Acts: The End?

As we bring the book of Acts to a close, Paul and company wash ashore on the island of Malta. They are met with kindness and a warm fire. Paul, gathering firewood, is bitten by a viper, an extremely venomous snake. This is certain death, but Paul shakes the snake from his hand and has no ill effects from the bite. The islanders were amazed and assumed that Paul was a god. The chief official of the island gets word of the miraculous event and welcomes the refugees to his estate. Paul heals the man’s father who was gravely ill and the people send them on their way, refreshed and replenished.
With favorable winds behind them, they continue their journey and the promise of Paul’s Lord is fulfilled. Paul/Saul was chosen to carry the name of Jesus to the Gentile world, including Gentile kings and emperors (9:15). He was reminded of his calling while in prison: “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify about me in Rome. (23:11). And again during the storm at sea: “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar” (27:24). Finally promise became reality: “And so we came to Rome” (Acts 28:14).
Luke’s account in Acts does not take us into the Roman palace, but we learn that Paul indeed testified in Rome – He declared his innocence – and the gospel. He was allowed a rare measure of freedom and “Boldly and without hindrance, preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (28:31).
The entire book of Acts is about the power of the Holy Spirit, the sovereignty and providence of God, and the bold and devoted men and women who dedicated – and surrendered – their lives to the gospel of Jesus Christ. You and I are living in the continuing story of Acts. The work of the church is ongoing. We are granted the same Holy Spirit and have the same sovereign God guiding and guarding our steps. What is missing? Why do we not see the results they saw? Because we are not as bold and devoted to the Man, the mission, and the ministry of the gospel.
What will it take for us? The first-century church grew in spite of – or perhaps because of – persecution. The church today will grow stronger and deeper under the same conditions. It is coming. But this is not a reason for fear. It is a reason for preparation. It’s time Beloved. Get your armor on and stand up, stand up for Jesus.

A Church in Danger

Have you noticed that there is a lot of hero worship in Christendom? There are “rock-star” pastors with thousands of followers and Bible teachers who sell out auditoriums around the country. I’m not saying popularity in the church is wrong. Jesus had quite a crowd that followed Him and hung on His every word. Take the fellow in Luke 9: “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you where you go.’” (v. 57). He wanted to be part of Jesus’ entourage. But Jesus didn’t encourage this would-be fan. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (v. 58). I believe Jesus was saying, “This is not going to be the high-life you’re expecting. I don’t have a multi-million-dollar mansion to put you up in. I walk hot, dusty roads and sleep where I can.”
What did you expect from Jesus when you chose to follow Him? A solution to all your problems? A good reputation in the community? A full life with heaven thrown in after it’s all over? Just a few verses before He said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (v. 23) Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and the cross. He might have also told the man, “Don’t hook your wagon to me unless you’re prepared to die.”
In case you haven’t noticed, there is a war going on between good and evil, between light and darkness. God’s people are the enemy of the present ruling authorities who are bent on the church’s destruction. If you choose Jesus, you need to know that you are also choosing self-denial, persecution, rejection, and suffering. That is what the Lord endured. Why should we expect any less?
I look at the modern church – particularly in the West – so comfortable in our air-conditioned sanctuaries. Where is the suffering? Where is the persecution? Where are self-denial and the cross? I’m pointing my finger at myself. I believe the enemy’s strategy against the church in the U.S. is not a full-on battle, but to make us relaxed and contented while he waters down our theology and sugarcoats our worship. Just before he hits us with an all-out assault.
I realize, Beloved, that this is not a warm and happy message. Take it as a warning. If our Christianity is comfortable, maybe we’re in more danger than we know.

