to understand our need for Jesus Christ and how we can be saved.
This short section from Romans 3 is loaded with biblical concepts and vocabulary that will require you to be a serious student of the Bible if you want to get the most out of it.
Here are three practical steps you can take to becoming a responsible student of God’s Word:
- Submit your reading time to God by praying before you read. You need the Holy Spirit to teach you, to guide you into all truth.
- Resist the enemy of your soul who wants to distract you from reading your Bible. If he can’t stop you from reading it, he will seek to distract you from understanding and applying it.
- Study the Word of God. Don’t just read over the surface, dig into it! Pull out a journal, use a Bible dictionary, and get serious about your Bible study time.
Seize the moment and dig deep into God’s Word today.
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Romans 2
A Level Playing Field!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, August 12.
Do we play on a level playing field?
When I was training for the Olympics, I felt the pressure that comes with elite sports to “level the playing field.” I had previously attempted to make the team and had missed both teams, and I was so hungry to make the team, that I lost perspective—I became consumed by my own ambition.
Have you ever been consumed by a passion? Have you ever lost perspective on what really matters in life?
Romans 2:4-8 gives us a sober assessment to keep us focused with an eternal perspective:
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
The sad truth is that I forget my own story sometimes. Then, because God is merciful, He reminds me again of my great need—He calls me back to Him, to the Holy and Sovereign God, who is patient with judgement and generous with His covenant love.
Seize the moment and remember from what you have been saved! Don’t let pride or ambition get ahold of your heart; remain humble towards yourself and other people.
Truly, the playing field is already level. Each of us deserves judgment for our sin and we all must learn to live in daily dependence on God’s mercy and grace. Never forget!
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Romans 1
Faithfulness is a Decision we Make!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, August 11.
Why is it that so many people struggle with the concepts of obligation or duty when it comes to their relationship with Jesus? For example, we often say, don’t give out of duty, but give out of a thankful heart. But can’t a thankful heart lead to a commitment to give faithfully, sacrificially, and systematically. Why separate the concepts?
This is so important in our marriages and with our children. We love them; therefore, we commit to act towards them a certain way—we obligate ourselves to the highest of virtues and values for the sake of our family well-being. To not do so is to mock our proclaimed love!
Paul understood this and expressed his sense of duty to go to Rome, stating in Romans 1:14-15, “I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and to the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.”
Paul gives us five reasons why he made the decision to obligate himself to get to Rome:
- Thankfulness! Their world-wide testimony of faith moved his heart (8).
- Prayer! His unceasing prayer for them solidified his conviction to go (9-10).
- Impartation! He wanted to empower and equip them in their ministry (11).
- Encouragement! He desired to be mutually encouraged by their faith (12).
- Mission! He knew a great harvest was going to happen in Rome and he wanted to be a part of it (13-15).
Seize the moment and be faithful to the God you love by making decisions that obligate you to act according to what you know is true even when you don’t feel like it!
While it may sound “romantic” to never appeal to duty or obligation in your love relationships, that just isn’t real—with people or God! Faithfulness is a decision we make to act whether we feel like it or not!
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Acts 28
Open-ended Endings!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, August 10.
Years ago, I remember going to see The Lord of the Rings at the movies and after three hours of story-telling, it just ended. In fact, it ended right where the book stopped. Half of the people booed and the other half clapped. Why? Because the movie was the first part of an ongoing story and it left you literally looking out at what was ahead instead of nicely packaging what was behind. It was an open-ended ending…
The same is true in the last chapter of the book of Acts. Listen to the last two verses of this book, Acts 28:30-31, “And [Paul] stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.”
Paul was still a prisoner in Rome and we don’t get to see what happens next…
Why? Because the story was never about Paul, just like the story is never about us. Each of our lives will have an open-ended ending because this life is not all that we have. Our lives are about pointing to a larger story that will never end—the story of God!
Seize the moment and look at what is ahead of you. Can you see with the eyes of faith an eternal horizon or is your sight bound up with this short life? There is no ending to your story in God, only new beginnings…
By the way, I was one of the people who clapped when I went to see The Lord of the Rings. Why? Simple, because I read the book, I wasn’t surprised with its ending. In fact, I was happy it ended incomplete because I knew the best was yet to come…
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Responding to the Priorities of Jesus (Week 3)
2020: A Year of Celebration!
