God's Choice - It Is By Faith! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 20:20-21,

"You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."

Paul recounts for the Ephesian elders his ministry among them. This will be his last meeting with them in this life and as he knows he is facing death he reminds them of his message to both Jews and Gentiles, to all men. All men must repent (have a change of heart, mind) from the current direction of their lives and "have faith in our Lord Jesus."

The issue of faith is strikingly clear in the pages of Scripture. God has made the effort, in his revelation to us, to tell us that it is faith he has decided will be the determining factor for anyone to come to him. God chose before the ages began that it will be those who embrace him in faith who will have an inheritance in him. When Adam and Eve capitulated to the temptation of the Serpent in the Garden of Eden, it was a clear lack of faith in what God had told them that resulted in their fall. Conversely, God introduces us to a man named Abraham who exhibited the kind of faith that will bring salvation. Abraham's faith, which earned him a covenant with God, is that faith which, if we follow in his footsteps of faith, will bring us into a covenant relationship with God. "He [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Romans 4:20-24.

Jesus Christ took our punishment for sin on himself but it is only "credited" to us when we embrace him in faith. It will not be by works, it will not be by comporting oneself in accord with an established set of moral standards and it will not be by the exercise of religious acts of piety that bring salvation. It is faith and faith alone. "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.

How wonderful God has decided our salvation will be based on faith and not performance. If it depended on my behavior, I wouldn't make it. If it depended on my observance of religious disciplines and piety I wouldn't make it. What he has asked of me is that I simply embrace him in faith! How wonderful is that?! It is truly a gift from him, a gift that came by the heavy lifting Jesus Christ did for me, when he died that horrible death on that cross!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God's Grace Offered to Sinners! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 19:8-9a,

"Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them."

As we read in Acts 18:4 and Acts 26:28, Paul approached folks with the gospel message in an attempt to persuade them. Here we see Paul "arguing persuasively" about the kingdom of God. As all have a choice to make regarding the gospel when confronted with it, we are told that some in Ephesus "became obstinate" and that they "refused to believe". A horrific choice they made given the consequences!

Jesus confided in Nicodemus as to why folks would refuse the love of their Creator and opt for his judgment. He told him, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." John 3:19. This tells me a person's spiritual condition is dictated by their morality. Men love darkness instead of light because of their own evil hearts so they refuse to have a change of heart, a change of mind when confronted with the gospel!

Nevertheless, Jesus Christ came to save these very sinners! If only all could be persuaded, but their lifestyles and heart condition holds them fast. Later John quotes Jesus as saying, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. How wonderful our Savior came for us! How wonderful he gave his life to ransom us from God's judgment! What an expression of love that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! This morning I thank God for his grace toward us that has made it possible for any of us to embrace him!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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All We Need To Persuade Others - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 18:4,

"Every Sabbath he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks."

Luke tells us when Paul got to Corinth he reasoned with the folks at the synagogue. He tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks there with the gospel message. The way that Luke writes it, he gives me a distinct impression that Paul's way was not to just inform folks of the gospel but to persuade, to convince, to bring folks to a point where they recognized the need they had for salvation and that Jesus Christ was the way.

In his appearance before Agrippa in Acts 26:28, Agrippa accused Paul of attempting to persuade him to be a Christian. Rather than denying it, Paul tells him it was his desire to convince everyone listening to him to become what he had become: a follower of Jesus Christ.

This leaves me with a feeling that the issue of salvation for many who are around me during my day may depend on how persuasive I might be. What a sobering thought that is! But I am reminded that it is the gospel message itself that carries the power of salvation, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes", Romans 1:16, as well as the Holy Spirit that brings conviction, "When he [the Counselor] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment", John 16:8.

In addition to the gospel message and the Holy Spirit, God equips each of us to be effective for him. It is his plan to use what he has revealed about himself to accomplish this, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

God has decided it will be us, the church, that will carry on the evangelistic effort. But he has not left us alone with this responsibility. He has provided all we need to be effective and productive at it!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God's Wonderful Love For Us All - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 17:29-30,

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent."

As Paul speaks to those at the Areopagus he tells them that what they worshipped as something unknown, God is the creator of the world and everything in it. And where many had worshipped God as if he were made of gold, silver or stone and that in the past God overlooked such ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent. I note Paul says God commands all people everywhere, not some people in certain places. God wants us all to turn to him, to "repent": every person. He wants us all!

God has a big heart, a heart that encompasses all of mankind. The Bible says that God loves the whole world and everyone in it. He wants us all. As Paul speaks to Timothy about prayer in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, he says that this "pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." It is God's will that all men be saved! He wants us all. Peter talks about the delay in Jesus Christ's second coming. He says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. God wants every man, woman and child to turn to him! He has a heart for all mankind!

