It’s Not All About You
The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
….slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 103:8 NLT
Acts 16:16-23(<<click here to read the passage)
Regularly being on the road, societal problems are often exemplified. Many people are only concerned about themselves and don’t really contemplate the repercussions of their actions. Here are two examples:
#1 – Coming home recently, I had a van begin to ride the tail of my truck. I was running at a steady 60 mph but obviously, that wasn’t fast enough for them. They were riding far too close for my comfort, in that if I had to stop abruptly, they surely would have hit me.
In short order, we came to a passing zone, and they went around me. In doing so, they completed the act in a no-passing zone.
Those two acts risked our lives, both of them were unnecessary. And what was really ridiculous was the fact that I never really lost sight of them – they weren’t moving that much faster than I. When they got to a stop sign, I counted off six seconds until I passed them as they pulled into their driveway shortly thereafter.
All those chances taken for a six-second benefit…
#2 – Pretty much everywhere it is unlawful to pass a school bus with its red lights flashing. While it’s not against the law to pass with just our amber lights flashing, doing so takes unnecessary risks – and this happens regularly. No matter how accustomed my students are to my directions, nothing is stopping them from stepping out on the road to get on the bus. It makes no difference that my reds aren’t on. It makes no difference that I’ve not given them the hand signal to cross. They may just do it! And if you’ve “floored it” to get past me before my reds go on, we could easily have an extremely serious situation on our hands. And for what? To save a couple of minutes? A child’s life is worth far more than that, don’t you think?
In today’s passage, a couple of situations arise where it is clearly shown that the parties involved were only concerned about themselves. When the slave girl is set free from her bondage, her “masters” only care about their monetary loss – her wellbeing is not even on the radar with them.
Also, Paul and Silas are stripped and severely beaten with wooden rods and then thrown into prison. That may be alright for Joe Schmo, but the city officials just wanted the whole thing out of their hair. They were only concerned about themselves. They didn’t think about the possible repercussions…and there were plenty of those when they learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens!
All in all, we need to take time to think of others. We should not only be concerned about our well-being but with every action we take, we must learn to focus on how what we do might just impact others.
We mustn’t forget Jesus’ words…
“So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 AMP
“…you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Mark 12:30-31a NLT
It’s not all about you. Go and do likewise.
May 25th, 2022, Wed, 12:39 pm
Hospitality
The days until the end of the school year are quickly rolling by. Father, please give me the patience to be the person I need to be on my bus and the love to be the person I need to be with my fellow drivers and other school employees. Amen.
Acts 16:11-15(<<click here to read the passage)
Thinking back to my high school years, I cannot help but think of my best friend, Rob Klein. He was in the class behind me but through band, we developed a great relationship. I recall many joyful hours spent in his home – loving parents and two sisters (one of which was in my class) who were friends as well.
A note* regarding this passage speaks of the hospitality graciously extended by Lydia to Paul and his compatriots. When I think of the Klein family that word is so applicable. Rather than seeing me as a burden and my presence as a disruption to their family…they laid out the welcome mat.
The notion of hospitality is related to the word “hospital.” In other words, we practice hospitality when we generously and cordially throw open the doors of our homes to care for others. In hospitality, we nurture, strengthen, and serve. The result is that others find physical, spiritual, and emotional help. When they leave us, they are healthier and more whole than when they came.
I had a very good home life – solid loving parents and a wonderful sister myself. But the Klein family added to the richness of my life. I’m pretty sure they added several things to my life. I came to love the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien (author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings). They expanded my love of classical music. I learned how to play the board game RISK. I partook of wassail and crepes for the first time! And did you know that Doritos warmed over a candle are even more yummy!? They included me in whatever life was about at the time. As an extension of my family, they nurtured, strengthened, and served me in a multitude of ways, and I am most assuredly the better for it.
Interestingly enough, on this past Mother’s Day, I shared a sermon on Lydia with my congregations. She became the first recorded European to accept Christ. Many historians believe that Lydia’s home became the first Christian Church in Europe. Church tradition tells us that Lydia continued in her business career and that she was instrumental in not only helping the Church to grow in Philippi but was also in helping the Church begin a new work in her hometown of Thyatira. She used her contacts and gifts to help the Gospel of Jesus spread in Philippi, Thyatira, and everywhere else that Paul and his team would go.
Lydia’s gracious hospitality impacted innumerable lives. In a world of people who are all about themselves and what’s in it for them…be a Lydia and the Klein family, too!
*Life Application Study Bible
May 24th, 2022, Tues, 7:56 pm
Open Mind, Open Heart
Father, Your Word speaks to me loud and clear. May my ears – and most importantly, my heart – be receptive to You always. Amen.
Acts 16:11-15(<<click here to read the passage)
As we talked about yesterday, Paul had tried to go down several different paths as he began his second missionary journey and initially was pointed away from his chosen course. But then Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” v9 NLT And that’s where they went, following the Spirit’s direction.
I find it very interesting that although Paul’s vision featured a Macedonian man pleading for them to come, his first evangelistic contact was with a small group of women.
My Life Application Study Bible goes on to say: Paul never allowed gender or cultural boundaries to keep him from preaching the Good News. He preached to these women, and Lydia, an influential merchant, believed. This opened the way for ministry in that region. God often worked in and through women in the early church.
Jesus worked in the same frame of mind during His time of ministry amongst us. Now I realize that historically the Church has had a very distasteful reputation of exclusion and biased mindsets…on multiple fronts. It’s not changed a whole lot. But I would challenge us all, to think like Jesus.
Remember Jesus broke down all boundaries when He followed His Father’s leading. He made a conscientious decision to spend time with His Father, hence He readily received His Father’s guidance.
