Today’s reading is Acts 27:1-28:31.

When Paul met with the Jews in Rome, they said, “We desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against” (Acts 28:22). 

I have a tendency to think if someone speaks against what I’m doing, that I must be doing something wrong. I start trying to look around and figure out how to conduct myself so that no one can possibly say anything against me. But Paul’s story reminds me that is impossible. If I’m following God’s way, someone won’t like me. That is amazing to me because when I’m following God’s way I’m humble, serving, merciful, helpful, loving, etc. However, I have to come to grips with the fact that not everyone is going to like Jesus’ way for one reason or another.

I’m amazed at how many websites are set up to blast away at Christians and churches. I’m equally amazed that the authors of those sites actually seem to believe they are making a difference in the world. My first thought is to jump in and try to defend or explain so folks will understand and still like me and my fellow Christians. However, I’ve learned that is practically pointless. Those who are open to Jesus Christ are not influenced heavily by the attacks. Those who are not open to Jesus Christ are not influenced by my defenses. The fact is, no matter what I do, someone won’t like me. No matter what we do, someone won’t like us. 

We’ll never get everyone to like us, we might as well just try to get closer to God anyway.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Acts 5:1-6:15.

When the Council became angry with the apostles, Gamaliel, “a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people,” calmed them down. He gave wise counsel, essentially saying, “Hey guys, be careful. If God is really behind this, it won’t be stopped. If He’s not, it will come to nothing on its own” (Acts 5:35-39). Gamaliel is apparently an early practicer of “let go, and let God.”

God is in control. We’re not. We don’t have to try to be in control. We don’t have to try to clamp down on everything and everyone, because God will do His job. We can simply do what is right today and let God deal with the rest. If we are afraid something is going to go very wrong, we can simply do God’s will for our lives and let Him work on fixing things. If we are confused, we can simply choose to do what is right today and let God handle the rest.

I see two sides to what happened here. Gamaliel understood that if I’m with God, I can’t be stopped. If I’m doing God’s right things, I can’t be stopped. Let’s not see this in a shallow way. This doesn’t mean bad things will never happen to me. It simply means that no matter what happens God will see me through it on my way to heaven. I can trust Him to get me to eternal life. Every other fear pales in comparison.

However, there is another side. If I turn from God and go my own way, then I can hardly even get started. After all what is 400 men compared to the about 3000 Christ’s church started with. Theudas accomplished nothing and following his own way simply led to his own death. The same was true with Judas the Galilean. When I get all worked up trying to accomplish things (even what I believe is God’s will) my way, the end is death. I believe there is a proverb that says something like that. I need to remember it today.

In big and small things, if I’m doing God’s right things, there is no stopping me. If I’m following my own path, death is the only end. I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, but today, I believe I’ll do what God wants me to.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Announcement: I’m in New York this weekend. I’ll be preaching for the Upper West Manhattan Church of Christ in a series this weekend. If you are in the area, I’d love to actually meet you face to face. The series is entitled “Living Righteously–How Can I, Really?”

We’ll be meeting on Saturday (01/23) at 10 AM, 11 AM and 1 PM. Then again on Sunday at 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM. The congregation meets at Hostelling International, 891 Amsterdam Ave @ 103rd Street.

For more info about the congregation go here.

Today’s reading is Revelation 11:1-12:17.

Many who call themselves Christians today seem to be trying to figure out a way to be Christian but also have the world like them. I can’t help but remember Joel Osteen on Larry King Live trying to agree with a woman who claimed salvation was only in Jesus but still have Larry King (I believe he’s Jewish) and the “non-Christian” viewing population still like him by saying that even though he agreed with the caller who was he to say how God is going to save someone.

This is a losing proposition. Jesus told the truth and ended up on a cross. Do we think we can do much better? Do you think we can teach about Jesus and have the world like us?

Revelation 11:1-14 tells about two witnesses who teach the truth about Jesus. They end up being killed. But note specifically Revelation 11:9-10:

For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.

No doubt, some will believe the message of those who testify of Jesus. For the rest, as amazing as it sounds, the message of Jesus will be a torment. There is no middle ground to avoid this. If we find some middle ground in which the world does not feel tormented by the truth of Jesus, then we aren’t really teaching the truth of Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying be vicious and hateful in your evangelism. I’m simply saying that no matter how we tell it, if we are telling the truth, those who don’t want to believe will be tormented by what we say. That may even cause them to attack us verbally, emotionally, and perhaps even physically.

But the glorious message of these two messengers is that even though it appeared that the world had defeated them, after three and a half days, God raised them up. They were victorious. That is the message of Revelation. God wins. We want to be on His side no matter how anyone else responds.

***Question: How do you maintain faith in the face of opposition?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Acts 27:1-28:31.