Promises and Stormy Seas

Mark 4:35-40 is the familiar story of Jesus calming a storm at sea. As He and His disciples tried to make their way across the water there was a “furious squall, and waves [breaking] over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped” (v. 37). A storm at sea was a terrifying thing and the disciples wondered if they would survive. As they fought the wind and water, we wonder, “Where was Jesus?” Was he holding to the lines to keep the sails from twisting? Was He bent over with bucket in hand, bailing out the water that threatened to sink them? No – “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion” (v. 38). What on earth!? What kind of person sleeps through a storm at sea? One who is not afraid. But the disciples were and they awakened Jesus saying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Then Jesus “got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm” (v. 38-39).
Storms in life have a similar effect as storms at sea. They are terrifying and we wonder if we will survive. We also wonder sometimes, “Where is Jesus?” “Does He even care about what’s happening to me?” But before we answer those questions, there’s something else I want us to see. Before they all climbed into the boat Jesus told them, “Let us go over to the other side” (v. 35). Before the storm hit, Jesus had given them His word that they would all reach “the other side.” When He spoke, it was assured, though they still had to ride through the storm. That’s where you and I need to settle our peace. Right in the promise that He spoke before the storm. Did He say, “Take care of your sick, grumpy family member.”? Did He say, “Let go of your precious granddaughter and trust Me.”? Did He say, “Go be My witness in a hostile workplace.”? Did He say, “Move your family to a far-away mission field.”? Then find the peace you need in the assurance of His words. When Jesus speaks it is accomplished. He will not call you to failure and no storm will ever render His words null and void.
Mark 5 starts with these words: “They went across the lake . . .” Jesus kept His word to the disciples. He will keep His word to you too Beloved. He is in the boat with you and He will take you all the way to the other side.

The Journey of Faith

Three days. That’s all it took for the complaining to start. Three days from blessing to grumbling. Three days from rejoicing to grousing.
Three days before the Israelites had walked through walls of water and felt the dry ground beneath their feet. They sang and danced and rejoiced, proclaiming “The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation; Who among the gods is like You, O Lord-majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” They sang of their trust in Him, “In your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed…You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance.” (Ref. Exodus 15:2, 11, 13, 17.)
And everything changed. They found themselves in a desert with no drinkable water. So they turned on their God-appointed leader and “grumbled against Moses, saying ‘What are we to drink?’” (Ex. 15:24). We might think, “Are these the same people that witnessed the power and might of the Lord?” Well, yes, actually they were. But they quickly forgot God’s faithfulness and goodness just three days before and complained about the circumstances of the moment. It is a pattern that shows up over and over again in their wilderness journey. And if you and I are honest, the same pattern shows up in our own lives as well. Why do we, like the Israelites, fail to trust the Lord who has proven Himself faithful again and again and again?
In a word: unbelief. The very same unbelief that demoralized the faith of the Hebrew nation undermines our faith and confidence in God today. The exodus from Egypt was the great expression of Yahweh’s love for the Israelites. The cross of Jesus Christ is God’s ultimate expression of love to you and me. Every day we are surrounded by reminders of His care and devotion to us His children. Yet still, when we are faced with a challenge, we grumble. Rather than trust God, we whine and complain. And God asks, as He asked of Israel, “How long will these people refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?” (Num. 14:11). Faith is not just a necessary for the journey; it is the journey.
Jesus once posed a question, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). What would He find in you, Beloved, if He came today?

And If He Does Not . . .

Three Hebrew youths stood before Nebuchadnezzar. They had refused to bow before the King’s statue even though every other official in Babylon had put their faces to the dirt in homage to ninety feet of gold. They knew that the penalty for their actions was certain death. But what the king was asking would compromise their devotion to the God of Israel. And they would not.
Nebuchadnezzar gave them one more chance to obey his edict and bow down. “But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace.” And he added an ironic punch line: “Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” (Dan 3:15).
“Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to rescue us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand.’” (v. 16-17). What confidence! What faith! I want a faith like that.
Yet – they gave room for God to be God. They said, “But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (v. 18). They believed and trusted God, but they did not demand God to act in their favor. And if He chose not to, they would not cease to worship Him, even to their dying breath.
Decisions are going to be made today that will greatly impact my family – especially someone I love with all my heart. I have prayed for God’s favor. and I am trusting Him for the outcome, believing He can “turn the heart of the king” (Prov 21:1). But if He does not . . .
I will still trust Him. I will still believe in His faithfulness. I will still worship and serve Him. I will still teach His Word. I will still give my heart and life to Him. I will still believe that He is good. Oh, it will hurt, but I will still declare that He is God – my God – and that His judgments are right. You see, in all my prayers I have prayed most earnestly for His will – His good, pleasing, and perfect will (Rom 12:2). And if His will is not my will – He is still God. My holy, heavenly Father. And hers.

