What Would Do To Achieve Your Goal?

 

From Commons.Wikipedia

This from 2016, and  I doubt there has been much change.It really isn't a good shot, but it was better than the other dataset I found from 2001. A little concerning are the gray (Not Reported) and the white (Not Applicable) areas. Leprosy is still with us, and basically curable if caught early.

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. (2 Kings 5:1 KJV)

The Pulpit Commentary gives a little background about who Naaman could have been:

Benhadad, [King of Syria at this time] who had been wont in his youth and middle age to lead his armies into the field in person, seems now in his old age to have found it necessary to entrust the command to a general, and to have made Naaman captain of his host. ... Probably he had commanded the Syrian army in some of its encounters with the Assyrians, who at this time, under Shalmaneser II; were threatening the independence of Syria, but did not succeed in subjecting it.

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. (2 Kings 5:2 KJV)

A child was considered the spoils of war, and moved into slavery. She must have been well treated, because she was concerned about her master's horrible infection of leprosy. Every instance where leprosy is mentioned in the Bible tells of suffering and outcast from society. This little maid in waiting offered a solution that reached the king of Syria, who obviously thought highly of his captain:

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. (2 Kings 5:3-5 KJV)

I suggest you read the whole story, because there are so many different lessons in this one chapter that I could fill a week of blogs. Read it, see how many you find, but this blog is on what would we do to get what we want. That depends on how important it is. The prophet Naaman went to didn't even see him:

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. (2 Kings 5:9-10 KJV)

We don't have to wonder what Naaman thought:

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. (2 Kings 5:11-12 KJV)

Pick out your least favorite politician, place him in Naaman's place, and imagine his consternation when told to take a bath in a non-important river, in a place he disliked. Imagine his wrath and rage. And imagine the best of friends giving him advice:

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? (2 Kings 5:13 KJV)

An easy solution, no huge undertaking, nothing impossible, all that is lost is a piece of time during the day. Reason won out and Namaan followed directions, became cleansed of his leprosy. When we really want something so badly that we would ... just what would we do to obtain what we want? How far would you travel? How much would you spend to gain your goal? What is your goal? One unnamed little maid is remembered for thousands of years because of her faith in God and His prophet. She spoke of that belief, a king took her word for it and sent a company in belief. 

In the middle of the story, Naaman decided it was well worth his time to believe God and His prophet. Stay in the chapter to read the rest of that story - a gift refused, an opportunity for gain, and the consequences unexpected. God has a lot to show us, but what does He want us to do?

What does God ask of us?

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30 KJV)

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:7-8 KJV)

There pages of verses that I could add here, but I ask that you seek them out in the Bible. Ir's not what a denomination says, it's not what one church says, it is what God has inspired for all of us to read, understand, and believe:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Read the Bible - there are free apps online for your smart phone, and links on line to read, compare, and study, as in this link for John 3:16-18,

Jesus and the Woman at the Well

 

Last Saturday our ladies at the First Baptist Church of Cottondale (Texas, that is - there are two others, in Florida and Alabama) held the usual Mother/Daughter Banquet before Mothers Day - only this one was a Ladies Luau.

I do have to say that these are always memorable occasions and we have from one to four generations of ladies attending, enjoying great food, seeing an uniquely fitting skit, plus a biblical message applicable for the ages.

Our pastor's wife gave our devotional. It is a well known story, so often referred to as The Woman at the Well, and is found in John's fourth chapter. In the first four verses we learn that the religious Pharisees had learned that more people had been baptized after hearing Jesus than had been baptized by John. We also learned that Jesus had not done any of the baptizing. 

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. (John 4:1-3 KJV)

The fourth verse sets an interesting stage:

And he must needs go through Samaria. (John 4:4 KJV)

The Bible mentions Samaria several times. The Samaritans worshipped the same God as the Judeans, but were located in the northern kingdom of Israel, separated from Jerusalem, the center of Jewish worship. Oxford Bibliographies has a page on Samaria that includes:

'The name “Samaria” was applied to the region when the city of Samaria became the capital of the northern Israelite kingdom under King Omri in the 9th century BCE. In the biblical period, the majority of the population in the region were Yahweh worshipers (even after the Assyrian conquest in the late 8th century BCE), just as the Judeans to the south of them. Those Yahweh worshipers of the region of Samaria who eventually rejected Jerusalem and its temple as sacred centers are the Samaritans. For them, Mount Gerizim in the vicinity of ancient Shechem (modern Tell Balatah, near Nablus) and the temple on it became the focus of religious life.'