Acts 28:22 is a surprising verse. “But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

These Jews were talking about Christ’s church. Even they had heard rumors about it and new it was spoken against in many places. What intrigues me is Paul doesn’t get upset about this. He doesn’t rebuke Christians for messing up because the church was spoken against. He doesn’t even blame Christians. The fact is, he expected the church to be spoken against. 

Now don’t misunderstand me. I’m sure there are too many examples to name in which Christians have behaved inappropriately and caused slander against the church and Jesus. That is not to be tolerated. However, we need to understand that when we are doing Jesus’ will, folks are going to speak against us. When people mock Christians, when news anchors repudiate us, when national stories cause people to make fun of us, our response should not necessarily be, “Oh woe is me, what are we doing wrong?” Our response should be to praise God that we are considered worthy to suffer for His cause. 

In fact, if Christ’s church is not being spoken against, that probably means it has quit doing what it should. No, I’m not saying we should go out and do things to purposefully receive verbal persecution. I’m just saying when we do what is right, stand for what is right, teach what is right, then those who differ will not take it kindly. They will speak against us. We just need to expect it.

***Question: How do you maintain faith and conviction in the face of verbal persecution?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Acts 21:1-22:30.

Paul had been traveling for the Lord for years. He had been stoned, beaten, persecuted. He had been through a great deal for the Lord. Now, he is on his way to Jerusalem and repeatedly the Holy Spirit is pointing out that when he gets there, he is going to be imprisoned by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. The Christians tried to get Paul to avoid this fate, but Paul’s reaction in Acts 21:13 is amazing.

“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

What an example. Sometimes I’m not even willing to be looked at funny for the name of the Lord Jesus, but Paul was willing to go to prison and die for it. Such conviction is a pattern for us all. 

Today, I need to work on my conviction and my confession. Am I showing people that I am God’s child? Am I telling them? Or am I in fear that they might find out and do something about it? I need to grow to be like Paul.

***Question: How do you increase your conviction and your confidence in Jesus Christ?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 13:1-14:20.

Back in Revelation 12 we saw the dragon, the serpent of old, that is Satan. Now in Revelation 13 we see his two beasts. There is the sea beast with crowns, reminiscent of the beasts of Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7. Those beasts represented kingdoms, governments. This beast does as well. In the context of Revelation, we see the Roman government, depicted by the final amazing and indescribable beast in Daniel 7:7.

Further, we see the land beast with horns like a lamb and the voice of a dragon. Do you see the mixture of Jesus and Satan here? This beast performs signs and causes people to worship the sea beast. Just as in Rome, the eventual standard worship was emperor worship. This beast represents false religion.

Now we see the evil and unholy trinity–Satan, persecuting government, and false religion. (Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying government is inherently evil, all authority is given by God.) See how they mirror the true and holy trinity. Satan trying to take the role of the Father as the sovereign ruler. The government, or the emperor, taking the place of God’s representative on earth, the king. Trying to fill the role of the Son. And then false religion, giving signs and wonders, pointing back to the emperor. This beast is trying to fill the role of the Holy Spirit.

That is the picture. We don’t need to look for some time in the future that fills all the details of the picture, we need to see the big picture and the contrast. Here is Satan, land beast, and sea beast contrasted with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Who will win?

That gets us into Revelation 14. God’s side wins. The true Lamb has sealed His followers. Those who don’t have His seal will take the mark of the beast. Then the lamb will reap his harvest. This is the harvest of His faithful followers who are removed from judgment. They are the fruit of the Spirit if you will. Then the angel of the Lord puts in his sickle. This is the judgment of those marked by the beast. They are harvested and then trampled in the winepress of the Lord’s wrath.

God’s side wins. Remember, we are supposed to be keeping the message of this book (Revelation 1:3). What message do we keep from these chapters? Be on God’s side. Satan may tempt us. Government may persecute us. False religion may attract us. They may seem to be winning, but they will not. They will lose and be judged. We can either be gathered in with the wheat as the Son of Man harvests His followers. Or we will be gathered in with the grapes and trampled in the winepress of God’s wrath. I know which I prefer.

Here is the deal. The unholy trinity may seem all-powerful while the persecution wages. In the end, however, they are powerless. At the right time, God will call His children home and judge those who do not follow Him.

Please, don’t relegate Revelation as a prophetic book that tells of some distantly future something or other. Recognize the message for right now. No matter who opposes and no matter how much it looks like they are winning, they will lose. Stay on God’s side.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 5:1-6:17.

In Revelation 6:9-11, the souls of martyred saints are seen beneath the altar of God. They want to know when God is going to take vengeance. They, no doubt, remember that God said, “Vengeance is mine.” They wonder when it will happen. God’s answer was, “Wait.” 