The Priority of Rest!
Key Verses: Matthew 11:28-30; 12:1-16 & Hebrews 4:1-11
One of our big 7 words at FBC is “Rest”. These 7 big words are what our church considers priorities of Jesus and essential marks of the people of God. Today, we are going to talk about the one of seven words that no other church in America, that I know of, has prioritized for their ministries like we have here at FBC: REST!
Just like with last week’s big word “follow”, this week’s big word of “rest” is a word that has lost its biblical meaning in contemporary culture. Therefore, we are going to chase after the depth of Jesus’ promise and priority for our life by examining the rest motif of Scripture. We are going to start with Jesus’ words then learn from two illustrations from His life. Next, we are going to press into the origins of the concept and Old Covenant usage and finally bring it closure with a New Testament admonition to be diligent to enter God’s rest.
Apart from this kind of biblical study, we are left with a very watered-down cultural understanding that falls so far short of Jesus’ intent that even if you sincerely wanted to obey you couldn’t and would fall into either extreme of a legalistic sabbath-day observance (like the Pharisees) or a sinful permissiveness as found in most American churches.
We are being invited to walk in the ways of Jesus by living according to His priorities!
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
We looked at this last week and saw that the context of this passage is in Jesus’ invitation to follow Him in Christian discipleship. Jesus was calling a Jewish people who were living unfaithful lives to God, just like the people in Jeremiah’s time were before the sacking of Jerusalem in 586 BC and the 70-year Babylonian exile.
Today, we are going to focus on Jesus’ one word promise: REST! Rest is a major theme throughout the Bible. Listen to this quick overview of Jesus’ promise of rest:
It includes peace of mind and heart, and relief from uncertainty and anxiety. It is a deep refreshment that enables a person to go back to his or her tasks with renewed strength and energy. It is relief from sin and guilt, and from striving after salvation. It is an eschatological rest, and reflects the language of Jeremiah 6:16, but it is also a present reality. This “rest” is a proper fellowship with God. It is not idleness or inaction, but the contentment and full life that come from knowing and living by the truth which God’s Son reveals. It is eternal, eschatological salvation by faith. It speaks of a refreshing and fulfillment that looks forward to the eschatological Sabbath.[1]
This is what Jesus is promising you! Better than a rocker on the front porch, or a weekend off, or a vacation to one of America’s many meccas of entertainment, or even retirement! Wow! This is a really BIG promise!
Now, let’s take the second step in our study and watch the two back-to-back illustrations of this rest from Jesus’ ministry life. Watch Jesus at work in Matthew 12:1-16, immediately after He gives His famous promise of rest:
At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath [the Jewish day of rest], and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? “Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? “But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? “How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, and warned them not to tell who He was.
I invite you to really pay attention to how Jesus worked on the Sabbath. He did not reduce nor remove it; Jesus reformed and fulfilled the Sabbath! Jesus emphasized His authority as the “Lord of the Sabbath” (Mt. 12:8). In fact, Matthew intentionally placed these two sabbath stories immediately after Jesus’ invitation to find rest in Him. The literary proximity has theological implications, which we are about to look at.
Jesus’ actions on that sabbath in Matthew 12 were not in rebellion to the original sabbath commandment as given in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15, but they were a scathing rebuke of the religious leaders’ perversion of God’s heart. Jesus was all about this one thing: returning people to the heart of God!
This leads us to our third step in our study of FBC’s big word of REST: to explore the biblical origins of Jesus’ promise of rest, rooted in the Old Testament Sabbath command.
The fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments is God’s command “to CEASE”, which is what the word sabbath means. Exodus 20:8-11 is grounded in the creation motif of Genesis, stating,
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy [italics added]. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy [italics added].
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it [italics added], because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
God sanctified, made holy, the seventh day because it was the day that He rested to delight in His completed work. As one scholar points out from the original Hebrew language, “The Sabbath day is a holy day. Interestingly, the only thing God deems as qadosh, or ‘holy,’ in the creation story is the Sabbath day.”[2]
This was the first intent of the fourth commandment: the Sabbath command is to cease from your own striving in order to rest in God’s delight of His completed work. It is a separation from your own capabilities in order to remember His ability. As another Christian author explains, “Keeping the Sabbath day constantly reminds us that Yahweh is to be pre-eminent in our lives.”[3]
Submission to the command to cease facilitates the “habitual practice” of resting in God one day per week, as it fuels the rhythm of prioritizing God as pre-eminent in each and every day. Jesus’ promise and priority of rest is rooted in rich theology. It is yoked in the hālakh of God—the habitual lifestyle choices of covenant faithfulness!
