RE Verse reading–Mark 1:1-11 (day one) “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” Welcome to a new study in the gospel of Mark. For 13 weeks it will be our privilege to see Christ in the way that people responded to His life and message. This week we focus on John the Baptist who called people to “prepare the way for the Lord”. The greek word is hetoimazo, “to make something fitting or appropriate”. If God is to come and dwell with us, bringing with Him a new chapter of blessing, then respect alone requires certain things be done in preparation. Christmas makes a similar (if more material) requirement of us. Homes and schedules have to be prepared for the celebration. Carefully the choir must rehearse for “Christmas at First”. Isn’t spiritual/inner preparation is even more necessary? What steps should be taken now to be ready for His presence? God guide us as we study and consider.
Author: Don Guthrie
Don Guthrie is the Senior Pastor at FBCSA.
The hope of Israel
RE Verse reading–Acts 28:17-31 (day seven)
“It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” (vs 20) Paul is careful here. He does not to be misunderstood. He has not done anything against the Jewish people or customs or ancestors. (see vs 17) Paul has nothing but HOPE for the Jewish people/nation, but his dream IS new and different! Israel’s hope is in Christ. Rather than retaining their separate status, they were to be included in a much larger reality–the church. Losing their uniqueness, they would receive a larger place. It was a trade that many were unwilling to make. How true of us! God has a wonderful place of blessing and service for us but we must die to the old life to embrace the new. “I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live!” said Paul of his own experience. Lose privilege, gain power. Lose self, become servants. This is our hope as well.
Hardly hearing
RE Verse reading–Acts 28:17-31 (day six)
” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears. . .otherwise they might. . .hear with their ears. . .and turn, and I would heal them” (vs 27) Despite Paul’s love for his people, he knew their history and their tendencies. Tendencies, I fear, we all share. The Jews were hard of hearing. (Greek–bareos, “heavily, with difficulty”) Imagine a person who has gained weight, so much that he/she can barely move. Normal tasks become difficult, with the added challenge that the less he/she moves the harder it is to lose the pounds. Now imagine yourself in worship. Do we hear the Lord with difficulty? Sluggish? Lacking enthusiasm and easy movement? As a new year approaches, many of us will (again) set goals for physical health. Shouldn’t we take an equally careful look at out spiritual health? God promises His help. ” (If they would) hear and turn, I would heal them” says the Lord!
Sign of destruction
RE Verse reading–Acts 28:17-31 (day one) “Boldly and without hindrance (akoluo) he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (vs 31) The Bible says a strange thing about the “confident Christian life”. Philippians 1:28 says, “in no way alarmed by your opponents –which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you.” What? Believers who are filled with the Spirit experience an infinite supply of hope and joy. Without taking any credit, we are not alarmed by our opponents. Greater is He who is in us. . . When non-believers see this LIFE, they are often angry or convicted that they are strangers to such hope. LIFE, in this way, is a critique of world system and its failure to produce true righteousness. This week our study is Acts 28. The final word in the final chapter of this great book is akoluo, “unhindered, unrestrained, unconquered.” Paul knew this LIFE. It was (is) a gift from God and a sign of destruction for those who do not believe.
Songs at midnight
RE Verse reading–Acts 16:25-34, Acts 17:1-34 (day seven) “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening” (16:25) Worship today at FBC (I will see you in a few hours) will be this same story, told three different ways. In preparation for the Lord’s Supper (eucharist translates two greek words which mean “good gift”), we will think about the last night of Christ’s life. Before going out to face his own unjust arrest and brutal death, He paused with his disciples to sing a hymn. Amazing! It is the same attitude that Paul and Silas had. Not prison nor ill treatment was enough to silence their song or make their hearts ungrateful. It will be the same on Thursday (Thanksgiving). Our pilgrims founders did not focus on their losses or suffering. They marked the goodness of God and gathered for the purpose of giving Him thanks. May the Lord teach us all this lesson of life!
Washing wounds
RE Verse reading–Acts 16:25-34, Acts 17:1-34 (day six) “At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized” (16:33) Salvation plants love in the human heart. “We love because He first loved us.” “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Acts 16 tells this truth in a tender story. As the jailer listened to the good news of God’s love, he suddenly became aware of Paul and Silas’ needs. They were wounded. The risk of infection was high. At great personal risk, He took them out of prison to his home so that he could care for them, he could LOVE them. And they returned the favor. Having washed their wounds (skin) he became the recepient of baptism, a symbol of washing for wounds (soul) How eloquent the gospel is when we love! Friends, do we wash wounds? Do we heal or do we criticize?
Predictable
RE Verse reading–Acts 16:25-34, Acts 17:1-34 (day four) I was drawn to the words in Acts 17, “According to Paul’s custom” (verse 2). In the midst of all the tension, excitement, and opportunities, Paul was still focused enough to keep regular rhythms and priorities. Luke writes that Paul’s friends and ministry partners knew where He would be on the Sabbath. He would carve out time to be in the synagogue preaching/teaching/reasoning. That ministry mattered to Paul and he must have sensed a real burden to remain faithful to that activity. How about us? What are the “non-negotiables” of our time and faith? Meeting regularly with other believers? Spending time in the Scripture each day? Sharing our faith? Having a home that places faith as the top priority? Praying with and for our children and grandchildren? Do the predictable patterns of our lives point to the power and promise of the Gospel? Do our regular activities signal a growing relationship with The Living God? According to (insert your name here)’s custom …
Gospel. Simple.
RE Verse reading–Acts 16:25-34, Acts 17:1-34 (day one) “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (16:31) Dramatic story. The Philippian jailer sees the power of God (in the prisoners’ joy as much as in the earthquake, I believe). He asks for direction. “What must I do to be saved (rescued)”? Paul tells him 3 things. They constitute a summary of God’s good news. The action? Believe! People are saved by God as a free gift on the basis of FAITH. The object? The Lord Jesus! Not just Jesus. The LORD Jesus. The one to whom every knee will eventually (and rightly) bow. The movement? INTO the Lord Jesus! The greek word here is better translated “into”. It is a word that describes movement from one location or state of being into another. Only those who repent of their old life and move into Christ can be saved. Great gospel! Simple gospel. May we be as ready to share it as Paul was.
Sign of His acceptance and concern
RE Verse reading–Acts 15:1-29 (day seven) “God. . .showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them. . .(He) showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself” (vs 8, 14) Our search is for God. Our need. Not comfort, wealth or popularity. How will we know when we have found Him? Peter points to the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was God SHOWING that he had accepted Cornelius and his household. Do you know anyone who struggles with the assurance that he/she is accepted by God? The Spirit is the sign/seal of this much-needed approval. Notice how James looks at the same story. It was God SHOWING His concern. Know anyone who struggles with being loved by God? The Spirit is God’s proof and evidence. “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5) The Spirit is the sign of His acceptance and love.
Follow the Leader(s)
RE Verse reading–Acts 15:1-29 (day six) “Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.” (vs 22) There is a great story in Luke 7. The Lord meets a Roman Centurian whose faith has been clarified and strengthened by his experience with leadership. He is self-described as a man “under authority”. He also wields it as a leader of men. He both receives orders and gives them. Two sides of the same God-given ability. The leaders of the church in Antioch are learning the same lesson. Having been led by the Spirit, (various ways) they are qualified and willing to lead others. One after another, first Peter, then Paul and Barnabas, then James, stand and influence the church in a definite direction. When the people follow their lead, it is in keeping with the plan of God. “There is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1)