My point here isn't to get into a quibble over theology but to recognize the wonderful heart of love our God has for all mankind. He has a big heart! He sent his Son to die a horrible death to purchase us from his own wrath for our sins! Not just for some, but for all!

It is important to note that as the Scriptures clearly point out, even though it is God's will we all be saved, he has chosen that only those who will embrace him in faith will be saved. He has left it in our hands. He wants us all but he will only take those who will have him. If God left it for himself, save for his justice, all mankind would be saved!

What a big, wonderful heart our God has for each and every one of us!!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God: Our Great Deliverer! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 16:14b,18b, 25-26, 34

"The Lord opened her [Lydia's] heart to respond to Paul's message." … "'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' At that moment the spirit left her [the fortune-telling slave girl]." … "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose." … " The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family."

Paul and his companions (which included at a minimum, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke) visited the city of Philippi on Paul's second missionary trip. This is the city in which Paul planted a church that he would later send a letter to, the New Testament book we call "Philippians". In this city the theme of deliverance is acted out by the Lord in every activity that is recorded by Luke. Paul and Silas were delivered from incarceration in the Philippian jail and a servant girl is delivered from "a spirit" that enabled her owners to make money by fortune-telling. Lydia and her household are delivered from God's judgment through the evangelistic efforts of Paul and company, as well as the Philippian jailor and his household.

God is our God of deliverance, he is our great deliverer! Enslaved to sin and the judgment it brings, living in a lost and fallen world our great God delivers us! Of our wonderful God, David says in Psalm 18:2, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Jesus has done all the heavy lifting! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 15:28-29,

"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things."

The council of Jerusalem met to discuss a dispute between Paul (with Barnabas) and Christian Pharisees who had come to Antioch from Judea. The dispute was over whether Gentiles should be required to obey the law of Moses. It was an important event for the early church and has had its impact on the church throughout its history. The conclusion of the matter was that the Gentiles did not have to keep the law of Moses and were not required to be circumcised. In other words, the Gentiles did not have to convert to Judaism in order to become followers of Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us in Romans 7:6, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." He goes on to use the example of the tenth commandment, "Do not covet", to explain himself.

There are plenty of things the Lord could require of us as believers. In providing us with justification he could certainly turn and ask us to live by the law he gave Moses or any of a number of things to conform to a lifestyle that might reflect our covenant relationship with him. But as Jesus taught, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is not reflected in law-keeping but in following the Holy Spirit, demonstrating that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9.

Jesus has done all the work. He offered himself as a sacrifice of atonement on the cross. I don't know about you, but I find this to be a wonderful reality. Faith is all God requires as Jesus has done all the heavy lifting on the cross and the Holy Spirit guiding us in our new life in him.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God's Blessings Express His Kindness! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 14:15b-17,

"We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."

As Paul and Barnabas preached the good news to the folks in Lystra, they pointed out something all can relate to. Life itself is evidence that God exists. The blessings people have as seen in the weather that makes food crops possible speaks to the existence of God and demonstrates his kindness. God is the source of the food we eat and the source of the joy we experience. That which is good in life, that which we consider to be blessing speaks to God's very existence and his kindness toward mankind.

Although mankind is not worthy of the kindness of God – only worthy of his wrath for sin and rebellion against him - he nevertheless leaves his fingerprints in the world on those things we enjoy in life.

For those who try hard at not finding evidence of God's existence, there is much they have to look past. For those who do not believe in God, one day they will find that God doesn't believe in them either (their delusion that is), as he has provided them plenty to consider. Not that he has had to… but in that he has, he further expresses his kindness to mankind.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God Manifests What He is Doing In How He Gifts Us! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 13:1,

"In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers…"

It is at this church in Antioch where disciples were first called "Christians", Acts 11:26. Barnabas was dispatched from Jerusalem when the believers there heard that "a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord" in Antioch. After arriving in Antioch Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Paul (still called Saul in the account in the book of Acts at this point.) After Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch we are told they taught the believers there for a year. At the time they had also been sent from this church back up to Jerusalem to take a gift to help the believers there who were experiencing a famine. When Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch they brought with them John Mark, the author of the gospel that bears his name.

As seen, there was a lot of activity taking place at Antioch and we read in Acts 13:1 that there were prophets and teachers within the fellowship there. God was on the move and it is from this fellowship we see Paul's missionary enterprise being launched. As we see God active at Antioch we see the Holy Spirit raise up gifted people to perform the work that needed to be done. There was a need for prophets and teachers, so the Holy Spirit gifted certain ones to fill the need.