If you are not resting, then your life is out of control! We are good at pointing the inverse of this out to people who don’t work—we are a culture infatuated with our own self-efficacy and capabilities! That is proving to be our downfall because our culture has uprooted itself from resting in God’s sovereign grace! Truly, rest is all about learning to work in God’s rhythm of grace; to work from rest, which is faith and trust in God!
Sabbath is about submission to God’s Sovereign Rule over us because, unlike the Lord’s finished work at creation, human work is always incomplete. I can always justify work! Gordon MacDonald wrote, “We do not rest because our work is done; we rest because God commanded it and created us to have a need for it.”[4]
People are called to a deeper trust in God by ceasing from their own efforts to make this life work out for them the way they want it to. It is surrender; it is a means of grace. All of humanity’s work, as from the Garden, was to flow from the divine wellspring of God’s grace, just as our good works are to flow from faith. Both are essential, but the order is critical—faith always comes before works! We are saved by grace through faith!
From the very beginning, humanity’s first experience was not to work for rest, but work from rest. Choosing not to walk in this intended rhythm demonstrates a fundamental disbelief in, and rebellion against, a most fundamental of our Christian doctrines from Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
The rest motif of the Old Testament teaches that humanity serves not only the God of creation, but also the God of salvation, who delights in rescuing His people from slavery. The second giving of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy came with a different motive clause for the Sabbath command. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 explains,
Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.
The exodus of God’s people from Pharaoh’s oppressive lordship in Egypt renewed the purpose of the fourth commandment, anchoring it in God’s redemptive work. Rest is an act of divine justice between God and humanity that we are called to participate in every week, between men and women!
God’s people had forgotten how to trust Him because of living under the heavy burden of an oppressive regime. God desired for His people to taste and see that they could trust their God to provide for them by the work of His hand, rather than by the works of their own hands and the sweat of their own brows.
How far humanity had fallen from Eden, to so fundamentally distrust the good gifts that came from the hand of the God who created them and delivered them. Sabbath was a day to declare divine deliverance from slavery. God rescued them so that they could enter into His rest, as they were created to do. It is freedom!
The Exodus became an early foreshadowing of the rest that was to come through Jesus Christ. Jesus demonstrated a true observance of this deliverance motif of the sabbath in Luke 13:10-17, when He declared His motivation for violating the Pharisees’ legalistic rules of sabbath observance:
You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had forgotten—not their own rules added to the Sabbath command, but the true intent behind its observance—divine deliverance! In upholding their own rules about sabbath they had created a new yoke of slavery, instead of commemorating the shattering of the heavy yoke of Pharaoh’s slavery.
Once again, just as the Israelites in Egypt had forgotten, the people Jesus was teaching had forgotten how to trust God because of living under the heavy burden of an oppressive regime. In fact, it was this very religious “heavy-burden” that Jesus came to take off of God’s people. Jesus promised a one word solution to lift these “heavy burdens”: REST!
Sabbath is an active resistance against the oppressive regimes of this world, animated by the forces of evil who refuse to give up any claim for their rule over man, even though Jesus has rightfully reclaimed us!
Have God’s people forgotten again from what He has saved us? Are we once again living under an oppressive regime and don’t even realize that we are slaves to the same demonic principality that led Pharaoh to enslave an entire people group of over a million people just so he can build more storage facilities for more of his stuff?
If we can’t rest from our unfinished work, then have we truly found rest in Jesus’ finished work?
This bring us to our final step in our learning journey for today and a clear admonition of the New Testament for you to work hard at entering the rest of God. Hebrews 4:9–11 is critical; it informs and instructs,
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest [italics added], so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
Rest is the hardest and most important work you will ever do! Because Sabbath has always been about trust, and in that trust, the living out of covenant faithfulness. As Pastor Ken preached recently, “True rest is trust!”
Jesus Christ is the rest His original Jewish audience had been awaiting, but did not recognize. Jesus Christ is the rest this world desperately needs, but is too loud and busy to recognize, even well-intentioned religious people!
