Acts 5:17-42 Fighting With God

Acts 5:17-42 NIV
The apostles were elated because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. That sounds reasonable. But, I'm not so sure if I would be elated. They were persecuted for the Name. They were ordered not to be talking about this Jesus any longer and thrown into jail for the Name. Angels came and released them. They were then flogged for continuing to spread the Good News in the Name of Jesus Christ. They suffered much and came through it all still thanking and praising God for and in the Name of Jesus.

Yet, this morning I find myself feeling very sorry for those who persecuted the apostles. To have witnessed the Christ working through them and still denying Christ is a very sad thing. Such a waste of time and energy it is to try to deny the truth.

The Pharisee, Gamaliel, finally persuaded the Sanhedrin to let the apostle's go by saying to them: "Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (vs 38-39) So what do you think? The apostles were not stopped. Two thousand years later the Good News is still being shared around the world. For those who persist in trying to stop the Name: give it up. It is from God and you will not be able to stop it.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 14:1-14 Place of Importance

Luke 14:1-14 NIV
Jesus associated with everyone. On one Sabbath, he went to eat at the home of a prominent Pharisee. If you recall from our previous readings, the Pharisees were not exactly fans of Jesus. But, he didn't care. He did not have a problem associating with anyone who welcomed him.

Jesus gives us some rules of etiquette for dining that can be used whether you are at someone's home or at a wedding reception. Take the least important place so that you will be honored when asked to move up. Do not sit in a seat of honor or you may be humiliated when the host asks you to move to a place of less importance to make room for another.

The last shall be first and the first last.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 22:41-46 - Figure It Out!

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
    under your feet.”’

If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.  (Matt 22:41-46 NIV)

They had tried, on more than one occasion, to trip up Jesus. They had tried to catch him blaspheming. But, with no success. Now, it Jesus' turn. "Figure it out, guys! If the Messiah is the son of David, why does David call him Lord?" Why did the Lord say of this descendant of David that all his enemies will be put under his feet? (Psalm 110:1) Why did the Lord promise to make this son of David a priest in the order of Melchizedek? (Psalm 110:4) There was no response from the  Pharisees. Jesus is the Lord!

One thing I can say for the Pharisees: they knew the scriptures and they knew that there was no further place to go in this debate. Reading and knowing the Holy Scriptures is definitely a worthwhile project if we are going to be discussing and debating who or what the LORD is or does or has done.
Happy reading....!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Mattew 22:15-22 - In Whom Do You Trust?

The Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus by getting him to either deny the law of the land (Caesar) or the temple law. "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" they asked. Upon inspection of the coin that would be used for this tax, they found Caesar's image and inscription on. At the time there were two (at least) types of currency being used. One was Roman and the other Jewish. The reason for the moneychangers to have been in the court yard, from Matthew 21:12-17, was so the people could exchange their Roman money for Jewish currency as they could not use Roman currency to purchase the animals they needed to make their required offerings at the temple.

So when his would be accusers are asked to show him a coin; they empty their pockets (bags?) and come up with, not a Jewish coin, but a Roman one. So then, who is the author of this coin? To whom does it belong? Who is it that they put their trust in (a bit of a stretch, but I'm going there, anyway); God or Caesar? So here's a little food for thought... Empty out your purse, or wallet, or maybe that drawer or closet. What have you got hidden where no one can see it? Does it belong to God or man? Where is your allegiance? Whom or what have you put your faith in? In whom do you trust?

God's Peace - Pr. J