Cheerful Giver

Re:Verse reading–Acts 20:17-38 (day seven)

“remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35b

We say this very same thing to our kids during the Christmas season, but do we believe it?  I would like to think that I believe it, but the proof is in the pudding.  You have to try it if you say you believe it.  You do not need a special formula or occasion to give.  Just step out and give.  Give to someone you care about, give to someone who really wants something you can afford, give to someone who has been on your mind recently.  Just as an exercise in obeying Scripture experimentally give and see what happens in your life.

I would guess many good things will happen because of your generosity.  The most important thing that will happen though is that you will become a little more like God, and a little more like Jesus Christ.  They were the ultimate givers.  God gave his one and only Son, and Jesus gave up his life.  That generosity was specifically for you as a free gift.  Let God bless you by teaching you to be a cheerful giver in the same way.  Try it today even before Christmas rolls around.

Know

Re:Verse reading–Acts 20:17-38 (day six)

“You yourselves know how I lived…”-Paul, Acts 20:18

Paul spent more time in Ephesus than any other city on his missionary journeys, all together almost three years. He knew these elders better than most; he was their father in the faith and mentor. They had likely planted churches together throughout the region, even experienced hardship together. So when he says, “You yourselves know how I lived,” it makes complete sense. Of all people he had invested in on his missionary journeys, the Ephesians knew him best; they knew what his life was all about.

This got me thinking about my own life. How would my wife or my kids describe my life? How about those I work with? Or the guys I train jiujitsu with during the week? Do they know how I live, or what matters most in my life? And if they did would it have anything to do with Jesus? Do I even have the kind of relationships that allow others to see beyond the surface, or is everything always “fine?” (That word is full of nondescript superficiality.)

Do the people I spend time with know me? Maybe the better questions is, does what they know about me really matter? I mean, really matter? Paul’s life mattered, and the Ephesians knew it.

Potential

Re:Verse reading–Acts 20:17-38 (day five) 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Paul’s confidence in the work and effectiveness of the Word of God is remarkable. The power and ability found in studying and hearing the Scriptures taught and preached is life giving and life changing. Verse 32 contains immeasurable promised potential.

What if we read and meditated on God’s Word each day with that kind of perspective?  What if we met weekly in small groups to hear God’s Word being taught so that we might discuss, understand, and process its timeless truths?  What if we gathered to worship the Living God through prayer and song while hearing God’s Word preached with passion and clarity?  What kind of potential does God’s Word give a church to fulfill the mission and purpose of building and growing God’s Kingdom?

 

Bound

Re:Verse reading–Acts 20:17-38 (day four)

V. 22 – “And now, behold, bound by the Spirit…”

Paul was urged…constrained…compelled…pressed…to be obedient to the Spirit of God.  It seems that the more you are committed to obey God, the more certain God will be in giving you guidance.  A life lived in submission and obedience to God is rewarded by God’s active work in your live to do His will.  An occasional burst of consecration will not suffice.  George Muller’s life was an example of this principle.  Muller’s life of complete dependence upon God resulted in God’s rich provision for his ministry with children.  In our passage, Paul was bound…in other words, he had no choice but to obey!

How about your life?  Are you so committed to obey God that He moves and works actively in your life?  A quote attributed to Dwight L. Moody says, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.”  Will you be that man or woman?

Step

Re:Verse reading–Acts 20:17-38 (day three)

“They would never see his face again.”  The Spirit’s here, and we look forward to Christ’s appearing and the resurrection at the end of the age, but there sure are a whole lot of people who’ve left the scene.  And there’s still a church to lead, character to form, a cross to bear, and a world to seek.  It seems we could have used a few more years with the ones who made it happen.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know: We would become so dependent on them that we wouldn’t ever develop the strength we need to do the work at hand.  But it’s probably worse than that.  Forget depending on them; we might just leave it to them altogether.  Something about absence forces a choice, though: Step into the gap, or step down.  Paul’s gone.  Where are you?