Jesus gave the parable of the Good Samaritan, but the woman at the well was a real person, and they had an interesting exchange. Samaria was on the way from Judea to Galilee, and along the way they stopped for food and water at Jacob's well - yes, the Jacob who was renamed Israel, who had twelve sons:

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (John 4:5-9 KJV)

As I understand the culture at the time, it was not unusual for a man to ask a woman to do something for him, but unusual for a woman to not only answer the man, but to question him. Just as strange was His answer to her:

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10 KJV)

Do you know that "gift of God" that Jesus referenced? Following their discussion the woman did, described who she thought He was, and He confirmed it:

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (John 4:25-26 KJV)

If you know that same Jesus, you know that He is the gift of God. Paul knew it when he wrote the church at Corinth:

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV)

We cannot say what the townspeople said at the end of this story:

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:42 KJV)

Moses and multiple writers in the Old Testament wrote of Him, for the woman at the well knew those stories. We read of Him through others. Here we read John's story. Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, James, and Jude give us more of Him, but still second hand to us. 

Please do your own reading, but also join groups such as our ladies at the celebratory Luau. There are many churches that use the Bible for their doctrine, their lesson, and as the inspired Word of God that convinced us as Jesus did the woman at the well. 

A Reason For Reading in Context

 

I've done a couple of blogs  on the reason my readers should not take my word for it that what I copy from the Bible and insert here is God's message. It has to be "taken in context." As Google's AI explains:

Context is the situation in which something occurs or exists, and it can help explain it. For example, "It is important to see all the fighting and bloodshed in his plays in historical context". 

Context can also refer to the parts of a written or spoken statement that come before or after a specific word or passage, and usually affect its meaning or effect. For example, "You have misinterpreted my remark because you took it out of context".

Let me sshare an example that occurred today. It happened in a prayer group of scattered people, with one person in the group, whose husband is experiencing serious health problems, certainly in need of prayer from believers in God's ability to help His children. The group utilizes a social media that allows them to cross time zones and international boundaries to join in specific prayers. That's a blessing in so many ways.

One sincere believer wrote to "name and claim" a specific verse that she believed carried a promise from God:

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. (Job 22:27-28 KJV)

That does sound good, doesn't it? It's easy from these two verses to assume God is speaking to Job, telling Job that all he has to do is pray, giving a decree of what he wants, and it will happen. That is taking it out of context.

Job's story is about tragedies he endured, costing him his family and all he had worked for his entire life. He was left sitting in ashes, with four friends who came to keep him company, and to convince him of his sinfulness for God to have punished him so strongly. The person speaking in verses 27-28 is introduced in verse 1, and continues well beyond verse 28. The chapter heading is: Eliphaz Speaks: Job's Wickedness Is Great:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? (Job 22:1-5 KJV)

I really wouldn't want a friend such as Eliphaz to tell me how deeply I have failed God, even ignoring widows in need or breaking an orphan's arm. In veres 27-28, Eliphaz is encouraging Job to pray for God's mercy, God will hear when Job prays then pays for what he has done wrong. Job then can ask God for something good and expect it to happen. 

Trust me, bad things happen to very good people. They are inexplicable, beyond making sense out of what is happening. There are many tragedies we will not understand in this world, but a good deal of them simply occur because we live in an imperfect fallen world that does have active evil doers. Job was a good man. Get to know him at least in the first chapters of his book.

Also know there are promises spoken by God where He is specifically identified as the speaker. Our lesson in last Sunday's sermon from Habakkuk was such a promise - to allow Israel to fall to the Chaldeans:

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. (Habakkuk 1:5-6 KJV)

God kept his word there and Jerusalem fell, the people taken into captivity. For what life was like there, read the book of Daniel, a young man who purposed in his heart to do what God expects. Does God allowing Israel to be captive mean God is vengeful? Actually, He is just. Israel turned away from Him, forgot Him, ignored Him. The Chaldeans served as a reminder that from people given much, much is required.

To know God in context, the entire Bible is necessary. Don't treat is a buffet where only the gifts are shown. Remember that there are responsibilities, and communication is one. Search the Bible for God's interaction with mankind, not for verses that appear to fit the moment, especially when they are easily shown to be out of context. Open the book with a prayer that God's Holy Spirit will provide what you need.

 

Inevitable

 

That's a screen capture of a template document available free to use in Word for a single person's will. I'm using it as an example to be certain my hand-written will (just as legal) has all the right legal information. I need to do this even though my husband and I have a simple and conjoint will done almost twenty years ago. Things change. But needing a will is inevitable because death is inevitable.

One of my past hobbys was genealogy - a deep look into family history. I've blogged on that several times, and have a link to a website I used for several years, leaving it up in case someone searches. My parents, their siblings, their parents, their siblings, and all generations previous, died. All humans have in the past and continue to do so today. We've lost extended family in our generation, and within my children's. Dear friends have passed, too.

