You shall speak for Me....

If Paul knew what lay ahead he may have thought twice about entering the Temple that day. But now after a mob scene we find him on an expedited adventure from Jerusalem to a Caesarean prison by God’s divine orchestration so that he may begin to see the prophecy of: “you will speak to kings” begin its fulfillment...but certainly not as Paul had envisioned.

Prison Fellowship with a Roman procurator is probably not what was on Paul's mind! This Roman understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately but a man who vacillated, often unwilling to commit when pushed come to shove, one who abandoned wives to marry another. His new wife, Drusilla is only near the age of 20; is his third wife and also a divorcee. Together they paint a picture of those who seek the world’s answer to happiness but when presented with faith in Christ Jesus, righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix, and most likely Drusilla, became frightened and sent Paul away with these words: “when I have an opportunity I will send for you.” The world says tomorrow, tomorrow but not today. Beware, tomorrow may never come. For two years Felix had many opportunities and talked with Paul often but Felix’s heart remained un-resilient to the gospel message.

Porcius Festus succeeded Felix and thereupon inherited the problem of Paul. Festus was a man-pleaser who wanted to do the Jews a favor, and also naïve to the ways of the Jewish religious leaders. Festus was also a man who could not or would not made decisions regarding the fate of Paul. Upon hearing that Paul appealed to Caesar he found himself in a bind with no easy answers.

Enter King Agrippa I who arrives in Caesarea for a visit accompanied by his sister Bernice. Agrippa, unwilling to just decide, opens the door to hear Paul and thus once again “you shall speak to kings” is being fulfilled. As Paul speaks the hearts of two men listening must decide not for Paul’s guilt but for who Christ is. Festus responds with “Paul you are mad!” Paul takes the upper hand and gives Agrippa the opportunity to decide: “Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.” Agrippa answers with a question: “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”

God is patient but presented with the gospel message all three reject and thus one day will have to stand before the judgment seat to hear “I never knew you.” Others too reject because of fear OR because the gospel message is just too simple OR because they do not want to lose face. Jesus, the Servant has come that all men may have the opportunity to accept Him. It is my prayer that you will accept Him as your Christ, your Redeemer. You believe the prophets right? I know you believe. Will you accept?


Acts 24 to 26

What would you have me do for you?

Can you imagine the Creator of the World asking you that question? How would you respond? What thoughts come immediately to mind? In Mark 10 we meet four individuals who were asked that question. Take a long look at each.

First is the rich young ruler. What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said you lack one thing; in essence you lack God being God. Instead money is your god and your idol. He left sad and sorrowful for he had an abundance of riches. Jesus pricked his heart and he was found wanting. Next James and John offer to us a glimpse into the truth of our hearts: power and prestige or perhaps security to be by the side of Jesus as He goes forth to conquer. Impetuous and bold, audaciously they say they are willing to share his fate and so they will. Contrast these with Bartimaeus of the same chapter and see that his only request was for healing of his eyesight. The rich young ruler and the sons of Zebedee sought what was tangible, what was temporal and would meet their self-interest.

The rich young ruler never saw the kingdom of God; the brothers did indeed see their words come to life. James will be the first apostle to be beheaded and John will live his life in exile. Be careful of what you ask for. But, Bartimaeus will become a follower of Jesus with no cloak, no strings attached, but full of God’s merciful touch to remind him daily that now he could be of service to the Master and others.

Jesus looked into the heart of all and what did he see? He loved the rich young ruler; he too loved James and John but warned them of the life ahead. But Jesus saw the one thing that is all He desires and he saw that in the blind Bartimaeus---faith. What does Jesus see when He looks within my heart? Does he see a spiritually undiscerning person whose life goal is to keep that which God has given to me for myself and no one else? Does he see that because of pride I seek power, prestige and position? Or does he look into my heart and see humility, faith and a desire to see Him alone? The rich young ruler left carrying his riches with him, sorrowful and sad. The brothers felt the sting of the other disciples when their request was revealed. Were they angry because the brothers beat them to what they also desired or were they indignant because they saw into the hearts of James and John a heart of selfishness? Bartimaeus felt the sting of the crowd but he was resilient, steadfast, unwilling to yield to their scolding, bold and desirous of one thing…to follow Jesus. Where am I?

You call me Teacher and Lord and you are right for so I am and as I served you so shall you serve and love one another. In this way the world will know that I am in you and you are in me.
For three years twelve men have left all to follow this Servant, Teacher, Lord and in this night as He once again removed his garment and used a teachable moment in washing their feet and serving supper questions surfaced. In this quiet moment as they watched and allowed Him to humbly serve them their minds swirled as He said “Where I am going you cannot follow but you will follow later.”

Place yourself around the table, join with the disciples for a moment in time and listen.
Peter: Why can’t I follow you right now?
Thomas: Lord we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?
Philip: Lord show us the Father and it is enough for us.
Judas (not Iscariot): Lord, what then has happened that you are going to disclose yourself to us and not the world?

Questions, questions and more questions! We all have them. How do we find the answers? Listen to The Servant, Teacher and Lord:
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; (I am the answer to life)
Believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in in Me, believe because of the works themselves. (My works testify to my identity)
If you love me, you will obey my commandments (In obedience I will reveal myself to you more fully)
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you. (I will not leave you as orphans…)

As you sit each day at the feet of Jesus you too may have questions:
Questions of the unknown future
Questions of who Jesus is
Questions of what it means to love and obey
Questions of why we don’t understand what we read

As I was reading and writing I reminded myself that I am soooo like these disciples! As I am being served the truth of His Word, I am comforted by the presence of the Helper, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit who has been sent to each believer to indwell him/her. But, He is not just all of those things, He is "my" Teacher who jogs my memory to other passages I have read, He is the one who guides my hands until I see the whole picture. Amazing.