In our human mindsets, it is far too easy to judge and hold people at arm’s length. In doing so we hold them away from any ministry Jesus could extend to them through us. I would remind us all once again that Jesus never once laid out a “sinner” because of their sin. He loved. He healed. He touched. He extended grace, acceptance, and understanding.
Disease? It didn’t stop Him. Mental illness? It didn’t stop Him. Adulterous lifestyles? It didn’t stop Him. Someone totally controlled by demonic forces? It didn’t stop Him. Those controlled by greed and an overwhelming desire for wealth? It didn’t stop Him. He saw who He had created them to be, and He reached out.
How many do we label as “sinners”? And because of that, we hold back. I hope this doesn’t apply to a majority of us, but do we write people off because of…too many tattoos, wildly colored hair, they drink alcohol (not just too much but any at all), they smoke, they cuss, they party their free time away, they are far from sexually conservative – they may even step outside of what we would hold to be sexually acceptable behavior? And that’s a short list.
It may be tough, but can we be like Jesus and go into interactions and even relationships(!) with people with open minds and hearts? Can we dare accept them where there are, and as who they are, love them, and let Jesus work out the rest? That’s a tall order but, oh, what Jesus could do with us – and them! – if we just take those chances and follow His lead! Lord Jesus, may it be so!
May 23rd, 2022, Mon, 1:00 pm
“Which Way Did He Go, George? Which Way Did He Go?”
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
….with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
….may I never forget the good things he does for me. Psalm 103:1-2 NLT
Acts 16:6-10(<<click here to read the passage)
One of my joys growing up was cartoons. I enjoyed the old Warner Brothers Merrie Melodies. Of course, who of that time could forget Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and all of their companions? As a read through today’s passage, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the phrase “Which way did he go, George? Which way did he go?”
Now I remembered the phrase and remembered the voice but couldn’t remember what character said it. I discovered that the character was the unwitting Willoughby the Dog (voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc!) and he was speaking with the notorious George the Fox. Willoughby was looking for the fox but was always tricked by the fox, inevitably leaping over a fence off a cliff.
Now you may be wondering why that phrase would remind me of today’s passage. In my mind, I changed it up to say, “Which way do I go, Lord? Which way do I go?”
Now the great thing about it is that God would never lead us astray. The Holy Spirit’s goal is to guide us. And part of that guidance isn’t just a matter of showing us what to do and where to go. Oftentimes, it is just as important to be shown what not to do and where not to go.
The New Living Translation says that Paul and Silas were prevented…from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. v6
In the very next verse, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. v7
Paul and Silas’ only desire was to be obedient to God’s direction. We aren’t really told how they knew they weren’t to go to those areas, but they did. In essence, they were crying out “Which way do I go, Lord? Which way do I go?” And the whole time He was steering them in the direction of His choosing.
Finally, Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” v9
God had shown them the way to go.
In our lives, there are multitudes of ways we can go and do. Our goal is to be attuned to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
My Life Application Study Bible gives some great advice.
To know God’s will does not mean we must hear his voice. He leads in different ways. When you are seeking God’s will, (1) make sure your plan is in harmony with God’s Word; (2) ask mature Christians for their advice; (3) check your own motives to see if you are seeking to do what you want or what you think God wants; (4) pray for God to open and close the doors as he desires.
May we clearly understand the direction we must go and once we know may we do so with all of our hearts. Amen.
May 22nd, 2022, Sun, 7:28 pm
Going Beyond the Call of Duty
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
….go into his courts with praise.
….Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
….His unfailing love continues forever,
….and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:4-5 NLT
Acts 16:1-6(<<click here to read the passage)
I was a little tentative at first, but I’ve been delving into TikTok. Like all social media platforms, you have to be careful what you watch, because whatever you linger over, its algorithms will then send you more of similar nature.
I’ve been getting lots of music-oriented videos (surprised?) and quite a few faith-based videos – no surprise there either! I even archived a few because I really appreciated the thoughts shared.
One that I watched today featured a speaker who had ministered to Christian leaders in China. I have a general idea of what can happen to believers in China but in this short clip he shared quite a few things.
He opened by asking the 22 gathered to hear him speak, “If we get caught what will happen to me?” They replied, “Oh, you’ll get deported in 24 hours and we’ll go to prison for 3 years.” He was surprised and asked how many have been in prison for their faith. Out of 22, 18 raised their hands. He then asked them how many people total they oversaw in their underground small groups from all over the Hunan Province. After a bit of figuring, the number they gave him was astounding – a little over 20 million!
He shared a lot more but at the end he asked how he could pray for them. Because they are unable to worship openly with one another for fear of persecution they asked that he pray that they could be like those in America – “…pray that we can be just like you.” His reply, “I will not do that.” Big incredulous eyes looked at him and they asked, “But why?” He answered, “Because you guys rode a train for 13 hours to get here. In my country if you gotta drive for more than an hour, people don’t come. You sat on a wooden floor for three days. In my country if people have to sit more than forty minutes, they leave… In my country we have an average of 2 Bibles per family, we don’t read any of them. You hardly have any Bibles, and you memorize them from pieces of paper. I will not pray that you become like us, but I will pray that we become just like you.”
Very humbling, huh? Far too often we follow Jesus but only when it’s convenient, when it comfortably fits into our lives.
As I read today’s passage Timothy a young convert to the Way of Jesus, who happened to have a Jewish mother and a Greek father (we learn that from Paul’s epistles), did what many would have thought unthinkable. Church leadership had even said it wasn’t necessary. But Timothy agreed to undergo circumcision. “…he voluntarily did this to overcome any barriers to his witness for Christ. Sometimes we have to go beyond the call of duty in order to further the Kingdom of God.” *
Timothy did what needed to be done. Chinese believers do what needs to be done. What about us?
* Life Application Study Bible
May 19th, 2022, Thurs, 12:35 pm