A will simple lays out what I want done with my real and personal property - my name on a deed is real property, my wedding ring is personal. There are specific people I would like to have what I have now.

That goes for knowledge and faith. That's nothing new - Beloved Husband's grandfather mentioned such in his will. The legalese pages were properly written, then he added:

January 21, 1932

To my dear family survivors; the greatest asset I can hand down to you is to commend you to the Lord Jesus Christ whom I have tried to serve from childhood. He is the only rock or foundation you can safely build or rely upon and you should love Him with all your Might.

In writing my will I could have made disposition of various small things but I recall that at various times I have given some of the children things, therefore after I have passed away I desire that whenever any child says I gave them certain things to let that be final. Any other personal things of mine let my beloved ones select time about, but reverse the old order of things, having the youngest select first, and then up the line instead of down the line.

M T Blickensderfer

That first paragraph reminds me of verses that means a great deal to me:

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:1-3 KJV)

All religious beliefs can be taught, from childhood or later, but every individual has the ultimate responsibility to choose which one to accept as willed by a deity. MT made a personal choice to include Jesus Christ as Lord in his own life. He felt sufficiently strong about it to include what he had shown them in life in his last words to them. John knew how MT felt:

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 1:4 KJV)

John's reference is to brothers and sisters in Christ. Both MT and I felt the same about our children. And others that we know can benefit from the love of God Jesus taught, the Apostles who saw/heard Him wrote about, and the people we know who serve Him in our world today.

I cannot prove to anyone what I accept on faith, but I read Hebrews chapter 11 and I can see faith lived in people who carried it through millennia. A study of historial references confirm a great deal of both the Old and New Testament, but it still comes down to faith:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Christians cannot be truthful in boasting of their works. There is a marvelous combination:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:17-19 KJV)

Neither fear nor dwell on any inevitable event. Be aware, and understand your obligations - one of which is leaving a will. It will help your family, as anyone whose loved one died without a will can explain.

"One may edify another"

 

Jerusalem Gate, Stephanstor, Zwischen, 1900 (Wiki Commons)

There is good information from Paul as he writes a letter to each church, that is inspired by God for Christians - without time nor geographic limitations. One I've been thinking about for some time is in Romans 5, and a conclusion is reached after an example, and before more:

For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Romans 14:18-19 KJV)

Before we get into what these "things wherewith" are, let's clarify what "edify" means. As usual, I go back to the Greek, where Strong's Concordance has been a help to me in comparing what we think a word means, and how it is defined in use. You can get your own look at Strong's Concordance on the internet. I've checked multiple times, and the e-Sword app on my phone offers the same information. Here's the meaning of "edify" as used biblically:

G3629: οἰκοδομή

pronounced: oikodomē ((oy-kod-om-ay'))

Feminine (abstraction) of a compound of G3624 and the base of G1430; architecture, that is, (concretely) a structure; figuratively confirmation: - building, edify (-ication, -ing).

Wait! What G3624 and G1430 mean:

G3624: οἶκος

Pronounced: oikos (oy'-kos)

Of uncertain affinity; a dwelling (more or less extensive, literally or figuratively); by implication a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively): - home, house (-hold), temple.

G1430: δῶμα

Pronounced: dōma (do'-mah)

From δέμο demō (to build); properly an edifice, that is, (specifically) a roof: - housetop.

Sometimes edifying is just lifting up a friend. A note can do that for years. I just ran across one from my dear friend of close to 30 years, though our lives have changed and we may not see each other for five or so. In 1998 Empee gave me a gift she knew I would love, use, and retain:  Forgotten English, Jeffrey Kacirk, "A Merry Guide to Antiquated Words." 

Words are important. They all have meaning. When we use them, we select them based on what we want the person hearing (or reading) to know. In our current era, some people are changing the meaning of words. But Empee's words in the note have deep meaning to me:

"I think of you as a precious thread in my life, everlasting, at that."

We are everlasting friends.  Both of us. While we spent a dozen or so years in the same company, I reached retirement and she found greater opportunities for her skills. We not only live in different cities, but in non-adjacent counties in the same state. That will change one day, for we shall be in the same country:

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16 KJV)

As co-workers - for a while the same title on the same project - we had enough in common to enjoy spending time together. Once we exchanged information on our relationships with Christ, we knew the bond would be unbroken. I so often pray for people I've found to be close to accepting God's plan of salvation simply because I would love to see them (literally) forever.

There are also people I've met that it was obvious there was a need for Christ in their lives. It's not judgmental to see a person living with a soul-rending sadness, or with deep-rooted bitterness, or even with raging hatred, and know the eternal answer for them is accepting the love of God to restore them to what they could be. I'd love to spend eternity with them, too.