(Due to personnel being on vacation, there may be a week or 2 delay)
You can listen to the message here:
This Message Video can be viewed HERE.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] David Abernathy, An Exegetical Summary of Matthew 1–16, Exegetical Summaries, 412–413.
[2] A. J. Swoboda, Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World, 12.
[3] Marva J. Dawn, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: easing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting, 141.
[4] Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World, 174.
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Hymn: Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
One of the favorite hymns of the church was written by someone who had a very dark start in their life. John Newton was a rough sailor who engaged in capturing and selling slaves around the world. But during a very fierce storm and fearful of shipwreck, the grace of God moved on him to read The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, and it led to his genuine conversion and dramatically changed his life.
Feeling a call to ministry and influence by John & Charles Wesley and George Whitefield, he became the ordained minister of a small Anglican church in Olney, England. He used simple heart-felt hymns in his services, leading him to write “Amazing Grace” with his friend William Cowper in 1779. He never ceased to marvel at the grace of God that transformed him so completely, even proclaiming shortly before his death “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things…that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!”
Seize the moment today by thinking about the magnitude of God’s grace. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…”
YOUTUBE:
If you would like to read the words to this hymn or hear the melody played, click on this link:
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/(313)
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Acts 27
Take Courage in the Storm!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, August 7.
During the relief efforts, after a massive tornado ripped through Henryville, Indiana. a billboard went up declaring, “Don’t tell your God how big your storm is, tell your storm how big your God is!”
In Acts 27, Paul, a prisoner in chains was on his way to Rome. He was on a boat with 276 people when a bad decision was made to keep pressing on into the storm season. They were now approaching their 14th day of a horrifying storm experience. Everyone’s life was in danger, people were hungry and scared, when Paul stood up and spoke to the people in Acts 27:22-26,
Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.” Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on a certain island.
There are many storms in our lives. In addition to whatever you are going through personally, at home or at work, our communities and nation are going through a stormy season.
Unlike Paul I have not received a message from an angel for you, but I do have Jesus’ words hidden in my heart: “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Seize the moment and take courage in this storm for Jesus has overcome the world.
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Acts 26
The Church of Jesus Christ!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 6.
What is the Church?
It is very important to see how Paul first learned about the church. Listen closely to a specific detail from his conversion story from Acts 26:14-15 (also found in Acts 9:4-5 & Acts 22:7-8), “And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.’”
Did you hear Jesus’ question to Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?” It’s repeated three times!
This is a significant question because it is Jesus’ witness to what the church is, from His perspective. When Paul persecuted the church and the followers of the Way, Jesus made no distinction between Paul opposing Him personally and opposing the people. Jesus sees His Church as an extension of Himself!
This is illuminating to the mind of God. Is the church just another organization in town or is there something more to the church?
Honestly, many pastors and church goers have forgotten this and have become shop keepers managing spreadsheets of their religious goods and caring more about their storefront appearances and marketing strategies than living incarnational lives! We must return to who we are as the church by each of us returning to our first love!
The Church is the collective Body of Christ on earth; we are the incarnational witnesses of Jesus’ gospel to all peoples; we are a holy (set apart) people declaring a coming kingdom that is not yet of this earth!
Seize the moment and be a healthy functioning member of Jesus’ body on earth! You are called to be so much more than a member of an organization… We are so much more…
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Acts 25
The Ripple Effect of Faith!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, August 5.
Have you ever thrown a tiny pebble in a pond and then watched the ripples go out from that small action? It’s called a “ripple effect” and how we respond to our situations does the same thing.
In Acts 25 Paul is caught in a very difficult situation. Listen to Paul in verses 10-11, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
The historical situation is complex, but Paul’s response is faithful to God’s mission for His life: to be Christ’s witness to the Roman Empire.
Paul models for us three ways we can put courage into our hearts when in hard situations to remain faithful to God, even the stress of our own suffering and death.
- Paul anchors himself in the Word of God. We, too, can memorize and meditate upon the Word of God to focus our courage and strength on faithful living.
- Paul believed in the power of prayer. We, too, can pray for one another and ask others to pray for us. There is a deep comfort and peace that comes from knowing others are praying for you.
- Paul knew there was a bigger purpose for what he was going through. Jesus told him that he was “a chosen instrument” We, too, are chosen instruments… we are called ambassadors for Christ.
Seize the moment and send out a ripple effect in your stressful situations today.
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