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RE Verse reading – Acts 11:1-26 (day five)
Acts11:1  The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

I was listening to one of the songs we will sing Sunday morning in Logos.  One of the lines states: “morning by morning new mercies I see”.  Often times these mercies will challenge us to see circumstances and even others differently.  Maybe forgiveness is in order, or perhaps compassion.  What about patience or persistence?  It is God’s daily mercy that will continue to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and perspectives to be like… His.  Glad He’s not finished with me.  Thank You that You send New Mercies each day “Oh God my Father”!!    GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS!!

Guest Blogger: Scott Lane – Associate Pastor, Education, Students & Venture

RE Verse reading – Acts 11:1-26 (day four)
There is a transition taking place!  The gospel has been resident with the Jews, but the Gentiles are slowly becoming the recipients of the repentance that leads to salvation.  First, it was the Ethiopian eunuch.  Then, there was Cornelius and his relatives and close friends.  Peter’s testimony of the baptism of the Holy Spirit has glorified God.  Now witnesses have gone to Antioch, a Greek city, and a large number have turned to the Lord.  Now God calls a man to lead the discipling process with the gentiles…a very unlikely choice.  Saul was zealous beyond measure, a model Pharisee, a Jew among Jews.  Saul’s obedience to God’s call causes a shift of the center of the New Testament church from Jerusalem to Antioch.  What has God called you to do?  Do you believe you are the last one to be able to accomplish this task?  Obey God’s call and see what He does!

Guest Blogger: Larry Soape – Associate Pastor, Education, Adults & Missions

RE Verse reading–Acts 11:1-26 (day three)  The beginning of the meeting: “The circumcised believers criticized [Peter] and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.’” (v. 3)  The end of the meeting: “They had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’” (v. 18)  Between these two statements, the believers in the Jerusalem church listened to what Peter had to say.  Listening is a posture of humility, and so it is hard for us to practice.  In these accounts of the early days of the church, between persecution and questions of fellowship and the like, the believers often found that they did not know what to do.  They prayed, they met together, they reviewed their history, and they listened to one another.  Then, they acted on the best knowledge they had.  The results speak for themselves.  It seems this young church had developed a culture in which they were not afraid to say they did not know how to proceed.  Following the pattern of the church in Acts, a good corporate and individual prayer might be this: “Lord, we do not know what to do.”  If we will pray regularly like that, we will train our ears to become humble enough to listen.

Guest Blogger: Bryan Richardson – Associate Pastor, Singles, Small Groups, & Pastoral Ministries

RE Verse reading–Acts 11:1-26 (day two)  “I was in the town of Joppa praying…” Peter begins his “orderly” explanation of his dramatic and controversial decision by noting his first activity. There is no hint of bragging or absolutizing his decision simply because “I prayed about it.” Others may use that phrase to avoid criticisms, but Peter simply states that while talking to God, God talked back! While we might be surprised or even a little skeptical if a friend reported that to us, Peter offers it without apology. Praying was his normal routine. Hearing from the Spirit was as well (Acts 11:12). What is your normal routine? Does it involve praying…and hearing? Unless you plan times to pray, you won’t have time to hear. Make praying and hearing your first activity this week.

Guest Blogger: Josh Vaughan – Minister to Young Marrieds & Yes, Lord! Community Ministries

RE Verse reading–Acts 11:1-26 (day one)  “When Peter went up to Jersualem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ ”  (vs2)  Predictable.  New things are hard.  People’s first reaction will be resistance (read criticism).  It happens.  Even to believers.  Peter is wise.  Without being defensive, he provides these brothers with information that will help them understand his behavior.  He does not argue.  He does not criticize them for criticizing him.  He simply reports His experience with God.  Vs.5–God gave me a vision.  Vs. 8–I resisted too (so I understand why you are hesitating)  Vs. 12–The Spirit told me to go.  Vs. 13–the men were waiting, reporting a vision of their own. Vs. 15–God gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Vs. 16–It is consistent with the words of the Lord. Perhaps we would all do better with our critics if we learned from Peter.  “When they heard this, they were silenced”  (vs 18)

Editor’s note–Tuesday through Friday, this week and next, the everydayprayer blog will be authored by Josh Vaughan, Bryan Richardson, Larry Soape and Scott Lane.  I will be posting Monday and Saturday and Sunday.  Thanks gentlemen for your help!  Thank you blog-friends for your faithfulness!

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28  (day seven) “Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. (vs 1) “Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace, over all victorious in its bright increase.” ~ Frances Havergal ~  The book of Acts is testimony/record of God’s kingdom expansion.  In widening circles the gospel spread just as Jesus had commanded.  “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the uttermost parts of the world.”  God’s plan was (is) “overall victorious”, even over the declared enemies of His Son.  It is a reminder we constantly need.  The reason we pray for our enemies (actually HIS enemies if our vision were clearer) is because God desires them to be saved!  “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers. . .be made for kings and all who are in authority. . .this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”  (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day six)  ” This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”  (vs 15-16)  The Lord made it clear from the start.  Serving Christ is hard.  Suffering is required.  I wonder (sometimes) why it is included in the equation.  Why did Jesus have to die?  Why does He lead Saul (us) to “the fellowship of His sufferings”?  Apparently there is no other way.  Those who want to serve God, for others to be saved must be willing to pay the price of sacrifice and loss.  “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you. . .as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exaltation.”  (1 Peter 4:12-13)

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day five)  “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples”  (vs 1)  It is a small word.  It reveals a big problem.  Saul was STILL breathing out threats.  It refers to a course of action that continues even after sufficient cause is given to pause and reconsider.  It describes the person who resists the Holy Spirit, ignores the “still small voice” of conscience and stubbornly continues down the previously selected path.  It must have been difficult for Saul to watch Stephen die. (Acts 6)  It must have also been difficult to hear and ignore the prayers for mercy from the Christians that he arrested and murdered. (Acts 26)  There were many warning signs for Saul.  He ignored them all.  Standing before the assembly that would condemn him,  Martin Luther said , “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. . . it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience”. Paul is learning this same lesson.

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day four)  “The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul’ ” (vs 11)  Damascus is one of the oldest cities in existence.  It retains, to this day, the feel of the 1st Century.  Straight Street is still there.  It was (and is) the main East/West highway.  In Paul’s day it was lined with Corinthian columns, the address of the wealthy and influential.  An appropriate address for an emissary of the the Jewish High Court.  How puzzled Judas must have been when his guest arrived, broken and blind and fasting and seeking light.  How different Saul’s days would be from this time forward.  No longer welcomed into the finest homes, he would be shipwrecked and hungry, criticized and opposed, but he would, at last, be satisfied and saved!  “Whatever things were gain to me, these I have counted as loss”. . .even a place on Straight Street.

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day three)  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”  (vs 6)  It must have been a great relief to Saul.  The assurance of God’s guidance.  As a sinner, he deserved no such help.  It was God’s great grace. What if we believed this simple sentence for ourselves?  It echos a truth we learned in Acts 1:2  “He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to them.”  God does not want us wandering around wondering about His assignment.  He will give us orders.  The Old Testament speaks the same assurance.  “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it’ ”  (Isaiah 30:21)  Christ gave us this example, and taught it to Saul on this first day of his new life.  Those who wait on the Lord will be told what to do next.  It is His promise to His children.