It truly is simple, as explained in Romans. You can use the "Roman Road" any time one asks:

Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30b KJV)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)

Before that verse, Paul does a good job explaining why all have sinned by drawing scenes from life. No one escapes from sinfulness except innocent children. Too soon we find ourselves envious, desiring and/or taking what seems right in our own mind. So often, it isn't.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)

The same choice faces every one ever born on this planet, choose between death and eternal life.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 KJV)

Jesus said so in John 3:16-18, while He was discussing questions from Nicodemus.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)

In fact, Romans 10:8-17 is outstanding!! But this is a good summation of the Road:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13 KJV)

Once done, we have help along that strait and narrow way:

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 KJV)

Jeremiah, The Weeping Prophet

 
Jeremiah - by Michelangelo - The Yorck Project (2002) 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (DVD-ROM), 

distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. ISBN: 3936122202., Public Domain

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. (Jeremiah 5:1 KJV)

Five chapters in, out of 52 - not really ten percent, and I can understand from this one verse why Jeremiah was called The Weeping Prophet. He had a message from God to the people of his nation - a previously divided nation that broke into two separate pieces. He knew the truth of God as well as the stubborness of his countrymen. The Lord knew it, too, and mentioned it to Moses:

And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: (Exodus 32:9 KJV)

Eleven uses later in the Bible, we again read "stiffnecked" when Stephen faces those who will not listen:

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7:51 KJV)

May I explain that stiffneckness is not confined to any single segment of humanity? At any given time, that could be applied to me. But Jeremiah wrote God's words, not his own when he used the term:

But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. (Jeremiah 17:23 KJV)

We do not listen, we do not hear, we do not read what prophets have told us. Peter mentioned this:

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. (Acts 3:22-23 KJV)

Humans are no different today from many of the people who faced Moses, Jeremiah, Stephen, and Peter, not only ignoring their message, but never anticipating consequences. 

This past week I visited with a Pastor I met over two decades ago as a new Youth Minister. This time we both lamented over another young man (Dubgee) who followed a possible path of growth sharing God's message. Then, it was if Paul's experience was repeated:

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, (2 Timothy 4:10a KJV)

Even while serving congregations, Dubgee loved this present world, and it's attention. In many ways, most of us do, giving in to touches of attention, a bit of envy, a desire for something "different" that we can't find the right words to explain. Leaving his Pastoral obligations, this present world offered positions where people paid attention, gave accolades, and a moneyed future was presented as possible. 

Paul doesn't describe Demas' present world, but leaving God's work does present problems -  and a descent that can be described in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Dubgee ignored what he earlier gave as sermons to a congregation. Today, in his present world, he no longer has steady employment, a home of his own, his wife, nor his children. Consequenses for moving from a relationship with Jesus as savior was described by Peter as:

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. (Acts 8:23 KJV)

Pray for those who, as people did millenia ago and still do today, ignore God's instructions and the consequences for doing so. Listen to the men sent to share God's instructive love that can keep us on the narrow way to the strait gate. The way may seem winding and slow to us, but the consequences of remaining faith filled are God's promises of eternal life in an eternal home. Otherwise, He will not force anyone to keep them from their consequences - eternal separation from Himself and His love.

The choice is available every day of life. As Jeremiah and Jesus did, we weep and lament:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37 KJV)

The Holiest Day for Christians

 

Christ Crucified, by Michelangelo

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew during Passover's Last Supper who would betray Him, and what would happen during the following day for Him and the man who betrayed Him. He knew the shame coming, the pain, the total desolation, the feeling of abandonment. He also knew what was to come after the cross. He knew about Sunday morning, and endured knowing the joy that was to be His:

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)

Which for me, remembering the resurrection, makes Easter the most Holy day in Christiandom. Christmas began the physical life of the man who would spend thirty-three years here, the crucifixion was as He said, the finish, but the resurrection was the proof Jesus' own words:

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matthew 22:32 KJV)

There are too many people that do not see the resurrection as reality - they believe the stories of Jesus' death are valid, but not the facts displayed by the disciples over the next forty days:

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:1-3 KJV)

Faith in Jesus' life is necessary for living with Him after ours here:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

A blood sacrifice had been necessary from the earliest biblical writings, and a blood sacrifice was completed:

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8 KJV)

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Mattthew 26:28)

And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. (Mark 14:24)

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20)

Now that we know the sequence of events, and we've studied the Bible, commentaries, postings such as this, we all have made a decision. As a teen I publicly told a congregation that I believe the Bible's history of Judiasm and Christianity. I know of the Law, and the fulfillment of the Law in Christ. Most people do - a large number of those have neglected to give their views on salvation. Yet the Spirit inspired a better question that I can:

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; 

which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and 

was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 

God also bearing them witness, 

both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:3-4 KJV)

Yes - all of the above scriptures were taken from different books of the Bible. Dear Reader, you cannot know whether they were taken out of context, or that they fit across chapters and books to tell a wonderous story, until you learn more and more about God, the inspiration for all the scriptures.

