Acts 18:9-17
God is true to His word and faithful to His people. In a vision, He instructed Paul to continue preaching in Corinth, and assured him that no one would harm him there. No doubt Paul clung to this promise when the Jews rose up against him and brought him before the ruler of the city.
Before Paul could even open his mouth to offer his defence, the judge threw out the case, and by the end of the matter Paul’s chief accuser was beaten instead. What a comfort to know that the Almighty God cares for His children, watches over them, and assures them with His unchanging Word. If we have a word from God, we can rest assured that He will see it through!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Integrity
Today’s thought is inspired by comments my pastor made in a sermon this weekend.
Job 2:3 (NKJV) Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
God’s testimony of Job was that, although He was moved to trouble him without cause, Job continued to maintain his integrity. Job, remember, had just lost everything in the beginning of a trial that would test his very faith in God. But Job responded to the onset of his trial by worshipping God. What was intended to drive him away from God instead brought him closer to him.
We will experience trials in our life, although few people will experience the same degree of suffering, but whether receiving good at the hand of God or evil, let us persist in our worship response to him. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
What better blessing could be had than a testimony from God Himself that we maintained our integrity before Him. If God, who sees all and knows all, can say of us that we maintained our integrity in the face of all adversity, then all will be well in the end. More than anything else in the world, I want this testimony with God. When my journey through this life is completed, I want to hear His sweet words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . enter in to the joy of the Lord.”
Job 2:3 (NKJV) Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
God’s testimony of Job was that, although He was moved to trouble him without cause, Job continued to maintain his integrity. Job, remember, had just lost everything in the beginning of a trial that would test his very faith in God. But Job responded to the onset of his trial by worshipping God. What was intended to drive him away from God instead brought him closer to him.
We will experience trials in our life, although few people will experience the same degree of suffering, but whether receiving good at the hand of God or evil, let us persist in our worship response to him. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
What better blessing could be had than a testimony from God Himself that we maintained our integrity before Him. If God, who sees all and knows all, can say of us that we maintained our integrity in the face of all adversity, then all will be well in the end. More than anything else in the world, I want this testimony with God. When my journey through this life is completed, I want to hear His sweet words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . enter in to the joy of the Lord.”
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Holy Ghost and the Grace of God
Acts 15:6-11
In consideration of Paul’s rebuke to Peter for his double standard concerning Gentile fellowship, one might think him an unlikely candidate to defend the liberties of the Gentile believers. Yet, when the question of circumcision was raised to the Jerusalem council, it was Peter who stood up to remind the elders of the first Gentile conversion experience.
In recounting the events of Cornelius’ household conversion (Acts 10 and 11), Peter notes that they would hear the word of God by his mouth and believe. In acknowledging their faith, God gave them the Holy Ghost the same way he gave it to the apostles. The common experience of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost bound the Jewish and Gentile believers together. And Peter wraps up his argument by saying that we (Jews) believe that we will be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, even as they (Gentiles).
All people, Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our example of such salvation is the Gentile believers who received the same experience as the Jews did on the day of Pentecost, which is stated in this passage as God’s gift of His Spirit. When we receive grace, we receive the gift of God’s spirit, which is the power of God unto salvation. If you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, look to receive his grace in the outpouring of His Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:39).
In consideration of Paul’s rebuke to Peter for his double standard concerning Gentile fellowship, one might think him an unlikely candidate to defend the liberties of the Gentile believers. Yet, when the question of circumcision was raised to the Jerusalem council, it was Peter who stood up to remind the elders of the first Gentile conversion experience.
In recounting the events of Cornelius’ household conversion (Acts 10 and 11), Peter notes that they would hear the word of God by his mouth and believe. In acknowledging their faith, God gave them the Holy Ghost the same way he gave it to the apostles. The common experience of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost bound the Jewish and Gentile believers together. And Peter wraps up his argument by saying that we (Jews) believe that we will be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, even as they (Gentiles).
All people, Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our example of such salvation is the Gentile believers who received the same experience as the Jews did on the day of Pentecost, which is stated in this passage as God’s gift of His Spirit. When we receive grace, we receive the gift of God’s spirit, which is the power of God unto salvation. If you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, look to receive his grace in the outpouring of His Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:39).
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