Within the early church and throughout the centuries of church history we see God gifting individuals to carry out work that needs to be done. In Ephesians 4:11-13 we read, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

God gifts us all for participating in what he is doing in the church. "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good", 1 Corinthians 12:7. With these gifts he expects us to serve one another. In 1 Peter 4:10 we read, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." It is in this that I find the presence of God very active in the church. He gifts us all and raises up certain ones for specific tasks. He did in the early church and he still does so to this day. I find it fascinating to see how the Lord manifests what he is doing by looking at how he gifts his people.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God: Worthy to Suffer For - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 12:1,

"It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them."

There are a variety of reasons why members of the Kingdom of Heaven may endure difficulty or suffering in this life. Living in a lost and fallen world that continues to struggle under its Creator's judgment is cause for difficulty or suffering for all mankind, whether they are God's children or not.

Some in the church suffer because of poor choices they might make, stumbling in sin, etc., as we reap what we sow. 

Others suffer for some purpose of God, as did the blind man who was born blind, not because of his own sin or the sin of his parents. Jesus told his disciples he was born blind that God's work might be displayed in his life, as he healed him miraculously to demonstrate his compassion and authenticate the message of the coming Kingdom of God, John 9:1-12. 

Others have been called by God to martyrdom as a testimony of their commitment to God, revealing what true faith looks like, "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered", Romans 8:36.

There is another cause for suffering that we see on display here as we read of King Herod's treatment of the church when he had the apostle James put to death, the first apostle martyred. His brother speaks of it in 1 John 3:12-13, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you."

There may have been political reasons why Herod took the action he did against the church, but certainly he was also fueled by this dynamic we read of in the account of Cain's murder of Abel in Genesis 4. There are those of us who have thrown our lot into the Kingdom of Heaven and joined God in his tent. There are those who, for whatever reason (Jesus, in his conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 spoke of those who refuse to come into the light because their evil deeds would be exposed), have rejected God's offer, remain outside of God's tent and live in hostility toward those of us who are within.

How is it that God allowed the early church to suffer? The church willingly participated in God's agenda, working together with him to carry out his purposes. In this way the church very effectively communicated the greatness and glory of God as One who was worthy to suffer for. After all, wasn't God the one who harbored a love of unworthy mankind that prompted him to send his Son to suffer in mankind's place?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God's Magnificent Love Beckons Us! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 11:9,

"Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

This is such an amazing thing to me! Mankind, as a race, has turned his back on God, sinned and rebelled against him. The horrifying account in Genesis 3 tells us of our progenitors heeding the Serpent in the Garden of Eden and willfully choosing to reject their Creator in favor of a temptation.

Since that time we have collectively demonstrated the ensuing wickedness of our hearts – the development of a diabolical sin nature that stirs our every impulse to continue to reject God and pursue those things that are anti-God.

Given these circumstances, it is astonishing to me that God loves us, that he has a kind and merciful bent toward us to the point of sending his own Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I guess the most astonishing thing to me of all is not just that God has extended his call to the Gentiles, but that he has any room in his heart for mankind at all!

What a heart this is!! A God-sized heart full of kindness, mercy and love for us! We all deserve his wrath for turning our backs on him and yet he holds his arms out to us, beckoning us to come to him! His invitation to all mankind speaks of a magnificent love and his willingness to forgive us all who have sinned against him, if we simply heed his call!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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God Invites All! - - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 10:9-16,

"About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' 'Surely not, Lord!' Peter replied. 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.' The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven."
 
What a vision! Here in this vision the Lord tells Peter that he intends the Gentiles be called through the gospel message. As Peter says later about this vision, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right."
 
As a Gentile that includes me! How wonderful that God does not show favoritism, but has called all mankind!! I take this for granted so easily. But not so the first believers who were Jews: it wasn't clear to them at all that anyone outside the Jewish nation would be called.
 
And to think, it didn't have to be this way. God could have called only the Jews. But as we read in John 3:16, "for God so love the world…"! I am also reminded of Paul's speech at the Areopagus in Athens in Acts 17:30, "now he commands all people everywhere to repent"!
 
What a wonderful God we have that has called all people to him through his gospel message!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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"Who Are You, Lord?" - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 9:1-5a,

"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked."

We are introduced to Saul at the beginning of chapter eight where Saul attended the stoning of Stephen as a participant in witnessing his death. Following, we read that Saul "began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison." Acts 8:3. After the killing of Stephen, Saul had become obsessed with crushing this new movement in its infancy. In my own speculation, I suspect Saul (who would later be renamed "Paul", selected by the Lord to be an apostle to the Gentiles and would go on to establish fellowships throughout the Mediterranean and southern Europe and write half of the books of our New Testament), was beguiled by the experience he had on the day Stephen was martyred.