From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible has a single theme - God exists and has a plan for mankind that is eternal. Come, read, question, learn, and do not escape by neglecting so great salvation.

It is part of the Good News, the gospel that Jesus preached:

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23 KJV)

The Greek word translated as "gospel" by Strong's is G2098:

εὐαγγέλιον

euaggelion (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on)

From the same as G2097; a good message, that is, the gospel: - gospel.

 G2097 is:

εὐαγγελίζω
euaggelizō (yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo)
From G2095 and G32; to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel: - declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

I'll leave it up to you to look further into G2095 and G32. However, I caution those who disparage evangelism or evangelists. Jesus was one sharing the good news, just as the angels at His birth and at the empty tomb following the resurrection. Basically, it's what I do here, too - sharing the news that Jesus is Christ, the Messiah for whom Jews awaited through Old Testament prophecies, confirmed when in the Synagogue Jesus said:

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4:17-21 KJV)

Angels, Biblically

 

Govert Flinck, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I've read Dale Evans' book, Angel Unaware, and know that the title refers to:

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2 KJV)

I've also heard of people who believe that in a particular circumstance, they have been assisted by an angel, rather than a kind-hearted human. Though I have not experienced (or not noticed), I do believe that miracle can happen.

A completely different book was Tosca Lee's Demon: A Memoir. A non-Christian one-star reviewer wrote: "It preaches at some points about Man's nature and the urgent need for acceptance of Christ." While a five-star reviewer included: "Mind you she doesn't take away anything from the Bible, but merely increases the reader's knowledge about why there is such a hatred from demons towards human beings in general."

This is not a recommendation for either book, it's just as background about a human interest in angels. The Bible is full of angels - 297 references in KJV, from Genesis 16:7 through Revelation 1:20. The verse that got me thinking about angels in general is from Peter's first letter speaking of Old Testament prophets:

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:9-12 KJV)

The bold words were similar to the plot of Tosca Lee's book, from the viewpoint of a fallen angel, which is a total spoiler (or maybe an enticer if it makes you wonder.) Either way, humans have been interested in angels, but Peter tells us that God's salvation plan are things the angels long to see. 

Which is why I selected angels giving the good news to shepherds as today's graphic. We certainly do not know what God knows - obviously, though angels know Him, they don't comprehend His mind any more than we do. Yet they knew the birth that would change the world:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11 KJV)

Angels ministered unto Jesus twice - after the temptation, and before His crucifixion:

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. (Matthew 4:11 KJV)

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 22:43 KJV)

Even Satan knew that Jesus could call upon legions of angels to protect His earthly body:

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Matthew 4:6 KJV)

We serve the living God, who has given us more than He did the angels, in that we have the opportunity to turn our backs on Him and say an emphatic "No!" to the opportunity He offers to be with Him eternally. God has also shown us what it is like to live without Him, eternally, leaving the choice to each one of us:

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3 KJV)

Yes - Christians do what the reviewer wrote - we Christians constantly tell people "about Man's nature and the urgent need for acceptance of Christ." We also pray for those we love to understand this choice is the most important one of their lives. It is an eternal choice. To not choose God is a choice in itself, and will last through eternity. We will pray until they are no longer here, or we have gone home, as He promised:

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:3-6 KJV)

Are Christians A Light Upon A Hill?

 

Photograph by Fred Lacey, original art by Vandyke, engraving rendition by J. G. Kellogg, 

an R. Andrews print., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

John Winthrop was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He sailed from England on the ship Arbella in 1630, and on the ship wrote a sermon that has been copied, studied, mentioned, discussed, and generally taken apart for the essence of its meaning. Titled A Model of Christian Charity, it is just as interesting today as it has been for centuries. And, in my opinion, it could be used today because of the oft repeated phrase, "city upon a hill":

"For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world. We shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned to curses upn us till we be consumed out of the good and whither we are going."

The reference comes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, just following the Beatitudes:

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 KJV)

I know a large number of Christians today, not only near me, but scattered across the world, who are concerned about sharing the gospel to their local area, others to another state, still others answering Jesus' call to go unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8f) That was said to the Apostles, those who followed Christ before and after His resurrection. There was no "New Testament" written, just the words of Christ:

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:27-28 KJV)

Jesus, by His words, example, and miracles, was the new testament. The authors of the books in the Bible called New Testament were ones who heard His words, learned to follow His examples, and in many cases - through the Holy Spirit - worked miracles in His name, giving God all the glory.