I struggle with that answer. Usually, if I pray and something doesn’t happen immediately, I think He just said, “No!” I need to learn patience. I need to learn that God’s timetable is not my timetable.

However, there is a deeper part of this “Wait.” God not only told them to wait, but during that period of waiting, some pretty dreadful things were going to happen. In fact, God was waiting until the dreadful things happened. He wasn’t going to take vengeance until more Christians died at the hands of their persecutors. 

This, of course, leads us into the questions about suffering and God. We have a tendency to think that if a loving God existed no one would suffer, especially not His followers. However, what we learn is life is not about our pleasure. Rather, God in His time is going to do what is best for us and what glorifies Him the most. Sadly, we have bought into the the temporal, materialistic, worldly mentality that what is best for us is a long life. That is only true if there is no resurrection. Once we accept the resurrection, we recognize there are better things than a long life. A resurrection that provides eternal joy and contentment tops that list. But that list may also include a death that glorifies God. 

I’m not saying we should go about seeking martyrdom in some sort of masochistic spirituality. I’m simply saying if that happens, it is not as bad as the world thinks it is. As Paul said in Philippians 1:19-26, death means to go be with Christ. What could be better than that when the time comes?

I have to learn, sometimes God says, “Wait.” Sometimes that means waiting through some very difficult trials. However, God will always do what is best. I need to trust Him.

Keep the faith and pass the word along,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Acts 13:1-14:28.

I’ve read Acts 14:22 dozens of times. In the past, I always thought Paul simply meant that on the road to entering the kingdom, we will happen to encounter many tribulations. However, after a recent study of Romans 5:3-5, I think Paul may have been making a different point. 

Instead of simply saying tribulations litter the path to the kingdom. I think he is pointing out that tribulation is the path. Look at Romans 5:3-5.

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that the suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been give to us.”

Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope. Our hope doesn’t put us to shame because it is not just wishful thinking but an earnest expectation and we know God will do what He has promised. But what happens if we remove suffering from this path? Where is the endurance? If there is no endurance, where is the character? If there is no character, where is the hope? Do you see the point? Without suffering we have no hope.

Tribulations are not merely something we happen along as we walk God’s path to the kingdom, they are the path to the kingdom. I’m not saying we have to be beaten to go to heaven. I’m not saying we have to go to prison to enter the kingdom. There are definitely degrees of tribulation and suffering. Further, I don’t think the suffering has to necessarily be strictly persecution for being a Christian. Maybe the suffering is an illness or a layoff. 

In any event, it is the sufferings and tribulations we go through that discipline us to have the character of Christ which offers us hope of eternity with Christ. Do not wish to be set free from tribulations. If that request is granted, then you will be set from from the kingdom of heaven. Rather, pray for the strength to endure the tribulation that you may have proven character and hope. This hope will not put you to shame.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. If you would like to read/hear the lesson I presented on Romans 5:3-5 that prompted this understanding, go to the following link: A Three Step Plan to Rejoice While Suffering

P.P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Paul: The Rotten Scoundrel

Just listen to the non-Christian Jews in Acts 23-24 and you will learn the truth. Christians are just troublemakers. Just look at what these guys have to say about Paul to the Roman officials.

“We have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He tried to profane the temple, but we seized him” (Acts 24:5-6, ESV)

The only problem is, none of it was true. The fact is, this kind of nonsense has been going on for 2000 years. If we can’t find a good reason to be mad at the Christians, let’s just make something up. Therefore, we should not get too upset when people today get mad at us for trying to force our views on the world when all we are doing is trying to persuade folks with logic, reason and, yes, even faith. Let’s not get too upset when they say we are judgmental because we suggest that folks might be wrong sometimes. Let’s not get too upset when they trump up charges that just aren’t true. And most of all, let’s not back off from getting the only message that will save souls out to the world just because people accuse us of being closed-minded and unloving.

The fact is, everyone who makes those judgments will at some point find out just how loving we are being by passing the message on. They will either learn that when their eyes are opened by God’s word to the truth of Jesus’ message. Or they will learn when it is too late. But all will learn on some day that we tried to bestow love.

Now, having said that. Let me hit the other side. Sadly, too often, those who claim to be Christians have given reason for others to make accusation. No doubt, the biggest one we hear is the Crusades. But if that stands out as the most extreme example that everyone highlights, there have sadly been a thousand seeming trifling examples of Christians living like the world, taking their revenge, seeking their selfish ways, condescending with arrogance.

We should not be upset when folks wrongfully accuse and malign us. It happened to Paul, we should expect it to happen to us. At the same time, we must not give cause to receive truthful accusation. When we have given that cause. We had better make amends quickly.

Keep the faith today and keep reading.
ELC