The Master Craftsman

There is a simple principle my mother taught me – you’re probably familiar with it: “Bought lessons stay with you longer than taught lessons.” It is the southern version of a verse in Psalms that I have underlined in my Bible. The Psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word”: (Ps 119:67). He followed it up with: “It was good for me to afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (v. 71).
I learned to be more discerning about who I hang out with when we were questioned by the police on prom night because one of us had drugs. I learned to be a better money manager by going through foreclosure and bankruptcy. I learned to stay focused on the road when I ran a red light and T-boned another car. I learned the hard way not to get prideful. I still have the sore behind to remind me that I don’t want God to take me to the woodshed ever again. I still have a lot to learn and I’m still making a lot of mistakes and causing myself a lot of afflictions, but I’m also learning that even my mistakes become tools for God to mold and shape me.
That takes us to a familiar verse – you probably know right where I’m going. “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). All things mean all things. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The things someone does to you. The things I do to myself. The things that we regret. The scars and the consequences. They all become tools in the Master Craftsman’s hand, guided by His love and his purpose.
And what is that purpose? Look at verse 29: The we might “. . .be conformed to the likeness of His Son . . .” I believe that to be true to the marrow of my bones and the depths of my soul. Otherwise, I don’t think I could survive some of the trials I’ve been through and am still in. I have to know and believe that a good God is working behind the scenes with all this hard stuff.
Have you made some big mistakes along the way, Beloved? You can trust them into God’s hands. You’ll be amazed by what He will make of it – and you.

We Need One Another

Every person I know is struggling with something – family issues, health problems, financial difficulties, mental and emotional health, work and school. You probably found yours among that list.
Something else we all have in common is the need for encouragement. The Lord impressed on my heart at the end of last year that I need to focus on writing more messages of encouragement. I understand why. You need it and so do I. I was reading this morning in 1 Thessalonians and was caught by the sequence I saw in chapter 3.
Paul was in Athens but his heart was in Thessalonica and the church he had previously established there. Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians had abandoned their faith in Christ. He sent Timothy, his trusted friend and co-worker to both find out how they were and to “strengthen and encourage” them in their faith (v. 2). He did not want the church to become discouraged by persecution nor to be tempted by the enemy to give up.
When Timothy returned, he brought Paul “good news about your faith and love” (v. 6). They were “standing firm in the Lord” (v. 8). The Apostle was greatly encouraged! He thanked God for the Thessalonians and was strengthened in his own faith. Their lives were a testimony to God’s power and faithfulness. Paul was refreshed and able to endure the persecution and trials that surrounded him.
There is something wonderful about the family of God. We encourage one another. We hold each other up. We “speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph 5:19).. We share stories of God’s goodness in our lives. That is why I am so transparent in these devotionals – maybe a little too transparent. I believe with all my heart if you see God carry me through difficulties, it will give you hope in your own. Likewise, when you share what God is doing in your life, it gives me encouragement to hold fast to Him and keep pressing on.
Someone you know needs a word of encouragement today. It may be a family member, a coworker, a friend -it may even be me. Or maybe it’s you. I hope these simple words lift you up and that “you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Rom 1:12). Let’s support one another, Beloved. The three of us – you, me, and the Lord will get through this together.