We as Christians have read about that. We've studied the Old Testament and see the prophecies of Jesus' birth and death. Personal experiences of men who lived through those fulfillments wrote the New Testament. Each Testament is incomplete without the other.

Also as Christians, we should have the same concerns John Winthrop had as he lead a colony of Christians to an opportunity not given many. Not all the people, nor all the ships, were Christians looking to live their lives as examples of Christ's teachings. Those teachings were to be the light to shine before men, giving them a path to the light of this world, and the next:

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12 KJV)

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5 KJV)

Although He spent time with His followers after the resurrections, there is no doubt He ascended and is at the right hand of God's throne. Stephen saw that very scene as he was joining them. That means Christians now are are the light of the world, as Jesus said  in Matthew's verses above. So, I leave you with the question I asked myself. Am I a light upon a hill? Do I share Jesus as I was told to do?

And my answer is truthful - not as much as I should.

PS: "A Model of Christian Charity" remains a very good sermon. Will you remember it in 2030 when it celebrates four hundred years of being spoken of among men around the world?

 

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci

All four Gospels in the New Testament give us a portrait of The Last Supper. We all know that it doesn't match the above painting. da Vinci gave us one of the most beautiful of scenes, including Jesus, His twelve disciples, the bread and wine, but there's no way to show the tension - nor the fact that this was only the close of day. There was much more to happen that night.

This coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, our congregation will participate in a rembrance of this event. We will think of the Gospel messages, but the word's will come from a scene described by Paul:

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, 
That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, 

Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, 

This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (1 Corinthians 11:23-29 KJV)

The carriage returns are mine - these verses aren't displayed in this manner - in order for you to give careful thought to why this event is remembered, even celebrated. Paul encompassed what took more to write in each of the Gospels. If you'd like to read each of them:

Matthew 26:26-29

Mark 14:17-25

Luke 22:14-23

John 13:1-2

Each one is a bit different. John is the most different. He does not write of the bread and wine. He includes the washing of feet, then follows with chapters of Jesus' words to the disciples. 

Were the story to end here, or at Jesus' burial, we would not be holding a remembrance of His explanation of this wine and bread. However, the following Sunday, there is a celebration of His resurrection, thus it is important that we remember who died, and why.

This remembrance is important to Jesus' followers. It speaks of the reason for His life. For one to take it "unworthily," be very cautious. My 1968 copy of the Amplified New Testament delves into what verses 28-29 mean:

"Let a man [thoroughly] examine himself, and [only] when he has done so shouild he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ's] body, eats and drinks a sentence - a verdict of juidgment - upon himself"

While I do not believe in transubstantiation, I do believe I should have cleared my mind, my spirit, and my soul of anything that separates me from closeness to God. I must not allow discord, dissatisfaction, dislike that has been with, in, or around me distract me from full participation in remembering that Jesus died painfully. Fully a man, feeling all that we would feel were we placed in the same position, and doing it of His own free will - for me. For you. For anyone who believes He lived knowing this was coming, and never created a different ending.

As much as I love John 3:16, I also love:

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16 KJV)

That's why I remember the Lord's Supper.

Joy Unspeakable

 

I hope you've sung this hymn or at least heard it. It is joyful - and the repeated phrase is biblical: 

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8 KJV)

1 I have found His grace is all complete;
He supplieth every need.
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.
Refrain:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory.
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory;
O the half has never yet been told!
2 I have found the pleasure I once craved;
It is joy and peace within.
What a wondrous blessing! I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin. [Refrain]
3 I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace.
O the Savior’s presence is so near;
I can see His smiling face. [Refrain]
4 I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll!
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul. [Refrain]
Source: The Celebration Hymnal: songs and hymns for worship #740

This immersion into joyfulness is what keeps us witnessing as Jesus' last request from Matthew 28:18-20.

In the King James Version of the Bible, joy (or a form of that word) is used  129 times in the Old Testament, and 65 times just in the New Testament. Among my favorites there are:

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 1:4 KJV)

Even beyond my own firm foundation of Jesus in my life, it's not as joyous as knowing that my children have made the same choice to give their lives to God and share Him witih others. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22 KJV)

Joy is only second to love in the fruit of the Spirit list!

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. (Matthew 2:10 KJV)

After the Magi realized their mistake in seeking the newborn in Jerusalem, they started a journey to the unknown:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10 KJV)

That us, all those who lived before us, all those here with us, and all those who will be here from now to Jesus' return. We've all been given joy.

