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Sunday, February 28, 2010
Read Acts 7:1-22 Evelyn Garrioch
Stephen was one of the first Christians who mirrored the life of Christ as closely as possible. He was a man of great faith and wisdom. He knew the history of the Jewish people from the time of Abraham through the life of Jesus. When the Jews from Egypt began arguing with Stephen , they could not stand up against his wisdom or “the Spirit by whom he spoke”. So they drummed up charges against him.
Stephen did not defend himself. He took the opportunity to summarize his teaching about Jesus. As he talked, he was accusing these religious leaders of failing to obey God’s laws. This was the same accusation that Jesus had leveled against them. Stephen reminded them that God had always kept his side of the promise but Israel had failed many times to hold up their end, that is, they failed to obey God.
“Stephen’s review of Jewish history gives a clear testimony of God’s faithfulness and sovereignty despite the continued failure of his chosen people. God was working out his plan.”
Monday, March 1, 2010
Read Acts 7:23-60 John Cordes
Acts 7:23-60 is a part in a longer story. In Acts 6, Stephen is brought before the religious council in Jerusalem on false charges of blasphemy by those who are jealous of him. In Acts 7:1-50, he starts his rebuttal by summarizing key points in the Israelites' history from Abraham to Moses. Starting in Act 7:51, Stephen scolds his accusers: asking them why they are so stubborn in resisting the Holy Spirit and repeating many of the errors of their forefathers. This enrages them and they seize him, carry him away and stone him to death. Act 7 ends with Stephen praying for God to be merciful with his attackers as he dies.
Being a Christian was difficult and dangerous in the early church. Many have died standing up for their belief in Jesus. Yet today we continue to need strong faith in Jesus as we work to bring more people to Him. Pray for God to strengthen you with His Holy Spirit so you have more courage as we reach out to bring others to Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Read Acts 8:1-25 Flo Harrison
Following the martyrdom of Stephen in Jerusalem, many believers scattered to other areas. Philip, (chosen in Chapter 6:3-6) went to Samaria to preach. Our Lord himself had prepare their hearts to respond when He visited the “woman at the well.” Philip also performed miracles by casting our demons and healing the sick.
A sorcerer named Simon had been practicing his art of sorcery and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great. When Philip came, baptizing the people, Simon himself believed. He followed Philip and wondered at all the miracles.
Now the people of Samaria had yet to receive the Holy Spirit. The apostles, Peter and John came from Jerusalem when they heard the good news of God’s work. They too, prayed with the people and then laid hands on them. Only then, did the Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit.
When Simon saw this, he offered the apostles money, so he too could have this awesome power. Peter told him, the gift of God couldn’t be bought. Repent of your evil ways and pray that God will open up your heart. “Heart change is the work of God.”
These verses reminded me of what our relaunch is about. First, Philip went where some would not. He cut through both cultural and ethnic barriers when he went beyond Jerusalem. Stephen’s stoning actually forced the people of Jerusalem outside their comfort zone. Philip needed to share Jesus’ message of love and forgiveness to others, Simon reminds us that we must not have a superficial kind of belief.
Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the un-named people in the Book of Acts, who also left Jerusalem to share the Good News of Christ with others around them. May we follow their example, not caring who gets the credit but simply wanting Your work to get done. Help us in sharing your love to “one” so they may experience your transforming grace.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Read Acts 8: 26-40 Binu John
Philip and the Ethiopian Official
This passage talks about how Philip shares the good news about Jesus to a visiting Ethiopian official. The official was reading the book of Isaiah and had difficulty understanding a prophecy foreshadowing the pain and suffering that Jesus would endure. The passage from Isaiah suggests that Jesus came into this world and sacrificed himself, the ultimate act of unconditional love, so that all of us could be saved. After Philip explained the story of Jesus, the official transformed into a disciple of Jesus and was baptized.
The difficulties the official had in understanding the book of Isaiah is very similar to what I have faced on several occasions in understanding some of the confusing and at times contradicting Scripture passages. This has been amplified in recent days as I participate in the Sunday morning discussions in the church regarding the reconciling ministries. I encountered several verses that seem to be in direct conflict with Jesus’ message of love, compassion and inclusion. At these times, I feel very blessed to be part of a committed group of faithful individuals who come together to learn, discuss and listen to each other to understand God’s words. I have come to realize that, it is some times okay not to have all the answers, but to have an open mind and keen interest in looking for God’s guidance on a continuous basis.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me understand the depth of your love and provide an open mind to hear your voice on a daily basis.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Read Acts 9:1-22 Amy Kaiser
The conversion of Saul
The conversion of Saul, one who sought to slander Jesus, to Paul, a disciple who spread Jesus word, is nothing short of amazing. Saul is on his way to Jerusalem to take followers of Jesus prisoner, when he encounters Jesus on the road. He is struck blind for 3 days, after which a disciple sent by Jesus restores his sight. Saul then spends some time with the disciples before going out and spending the rest of his life preaching that Jesus is truly the Messiah.
