November 19 - Acts 9-10: God Calls Gentiles and an Ambassador to the Gentiles

Today’s Reading: Acts 9-10

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Saul is called to minister to Gentiles because he is unafraid to make people angry.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Jesus chided Saul for persecuting Christians.
Ananias baptized Saul, God's Apostle to the Gentiles.
Damascenes conspired to kill Saul for teaching about Jesus.
In Jerusalem, Barnabas helped the Apostles overcome their fear of Saul.
Saul was eventually sent to Tarsus.
Peter healed a paralyzed man in Lydda and returned life to a godly woman in Joppa. Many people believed in Jesus.
An Italian captain, Cornelius, sent for Peter. Peter saw a vision that all animals could be eaten. Peter taught Cornelius' household about Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit came upon them and everyone was baptized.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Saul was never shy about following God.

Whether Saul was persecuting Christians or trying to make disciples he went without any sense of trepidation or fear. When Saul believed God rejected Jesus' Disciples, no Disciple was safe. Once Jesus convinced him that he was wrong, the Disciples had peace and the Jews had problems—a motivated Disciple of Jesus wanting to prove that He was the Messiah. May God give more people willing to obey God with no fear!

Saul became God's Ambassador to the Gentiles because he was willing to stir the pot.

The first few years of his Christian life, Saul spent his days arguing with the Jews about Jesus being the Messiah. In Damascus, the Jews may have felt betrayed by Saul and posted guards to prevent him from leaving. Even though he had people waiting to execute him, Saul escaped to Jerusalem and continued teaching. The Apostles had to send him to Tarsus just so they could have peace again. Those who are willing to openly and forcefully teach in the face of opposition are the best ambassadors to people who others do not expect to obey God.

Tabitha was brought back to life because she loved to set things right.

I love this story because it reminds me of so many ladies (and men) I've known willing to help Jesus' Disciples. I have travelled many places in the world and one of few things that stayed the same was the eagerness Christians had to house us. We received many great blessings from God's Chosen People wherever we went.

Cornelius was chosen to become the first Gentile Disciple because he was willing to set things right spiritually and physically.

Cornelius was not the typical Gentile. He loved God with all his heart, soul, and strength. He loved his neighbor as himself. He wanted his household to honor and worship God. Of all the Gentiles in the land inhabited by Jews, Cornelius could have been the most worthy of being called God's Chosen Person. People other than God's Chosen People are willing to set things right.
Cornelius provides a great example for Saul's argument in Romans. We'll hold off until then to make it.

God no longer considered race or ancestry when choosing His Chosen People.

God chose Abraham and made a covenant with him and his children. They rebelled and would not listen to God, eventually killing His Son sent to call them to return to Him. Therefore, God changed the default to become His Chosen People from ancestry to willingness to set things right in God's Name. The Pharisees, religious scholars, chief priests, religious leaders, and Sadducees were all Abraham's physical descendents but were unwilling to obey God. Cornelius was not Abraham's son but he was willing to obey God. God chose Cornelius. God rejected the others. If you want to be God's Chosen Person, you must obey Him. Lineage is no longer acceptable.
Many people think Christians do not have this problem today. However, it is a generational issue not limited to the Jews. Children can grow up like the Jews and have no sense of setting things right but want to be considered God's Chosen People. We must understand that God's Message stays the same. Even though God has now called His Chosen People the Disciples of Jesus does not mean they are the only ones willing to set things right.

Who do you know willing to make others mad by telling them about Jesus?

November 14 - Matthew 28; Mark 16: Jesus is Risen from the Dead!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 28; Mark 16

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You've made it through two of the four Gospels and have 25 books to go in the New Testament. Keep going!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The Jews' rebellion did not end God's Plan! He is risen!

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Two women, both named Mary, went to visit Jesus' tomb. Suddenly they felt an earthquake and saw an angel sitting inside the now-empty tomb. "Don't fear, Jesus has risen!" the angel said, "Go and tell the Disciples."
Jesus met them on the road and asked that they tell the Disciples to meet Him in Galilee.
The guards were bribed to lie and say the Apostles stole Jesus' Body.
Jesus came to the Apostles and told them, "I have all authority. Go, make Disciples, baptize them, and teach them what I taught you. I will be with you forever."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jesus is risen!