There are sixty-two more uses of the word "joy joyous or joyful"

Now I do one small bit of advertisement. As you know, I never have monetized this site. However, I will not hesitate to introduce you to my cousin, Dawn Holley, an accomplished lady who added a book to her list of successes. It, too, is all about joy - mostly in her life, along with how to achieve it. You can find it on Amazon - in paperback and Kindle:  22 Keys to Joy: for the easily distracted.

Take time to enjoy the joy filled times in your life, and remember to give God the glory when you thank Him for them. They are a blessing, aren't they?

For Those Who Deny Christ

Davezelenka, Peter Denies Christ, CC BY-SA 4.0

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Matthew 26:34)
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Mark14:30)
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (Luke 22:34)
Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. (John 13:38)

We often find the four gospels omit something found in two or three of the others. Sometimes the timeline appears differently. But this particular incident, as many others, is found in all four gospels - from the action that begins during the Last Supper through Jesus' trial. In this one incident, we prophecy spoken and just hours later fulfilled.

Peter did as so many people have done, denied knowing Jesus as Christ, even denied being a follower.

People still do that today. I won't go into their denials, no doubt those reading here have heard or read of multiple people saying God doesn't exist, the Bible is a collection of Jewish myths, and when they die, there is nothing afterward. Peter denied Christ out of fear. Others have denied Christ out of ignorance. However, a number deny Him out of rebellion.

Doesn't matter what their reason is, our job is to give them every opportunity to change their mind as we witness, as I wrote two blogs ago: Witnessing - Telling What We Believe and Why. I won't repeat all of that here. However, to have the faith that saves ...

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

... it is necessary to believe:

God exists

The Bible was inspired by God, though written by men over millennia

There is a consistent them of prophecy in the Bible

Jesus' life and death were part of God's plan

Jesus was the physical son of God as well as the Spirit of God

There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved

Rejection of God and His salvation means separation from Him for eternity

That takes a lot of faith, doesn't it. But the Bible tells us we are to tell people all the time, everywhere:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

It may not be in God's will that we physically go, but we are all to teach, and take part in the process:\

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:8-17 KJV)

Peter repented of his denial. He spent the rest of his life telling people about Jesus. Paul went beyond denial to making "havock the church,"  while "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord," getting permission from Jewish authority to "bring them bound unto Jerusalem." Paul also repented of his denial, and also spent the rest of his life telling people about Jesus.

Christians - we have marvelous examples of witnessing and witnesses. Non-Christians - will you hear us? Simply because we love you enough we want to know now that you have the opportunity to spend eternity with God and His promises.

Redeeming The Time

 

From Wikimedia Commons, changed from PNG to JPG

Sunday's sermon, given by Scott Matthews, the following scriptures first focusing on four words:

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV)

Many people would chose Redeeming the time, which are not four words, leading me to believe more would choose the days are evil from personal knowledge. Looking around this world, we can see so many things acknowledged by society as evil - yet exist in functioning societies. 

In another set of Ephesians verses, I found a specific explanation of why:

"Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclkouided. [Thkey are] alienated (estranged, self-banished)  from the life of God - witih no share in it. [This is] because of the ignorance - the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness - that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart (to the insensitiveness of their moral nature). In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless, and have abandoned themlves [a prey] to unbridles sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [ that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. But you did not so learn Christ!"

That's from my Amplified New Testament, and I believe while it covers the following verses, it does so with explicit current words. Since that New Testament was published about 40 years ago, today's moral understandings may not recognize them, or this:

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; (Ephesians 4:18-20 KJV)

Determine for yourself  - do you see open evil in the world that touches our lives, family, friends, work, acquaintances, or our country? The remainder of Bro. Matthews' sermon dealt with the most likely remembered Redeeming the time, and how the Bible tells us to do this.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:17-20 KJV)

The advice is in that verse, describing action we can take to bring change to our lives after we've begun to give thanks to God in the name of Jesus: be wise, understand God's will, don't let your mind be affected, make melody around you, give thanks, always. Paul wrote a list in another letter:

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 

Rejoice evermore. 

Pray without ceasing. 

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

Quench not the Spirit. 

Despise not prophesyings. 

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 

(1 Thessalonians 5:14-24 KJV)

Is there anything in those verses you believe you cannot do? Why not? Let's discuss, if you would.

PS: This is not to be construed to be Bro. Matthews' sermon, but my own thoughts afterward. More of what he covered will be in my next blog.

Witnessing - Telling What We Believe and Why

Etching: The Stoning of Stephen, by Rembrandt von Rinj

The William M. Ladd Collection, Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1916
Minneapolis Museum of Art

While there are members visiting those in the hospital or home ill, and Sunday School teachers reaching out to new people visiting, as well as speaking to neighbors and sharing brochures, our church holds a monthly Outreach program. It has a few differences from the first list of contacting people, but does cover some of the same areas.

