Acts 10 offers some insight into the heart of God and how he works to break down barriers.
In this passage a Roman centurion named Cornelius, who is a "god-fearer" (Gentile who practices Judaism but hasn't been through ritual circumcision) is told by an angel to send for Simon Peter, who is staying nearby on the coast. He immediately dispatches three men to bring Peter to his house. You've gotta admire such obedience and faith.
Meanwhile, Peter is sunning (actually praying, but he may have multitasked) on the roof of his friend's house by the sea, and he has a vision. In this vision he sees all kinds of food that is verboten to a Jew - like pork, shellfish, and the like. A voice tells him to "pig out." (loosely translated)
Peter answers, "No way!"
Again, the voice says, "Eat."
Peter resists.
Finally, he hears, "Don't call anything unclean that the Lord calls clean."
As he scratches his head, wondering what all this means, the men arrive to invite Peter to Cornelius' house. Meanwhile, Peter is told, again in a vision, to expect company.
The men take Peter to Cornelius' house, where Peter shares the story of Jesus with the entire household. And, to his wonderment, the Holy Spirit shows up in power, and the entire gathering responds to the message by placing their faith in Christ.
Peter is blown away, and exclaims, "Wow! The gospel is for everyone. God has no favorites. Anyone can come to him in faith." (or words to that effect)
The same is true today. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
I saw the Lord!
In the 80's Larnelle Harris and Sandi Patti recorded a duet entitled "I Saw the Lord." It relates the testimony of persons who were witnesses to Jesus' appearances after his resurrection. The gospels and Acts tell of Jesus walking, talking, eating, and "hanging out" with his followers after the resurrection. In 1Corinthians 15, Paul writes that he, too, saw the Risen Lord, even though he had not been a follower of his during his earthly ministry.
The story of how the Lord appeared to Paul is recorded in Acts 9. It is a remarkable account of the dramatic conversion of one who had been vehemently opposed to this new movement. In fact, Paul was on his way to Damascus with orders to persecute Christ's followers when Jesus appeared to him in a vision. The Lord stopped him in his tracks and spoke to him about who he was and what he wanted Paul to do.
From that point Paul was forever changed. He devoted the rest of his life to telling the story of the Risen Lord to anyone who would listen. An encounter with Christ does that to a person.
If someone were to ask you, "What difference does Jesus make?" how would you answer?
The story of how the Lord appeared to Paul is recorded in Acts 9. It is a remarkable account of the dramatic conversion of one who had been vehemently opposed to this new movement. In fact, Paul was on his way to Damascus with orders to persecute Christ's followers when Jesus appeared to him in a vision. The Lord stopped him in his tracks and spoke to him about who he was and what he wanted Paul to do.
From that point Paul was forever changed. He devoted the rest of his life to telling the story of the Risen Lord to anyone who would listen. An encounter with Christ does that to a person.
If someone were to ask you, "What difference does Jesus make?" how would you answer?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Gossiping the gospel
My friend, Justin, reminded me today that I hadn't posted in awhile. Come to think of it, it's been weeks. New career, investment courses and exams, yadayadayada....... We're all busy, I know.
So let's pick back up where we left off. Last post we were looking at the stoning of Stephen and how Jesus appeared to him, standing at the right hand of God, as if to demonstrate love for Stephen in his martyrdom.
The next chapter, Acts 8, relates an interesting phenomenon. First, it tells about a great persecution that followed the stoning of Stephen. Zealous Jews were seeking to eradicate this young movement that had already turned Jerusalem upside down. It goes on to say that "those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the gospel."
Now it's normal to assume that the ones who preached were the leaders of the early church, when, in actuality, these first "missionaries" were rank and file church members whose lives had been dramatically changed through their encounter with the Risen Lord. They were so pumped up that they couldn't keep silent. As they traveled back to their homes in the outlying regions I can picture them seizing every opportunity to relate their experience of having their lives dramatically and eternally changed through their faith in Christ. I can imagine Joe and Sadie, as they headed back to Pamphylia, stopping at an interstate rest area or service station (donkey filling station - use your imagination), and striking up a conversation with anyone who would listen. Then, once they got back home, Joe couldn't help sharing his new faith with his coworkers. The same was true of Sadie, who went every day to the market and looked for opportunities to talk to someone about Jesus. And this happened in hundreds of lives, as these Greek-speaking Jewish converts returned to their homes and told of their encounter with Christ.
One writer, in commenting on this phenomenon, said that these early converts "gossiped the gospel." In a short time the entire region was abuzz with the Good News message.
The change that a relationship with Jesus Christ brings is something to buzz about. Who are the persons in your life with whom you're sharing your faith?
So let's pick back up where we left off. Last post we were looking at the stoning of Stephen and how Jesus appeared to him, standing at the right hand of God, as if to demonstrate love for Stephen in his martyrdom.
The next chapter, Acts 8, relates an interesting phenomenon. First, it tells about a great persecution that followed the stoning of Stephen. Zealous Jews were seeking to eradicate this young movement that had already turned Jerusalem upside down. It goes on to say that "those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the gospel."
Now it's normal to assume that the ones who preached were the leaders of the early church, when, in actuality, these first "missionaries" were rank and file church members whose lives had been dramatically changed through their encounter with the Risen Lord. They were so pumped up that they couldn't keep silent. As they traveled back to their homes in the outlying regions I can picture them seizing every opportunity to relate their experience of having their lives dramatically and eternally changed through their faith in Christ. I can imagine Joe and Sadie, as they headed back to Pamphylia, stopping at an interstate rest area or service station (donkey filling station - use your imagination), and striking up a conversation with anyone who would listen. Then, once they got back home, Joe couldn't help sharing his new faith with his coworkers. The same was true of Sadie, who went every day to the market and looked for opportunities to talk to someone about Jesus. And this happened in hundreds of lives, as these Greek-speaking Jewish converts returned to their homes and told of their encounter with Christ.
One writer, in commenting on this phenomenon, said that these early converts "gossiped the gospel." In a short time the entire region was abuzz with the Good News message.
The change that a relationship with Jesus Christ brings is something to buzz about. Who are the persons in your life with whom you're sharing your faith?
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