It is today's and tomorrow's readings that provide the foundational belief of Christianity: the resurrection of the body and its reconnection to the spirit. Christianity does not hinge on a cross. It hinges on Jesus coming back to life! Jesus' Crucifixion meant we could all have our relationships set right with God. Jesus' Resurrection means we will all one day be alongside Him. Praise God! Death will not have the last say!

The Jews wanted everyone to believe Jesus' Body was stolen.

There are a few alternative theories about the Resurrection. What I want to point out here is that the Jews did not want the guards to say that Jesus stayed alive and walked out of the tomb. They wanted the guards to say His Body was stolen by the Apostles. One major theory over the last few centuries goes against that narrative and is believed even though there is no credible evidence in that direction.

Jesus wanted the Disciples to go, make more disciples, and teach them what Jesus taught—in that order.

Allow me to get a little technical—especially since this is one of my favorite texts in scripture. Notice that baptism wasn't the goal. The goal was to make disciples. The rest, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to do everything Jesus taught the Apostles, happened to disciples. A disciple who is baptized wants to know how to set all things right. A baptized person wants to continue in their religious practice and may care little for setting things right.
One of the major issues churches have today is that they go out and baptize people and then try to make them disciples. That's backwards! It is similar to Israel when they played "religious games" instead of promoting mercy and justice. I fear we do the same when we focus on baptism. Make disciples, not baptized people. Teach baptized disciples to set things right.

He is Risen!

October 9 - Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6: Jesus on the Sabbath, Morality, and Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Today’s Reading: Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

If you have seen Jesus' works and still think He is not the Son of God, there is nothing left that could convince you.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Jesus' followers gleaned handfuls of wheat on the Sabbath. When challenged, Jesus answered God wanted flexible hearts not inflexible rituals. He also healed on the Sabbath. The Pharisees plotted His destruction.
Jesus prayed an entire night before choosing 12 Apostles: Simon (Peter), John, James (John's brother), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus).
Jesus wanted His followers to live to a higher morality.
Rumors circulated that Satan gave Jesus His power. Jesus confronted them, "Careful, when you slander God's Holy Spirit there is no way back."
Jesus considered His followers equal to family.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God prefers "a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual" (Matthew 12:7, The Message).

I have now mentioned arguments over the Sabbath three days

in a row, so I will not comment much more except to say I liked Eugene Peterson's phrasing here. God wants our hearts, not our rituals.

Jesus' Justice comes quietly.

We are in a time of political yelling. It is not new and it will not go away. Politicians think that they can win by calling the other side the worst thing since (insert bad thing). Jesus' Justice, however, does not yell at injustice. It does not cause commotion in the streets. It doesn't have press conferences with long, drawn-out speeches. It will, however, bring hope to the entire world. Seek God's Justice which is silent but life-giving.

Jesus spent time in prayer before a major decision.

Before Jesus chose the 12—including one who would betray Him—He spent the night alone, praying. This will be a common part of Jesus' life—before important decisions or important events He goes to pray for a long time. Spend much time in prayer before important decisions or important events.

"Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" is unpardonable because there is nothing left to convince a person to trust God.

I'll have more to write on this in a few days when we read the rest of Matthew 12. If you notice, Jesus' words come because the Pharisees are watching Jesus perform miracles and casting out demons and still they do not want to believe. What else could Jesus do? They see Jesus' works and still won't trust Him.

"Obedience is thicker than blood" (Mark 3:35, The Message).

For a second time today, I love Mr. Peterson's phrasing. Jesus tells the people following Him that those who set things right hold a tighter bond than people who are genetically related. This is a difficult staying—especially if you are in a family that struggles to set things right. I do not believe Jesus is trying to say we should not take care of our family. What I believe He is saying is that genetics should not be what you see when you look at other people. We should see actions and hearts. Those who set things right are our Family. Notice Jesus does not say that the Jews are His Family. Neither should we equate this saying to God's Chosen People. People who set things right should have a bond stronger than blood relatives because they are born of the same God.

Jesus is teaching His Followers a higher form of morality.

Tomorrow we will read the Sermon on the Mount. Luke's version (if it is the same speech) contains a shortened version. Therefore, I will leave you with this thought until tomorrow.

Does obedience and trust in God tie you to a person more than genetics?