There have been as many as 35 people, and as few as a dozen attendees. We divide up into two specifics groups - those who will head out, usually two-by-two, to visit people from specific lists; and those (usually elderly women and a few others), who write letters inviting those moving into the community, and sending cards to those ill and shut-ins.

Those who go to visit go prepared to witness to others. A Christian's witness covers a wide number of subjects, but there are two examples in the book of Acts. I've been thinking about them as I prepare for next week's Sunday School lesson in Acts 7, where Luke recorded the stoning of Stephen.

Chapter 6 covers Stephen's ministry. Early in the chapter, the disciples approached the congregation with a problem, and requested volunteers to help them. Those chosen to do so were:

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: (Acts 6:5 KJV)

Stephen quickly fulfilled their request:

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Acts 6:8 KJV)

But that created new problems within those who were trying to erase Jesus' name from their history:

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, (Acts 6:9-12 KJV)

That's when I wondered how closely Stephen's witness before the rulers followed that of Paul in Acts 26. There were differences - Paul spent sometime explaining his personal Jewish heritage, specifically explaining how he persecuted Christians. Until he met the risen Christ on the road to Damascus:

At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. (Acts 26:13-15 KJV)

They both spoke of Abraham and the faithful through the judges, kings, and prophets. They spoke of their following Christ. Paul had years to witness to others before the sentence of death was carried out. Stephen's was much quicker:

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:57-60 KJV)

See the name Saul in that paragraph? Christians know that he changed his name to Paul. He had seen, been a witness to, Stephen's death. I doubt that the thought of becoming a Christian crossed his mind as he kept the clothes free of the blood of an innocent man. However, he changed. He became a witness for Christ.

Every Christian is a witness to others of their belief. It's done by their attendance in a Christian congregation, gathering to worship and learn more about God and His work in Christian lives. However, Matthew 25:31-46 shows us that showing up in a congregation is insufficient.

We must live our faith, know upon what it is based, and witness to others what following Christ has been like in our lives. To do that, we must know what we believe and the base of our belief. For me, it is aa combination of personal experiences with prayers and their answers, knowing the source of my reason for praying as well as the God to whom I pray. I learn more about Him every single day as the days grow closer when I will meet Him.

We all die. It has been that way since time began and there are few stories of  specific people who were close enough to God not to experience death. I prefer to be able to explain to those who will listen why I believe Paul's witness:

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

(Hebrews 12:2-3 KJV)

Christians, will you share your witness here that others might know that:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

Change is Necessary

 

I had no experience with live oaks. Didn’t have a clue as to its age until we lost big limbs out of the middle. The man who cleaned up the tree so the damage would not attract damaging insects or cause greater damage verified the age. It has a 65 foot long canopy and is a candidate for Live Oak Society membership. I have the form all filled out, but haven’t come up with a name. Feel free to suggest one!

These trees stay leaf-filled all winter, standing in stark contrast to the empty limbs of other trees. I did not know that they shed their leaves only as new growth came in March (here) and was totally unprepared for the leaves to die (see above.) Those that didn’t simply folded in, hanging limply. I focused on them and not the fresh green grown along the brown limbs. The yard had more leaves than it did in the fall.

Three weeks from now the full canopy will be fresh green and acorns will be forming for the deer to eat next fall. That’s a cycle, which reminded me of another:

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:42-47 KJV)

That’s not the “milk” of new Christians. That is the “meat” that Paul speaks of in:

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 Corinthians 3:2 KJV)

I do think/write more of the beginning, where we consider becoming followers of Christ and why it’s important. However, at my age I’m becoming more and more interested in what is waiting for me that makes me different from those who have not thought of Christ at all. Resurrection.

Oh, yes, I’ve mentioned His. It’s basic in Paul’s longer witness to the changes in his life. Between Acts 26:1 and 26:28 Paul says:

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:22-23 KJV)

Paul was witnessing to everyone that Christ suffered, died, and was the first one to rise from the deal simply to show light to people. That is what Christian’s do, tell everyone who will listen how Christ affects their life. The primary goal is to speak of what happens after we die, as well as who provides the goals in our lives. Jesus’ appearance was to give Paul a specific goal:

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:16-18 KJV)

Paul spent the rest of his life to that purpose, leaving a wealth of information for those following him in time. This body, containing our soul and spirit, will be gone – of none importance:

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:54 KJV)

The Bible tells us all souls belong to God":

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4 KJV)

And, at sometime, God requires those souls to return:

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  (Luke 12:20 KJV)

I cannot give my soul to God – it belongs to Him from the beginning. I have given my body, my spirit, my life, through faith in Him, as He appears as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever more.

What’s your decision about your life and God?