Jesus asked Saul to account for his behavior, his slanderous words and actions. In the scripture, Saul doesn’t have an answer for Jesus. I used to wonder why Saul was struck blind, but after multiple readings of this scripture, I have come to the conclusion that the blindness was Jesus’ way of forcing Saul to introspection. Saul needed time to really search inside, to understand who Jesus was.
I can’t help but wonder, what I would do if I was confronted in the way that Saul was on the road? I find myself thinking about people who slander Jesus in modern day. Those who seek to spread a message of hate. Sometimes these people or groups claim that God doesn’t exist and other times claim actions and words are in the name of God. Are we called to take action? To stand up for Christ, vocalize our belief? In Saul’s time Jesus himself took action and the result was that Saul (Paul) was converted and became one of the most influential Disciples of Christ, spreading the word through his letters to many nations. What if Jesus hadn’t confronted Saul (Paul) on the road? What would Christianity look like? Would it exist at all?
Take the bold step to acknowledge your faith in a world that often seems without faith. Your example may impact someone in a way that you may never understand.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Read Acts 9:23-43 Mike Kernaghan
Peter’s miracle in Lydda of raising Tabitha from the death.
Today let’s ponder the resurrection of Tabitha by Peter in this verse, since it relates closely to the question each of us must ponder regarding belief in our own resurrection when our time on earth ends.
We see only a few places in the Bible that speak to direct acts of conquering death. For example, as we see this with Lazarus, Tabitha, as well as Jesus. These acts have us look death squarely in the eye and ask “is there life after death?” “How could these people be brought back to life?” “What kind of power must be present to overcome death?” Or even “do I believe these writings as the truth, or some embellishments by deeply devoted followers?”
We can identify with Tabitha, for she was a good person who “spent all her time doing good and helping the poor”. While we are different people, we all hope to be worthy of resurrection when death comes for us.
For each of us there comes a time to face our own mortality, and for me, my belief in the resurrection of Lazarus, Tabitha, and Jesus stands squarely on the pivot point for my belief of my own “life” after death. For if these resurrections are indeed true, then the power to conquer death has been demonstrated in real and tangible ways not that long ago, and other notions of heaven and eternal love, et al, fall into place.
I have to believe that others throughout history that were far more scholarly, devoted, intellectual, brave, or faithful than I have believed in the notion of Christ’s power over death, that my faith in the eternal is in good company.
So today is a time for you to ponder privately the meaningful personal question of “What do I believe is coming next after death?” It is a question of faith put to the test through our own mortality. I hope I can respond to Peter’s call: “Tabitha (Mike) get up and open your eyes!” as Peter reaches out to help me arise on the other side
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Read Acts 10:1-33 Helen Kung
One of the biggest challenges facing the infant church was the debate over who could be follower of Jesus. Paul had been converted and had started spreading the Word. As new churches were established, many gentiles became followers of Jesus.
The internal turmoil for the leaders must be tremendous. They knew that Jesus is the Messiah, a deliverer of the Jewish people. Although they had the great commission to spread God’s love to the end of the earth, they had no clear guidance on what to expect. What they had, were the Law which has given the Jewish people guidance for generations. Therefore the prevailing practice was to require gentile converts to follow Jewish dietary law and perform adult circumcision.
In the reading today, God changed that practice through a vision to Peter. I enjoy this glimpse into Peter that he needs to experience life changing events three times before he was convinced. I also enjoy reading God’s instruction, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
I think some of our struggle today is similar. We are bound by our experience and tradition. Although we want to stand with people God misses the most, we don’t know how to behave once we step into the unknown. We try to fit the world into a frame of our standards. But God encourages us to let go of the frame and to bring God’s love into all the places we can reach. Our mission, the same as the first disciples, is to stand with people everywhere who fear God and do what is right.
Dear Lord,Please send us to stand with people You miss most. Please help us spread your transforming love to all who need You. Please grant us the courage to be outside of our comfort zone, knowing that You can make all things clean. Amen.
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