We are told on that day the Sanhedrin looked "intently at Stephen'' and saw his face was like the face of an angel, Acts 6:15. Stephen very boldly indicted the entire leadership of the nation of Israel and all of its forefathers: "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers…" Using their own Scriptures against them he proved incontrovertibly they had persecuted every prophet God had sent them. Not only that but they had betrayed and murdered the very one the prophets spoke of who was to come! We read that Stephen exclaimed to Saul and the others that he was looking into heaven itself, seeing the glory of God and Jesus standing at his right hand! As they stoned Stephen, Saul heard him ask the Lord not to hold this sin against them – a plea for Saul's own benefit.

I don't think you just go home after a day like that and not reflect on it. As I say, I think it must have been something that Saul struggled with and at some point it became the source of his obsession with destroying the church. Either everything Stephen said was true or he represented a very malicious new threat against the leadership of Israel. Either way Stephen represented something very dangerous from Saul's perspective. Unfortunately for Saul, he interpreted things exactly the wrong way and set out to crush the church. And now this! In his further efforts to rape the bride of Jesus Christ, he is brought to his knees as a bright light flashed around him and a voice spoke to him from heaven!

When Saul asks the pregnant question, "Who are you, Lord?" it becomes the question of the ages. Many may assume they know who Jesus Christ is, but as Saul found out, all assumptions will be confronted with the truth, either today or at the end of the age. Woe to the man who does not gain the truthful answer to this all-important question while it is still today!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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An Encounter of Joy! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 8:36-39,

"As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?' And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing."

As the gospel began to spread we read of an Ethiopian eunuch Philip shared the gospel with. While we find the circumstances surrounding the account to be astonishing, there is an observation here to be made that I never want to lose sight of.

An angel of the Lord tells Philip to go down a certain road. That is pretty amazing by my standards. I don't know that I have ever heard an angel speak to me. Then the Holy Spirit talks to Philip and tells him to go to a certain chariot, in which this Ethiopian eunuch is riding in. Likewise, I don't know that the Holy Spirit has ever audibly told me to do something as specific as to go to a vehicle. Then following the exchange between the two of them we are told that the "Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away" and was next seen in Azotus. It makes me think of the "transporter" in the Star Trek series. Quite an astonishing account! But what grabs my attention is the heart and soul of the account: the Ethiopian eunuch went on his way rejoicing because of what happened to him!

The passage of Scripture the eunuch asked Philip to explain was from Isaiah 53. In that passage we are told, "He [the "servant", Jesus Christ] was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Just like us, this eunuch was lost in his sin, estranged from God and facing God's certain judgment. Now that he has heard the good news contained in Isaiah's prophecy and explained by Philip, this man had found forgiveness for his sin, a healing in his standing before God and the promise of a wonderful hope in the resurrection! This man went on his way rejoicing!

We go on our own way rejoicing as well! We have received everything this eunuch received and have every cause for rejoicing as he did. It is only when I allow the things of this life to crowd out my clear view of the wonderful hope I have that my rejoicing dims. What an important point to pray for today: Lord, help me to set my heart and my mind on things above where Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God! Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Mystery of God's Love - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 7:51-53,

"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

This sweeping condemnation of the nation of Israel is breath-taking! Here Stephen, whose truthful words brought him swift retribution, points to the ugly truth that the Jews of the day were no different than their forefathers. "Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute?" This rhetorical question was followed with his charge that his hearers were guilty of the betrayal and murder of the One the prophets were sent to speak of: Jesus Christ.

The reaction of the high priest and the Sanhedrin represents the deceitful heart of all mankind. In the killing of Stephen, a man who only confronted them with the truth, the rebellious and sinful condition of the human heart is on full display. And these folks were, of all humanity, given the greatest of all advantages to have God's perspective on things. As Paul points out in Romans 9:4-5, "Theirs [the Jews] is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." And yet, with so much advantage they still react to the truth with murder in the killing of yet another prophet of God, only substantiating all Stephen charged them with.

But the most astonishing thing to me of all is that given this horrific portrayal of the desperate condition of the wicked human heart, what a love God reveals as he sends his Son to die for folks just like these - folks just like me! Why God would send him for folks like this, for folks like me, is a mystery I will continue to be perplexed with. It will continually be a cause for my unceasing gratitude and worship!! The magnificence of our wonderful God is something I know I will never plumb the depths of.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.