God of the New Year

We have been anxious to get this past year over with. Goodbye, 2023! Good riddance! But there’s something else that has caught my eye. I noticed all over the book of faces that we are asking God to bless 2024. Now this may be semantics, but that isn’t quite biblically correct. Do you remember what Jesus said in the prayer He taught to His disciples? “Give us today our daily bread” (Mat 6:11). Just what I need for this 24-hour period.
Please understand, I’m not chastising anybody. It is good to seek God’s favor and blessing anytime and if you have prayed those “bless this year” prayers you are seeking a good thing. But don’t forget about the daily prayers and the daily needs. Don’t forget to seek God for Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and – well you get it. We need God daily – minute-to-minute even. We need Him for every breath we draw.
The past year has seen so many hard days for me. I prayed for God’s presence and power and provision and protection. And He always came through. In the worst of it, I prayed every morning as I drove to work, crying and pleading for God to intervene in some big, heavy things. When I got to work, I drew a deep breath, wiped my face, and said, “Lord, would you please help me pull myself together before I walk into my office? Would you hold me up for the next eight hours?” And He did. And I got through the day. The next morning the cycle would start all over again. But He was faithful to help me day by day, minute by minute, step by step. I’m still counting on Him that way.
I also witnessed God’s provision for literal “daily bread.” Every time the pantry was bare, I prayed for help and somebody had extra food to share. When my gas tank was dry, I would find money tucked into my purse in answer to my prayers. When a large sum of money was urgently needed, God provided to the penny. Some of you were His conduit of provision.
I tell you all this because I want you to know that He is not just willing and able to bless your year, He cares about you every single day. He cares about your hurting heart, your empty pantry, and your empty gas tank. He cares about your patience with your toddler. He cares about the decisions you need to make. Rest assured, Beloved, your Father cares about you. He is God over the next 366 days of your life.

Hope for the New Year

The last grains of 2023 are slipping through the narrow neck of the hourglass. I don’t know about you, but for me and my family, it’s been a very hard year. You may be nodding your head in agreement. I could never have guessed this time last year what we would face in twelve months ahead. We pray that when we turn the calendar, we can put it all behind us and move on to brighter days. But life doesn’t observe our time boundaries. So how can you and I close this year with any measure of hope for the next? I’d like to offer you a few words of encouragement on the eve of the new year.
God is still the ruler of the universe. The Psalmist wrote, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (Ps 103:19). He has not lost control and none of the events of this year – on the world stage or in our lives – took Him by surprise. Nothing in the coming year will catch Him off guard either.
You may have lost someone you love this year. You may have lost your job or your home. You may have had a difficult health struggle. This year may have broken your heart as it did mine. But we can rest in this promise: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps 34:18). God is near to all who are hurting.
You may be staring at a lot of uncertainty ahead. Listen to this: “I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand as says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’” (Is 41:13). Whatever 2024 holds, God holds your hand and promises to help you through it.
He also said, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). The Lord’s plans are not altered by family difficulties, hardships, unexpected events, grief, pain, job loss, or financial struggles. These do not deter God’s good plans for you. He will even use them to brings His plan to fruition.
As the calendar turns to a new year, let us put both the past year and the days ahead in the hands of our mighty, sovereign, loving, faithful Father. Better yet, put yourself in His hands, Beloved, and let Him carry you through.

I Want a Faith Like That

“Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword.” Hebrews 11:36-37
Would you be willing to die for your faith?
Stephen (Acts 7:54-60) and James (Acts 12:2) were the first of many to die for the faith throughout Christian history. The martyrs of Christianity deeply move me. Believers like Perpetua, a young woman who, despite the pleas of her beloved father and the knowledge that she would leave behind a very young child, refused to recount her faith, but went courageously and gloriously into the Roman arena. Like the Apostles in Acts 5:41, she counted herself blessed to suffer for her Savior. Today in the West Christians typically deal with harassment and rejection, but I am convinced there is coming a day – very soon – when we will suffer like believers around the world who are martyred for refusing to deny Christ. I want a faith like that – one that stands the ultimate test.
But is the threat of death the only time my faith needs to endure? Every day, choice by choice, we either confirm or deny that we belong to Christ. Am I denying my Savior in the things I watch and listen to? Does your internet history prove or deny your faith in Jesus? What does my bank account say about where my treasure is? Do your conversations and language say you are Christ’s? What about the way I act toward others? When believers follow the world and our flesh, we are denying that Jesus is Lord of our lives. The consequences may not be death, but rather the slow demise of our faith. For if we deny Jesus in these lesser, daily decisions, how will we ever stand in the face of true persecution? In the face of death?
In the accounts of the Christian martyrs, many people came to faith in Christ by witnessing the strong convictions of these believers in the face of death. We have the same opportunity to be a witness in our everyday lives. The world is watching. They need to see believers who so firmly hold to the truth of the Gospel that they will not deny that Jesus Christ is Lord, in big and small things. They need to know that He is worthy of our undeniable devotion.
I want a faith like that because I have a Savior like that. What say you, Beloved?