John 13: 31-38 Solitude Meditating on the Glorification of the Servant”

And God said, “Let there be light! And there was light and God separated the light from the darkness.” And into the darkness of this world entered the “Light of the World” who would be the humble servant. And the darkness left the Passover and the Light of the World replied: “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him.” The glory of the Father illuminated the Passover room and the men within heard the Servant give a new commandment as if to cement this image for all eternity:

Love one another
Love one another as I have loved you
Love one another so that the world may see Me in you

By this everyone will know: you have been illuminated by the Light of the World, been supernaturally transformed by My Light and forever the darkness that would permeate you has been dispelled.

Earlier Jesus had said “As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world” but I am leaving you for a little while. You now must be My light to all who live and walk in darkness and tell them that if they follow Me they will have the light of life within just as you have. Then they will not belong to the world of darkness anymore but walk in the illumination of the glory of the Servant. Remember to walk as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth -- trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

This must be my passion, my mission, my command to “go into all the world” and share this Light to all. In this quiet time, I am asking the Lord where He might plan to have me illuminate the darkness with His love.

Love one another, love one another, love one another from now until He returns.

Twelve Ways to say "Good - Bye"

Moving is not for the faint of heart with packing, unpacking, moving addresses and private data, uprooting yourself from familiar surroundings and learning the new cities to which God has called you. Farewells are never easy and often are accompanied by tears by the one leaving and those who are left behind as I can attest having once again relocated from one city to another. You leave behind precious friends, co-workers and churches. In contrast consider how simple life must have been back in Paul’s time with only a coat and a staff, a pair of sandals and a parchment! But, no matter now or then, farewells are just as hard. As we follow Paul, we come to the Aegean seashore where he tearfully said his good-bye’s to the elders of Ephesus. and we now in the 21st century can join him in this farewell and learn much about what to do and what not to do.

What to do:
• Plan and prepare for your departure with excellence and meeting your own needs and those who will be left behind.
• Remind those left behind of the successes you all had together as a team and the reasons why: they were prepared spiritually, emotionally and physically.
• Remind them how they provided for your needs and in return they reaped benefits.
• There may be trials which are unknown to you and to them which lay ahead so prepare by putting on your armor.
• Remind them that you are leaving because you know that God’s purpose has been fulfilled there and His work will continue…no one is indispensable; God will always provide for your needs and theirs.
• Remind them to minister to the weak ones left behind.
• Remember Christ’s words: it is more blessed to give than receive.
• Pray with and over those you leave behind.
• Allow them to accompany you to the “ship” and love on them there.
• See each move as one that will bring glory to God and good to you and them.
• Lastly see each move as an adventure that only God could plan! Look for the “silver lining behind the cloud” of new friendships, new cities to explore, new ideas to broaden your horizon.
• Leave with a smile on your face and a song in your heart!
What not to do:
• Do not labor over the farewells
• Do not allow others to sway your decision…when God calls; it is time to move

So what farewell is in your future? Take to heart Paul’s example and plan for your leaving others. This is important not only in physical moves but also for any who are nearer to eternity than here. Plan on your farewell with these points in mind.

God is Able

Feb 20^th: Ps 21-22 “I Know Whom I have Believed and He is Able ”

This hymn written in 1883 by Daniel Whittle reflects the truth found in our reading today: ‘I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.’  King David long ago wrote praises to the Lord about those truths. 

Some thoughts to reflect upon today:

1.      Blessings and joy find their source in the Lord

2.      God’s lovingkindness provides a foundation of trust and security

3.      God will search out and destroy our enemies

4.      God will not forsake those whom He has chosen (Heb 13:5)

5.      God is near even in desperate times to assist and deliver

Now in turn we are to use those reflections to:

1.      Go and tell both within and without the assembly… go and praise

2.      Remind others of Gods’ past, present and future protection

3.      Remind others that if one seeks, one will find (Prov 8:17)

4.      One day wall will see and praise God (Phil 2:10)

5.      Tell the next generation of God’s righteousness (Ps 78:6) 

May these two psalms be your joy and praise this day as you walk through challenges or blessings.

You, O Lord see the hearts of men. They deceive themselves because their hearts are sick and desperately wicked. You alone search the heart and mind. Men are in need of your loving touch yet in their ignorance they are like blind and deaf men and they cannot see the evidence of their sin. They worship idols that they make from wood and stone, hammered in the ground so they do not move! They seek rain from them but from You alone Lord does the rain come. They deny the words I speak warning them of impending danger. They deny the words written in Your book of the Law.

BUT, for the remnant whose hearts truly desire to know; You will reveal Your love and salvation. Then they will say with me “Your Word! I found it! I devoured it as I would a slice of the sweetest bread of heaven! Your word is my joy, my delight.” The tree planted by the streams of water brings forth blooms as they push down their roots and drink of Your living water. They are the ones that will grow strong, vibrant and produce fruits that are everlasting.

Where are you planted? Is the word of God your delight and joy! Share these truths with someone today!