Innocent

Re:Verse reading–Acts 20:17-38 (day two) Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. vs. 26-27

 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” Matthew 27:24

Similar words – much different motivation. Pilate didn’t want the blame, Paul carried a burden for humanity. Whenever we are motivated to act, what spurs us on? Do we act based on fear of the world or fear of the Lord? How often have you felt the urging of the Holy Spirit to speak only to quench prompting because of your own fear? We don’t want to get in to an argument. We aren’t sure how they will respond. We aren’t the most qualified to have these kinds of discussions.

Paul was fearless. He felt that nothing else mattered. He was never hostile, but he was not bullied either. He had a purpose to tell all he could about Jesus. Is our purpose any different? Have the rules changed at all? Are we innocent?

 

Next Assignment

Re:Verse reading–Acts 20:17-38 (day one)

“And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me. . .that bonds and afflictions await me.”–v 22-23.

It was not going to be easy.  Paul’s next assignment.  The past years had often been hard, painful, taxing.  The next chapter looked like more of the same.

Inspiring, isn’t it!  These men.  Bond slaves of Christ.  Willing to suffer, to face any hardship so long as they knew He was with them.  Tradition says that Paul was eventually beheaded.  Peter was crucified upside down.

A sign of spiritual integrity and maturity.  Obedience to Christ is the goal.  It is never measured against personal peace or comfort.  Dangers are faced.  Fears denied.  Friends left behind.  All for love of Christ.

The world is better because they were willing. What is His next assignment/duty for you?

Deep Questions

Re:Verse reading–Acts 17:10-12, 16-34 (day seven)

People around you are looking for answers just like the Athenians.  You might not realize it if you listen to the loud voices of our culture, but people are searching for truth.  They want to know answers to the deepest questions of life from their individual purpose on this planet to why gruesome evil does not fade.  People are are carrying the burden of unanswered questions that you hold the key to.  Paul understood this.  He was ready when the thoughtful men of Athens truly wanted to know about life and this unknown God they had built an altar to.

All these deep questions people want to know harken back to the Gospel.  You know the truth, you know the Gospel, and most importantly, you have the gift of the Holy Spirt who will strengthen you and give you the words you need to say.  Do not be afraid to point people to God when they are wrestling with the deep questions of life.  The truth of the Gospel is the only peace in that struggle.  They may not understand it right away, but it will all make sense some day.

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?  For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)  Acts 17:19-21

Custom

Re:Verse reading–Acts 17:10-12, 16-34 (day six)

And Paul went in, as was his custom… Acts 17:2

A custom is “something that is done regularly by a person.” (Merriam-Webster) In Paul’s case he had gospel customs, or missionary customs; things he did regularly to introduce others to the person and work of Jesus. When he would come to a new city or town, he would always go to synagogue first (if the city had one) to teach his fellow Jews about Jesus. Only after spending time with his brethren would he then turn his attention to the gentiles in the city, searching for people of peace (those open and responsive to the Gospel) in the marketplace and “spiritual” places.

Certainly, there is much to learn from Paul’s customs, but will you first consider with me one thing? Right now, what are your Gospel customs? Do you have any? Should you? Should we as a church family? Sorry, that is way more than one thing, but it is well worth our while to consider such things.

The Sin in Athens

Re:Verse reading–Acts 17:10-12, 16-34 (day five)   “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

The sin Paul confronts in Athens, is NOT atheism it is religion. The problem with religion is that is it man-made (vs 24). The danger of religion is that it distorts and detracts from God’s revelation of himself (vs. 23). It was natural and easy for those in Athens. It is just as common in our culture today. We turn to and trust things we build and can control. The lie is that a religious life will make more sense and we will be happier. The truth found in scripture is that God is the creator of the universe and everything in it. And real meaning and purpose is found only when we turn to and trust Him.