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!

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The Holy Spirit Enables Us Today! - 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 6:8,

"Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people."

The Holy Spirit came to the church on Pentecost and empowered the disciples in a way that emboldened and energized them. This was a fulfillment of what Jesus promised on the day he ascended into heaven. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

When each of us embraced Jesus Christ in faith we received the promised Holy Spirit as well. Still today the Holy Spirit enables us to fulfill what needs to be done to further God's purposes here on earth. Where Stephen performed great wonders and miraculous signs, that which the Lord wanted done at that time, so we carry out what the Lord wants done today.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 we read, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

Throughout history the Holy Spirit has been enabling his saints to participate with the Lord in what he does in each generation. To me it is a wonder to see just how the Lord works in our lives today through the Holy Spirit.

Back in Stephen's day, the Holy Spirit was busy "birthing" the church, bringing it into being, establishing it throughout the world. If we think in terms of being on the other end of the church age (toward the end of the age), what intentions might the Holy Spirit have for us today? What specifically might he be pursuing today that might not have been a focus in Stephen's day?

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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A Tale of a Fool and a Wise Man - 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 5:28, 38-39,

"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name"… "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."

The second half of chapter five in Acts could be called, "A Tale of a Fool and a Wise Man". Here we have the disciples indwelt with the Holy Spirit performing miraculous acts of healings, deliverances from demons, etc. and are called before the religious elites of the day, the Sanhedrin, because of their activities and for teaching the people. Luke tells us the Sanhedrin was filled with jealousy and had them jailed. The following day the high priest, "the Fool", recalls the strict orders the Sanhedrin had given the disciples not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ. Having the apostles removed from their presence, Gamaliel, "the Wise Man" reminded the Sanhedrin that if the activities of the disciples were from God, the Sanhedrin would only find itself fighting against God.

If anything, this "Tale of a Fool and a Wise Man" points to the insanity of placing oneself in opposition to God. The online Jewish Encyclopedia recognizes Gamaliel as having a leading position in the Sanhedrin in first century Jerusalem. In this account Gamaliel brings someone into the discussion that seems to have escaped the consideration of the high priest: God. Rather than giving vent to their jealousy, wouldn't it behoove the Sanhedrin to consider the possibility that this movement might be from God and if so, what would the prospect be of finding themselves as fighting against God?

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Psalm 14:1. Although many may not verbalize such, through their actions, attitudes and decisions such an outlook is often manifested. In my own life there have been those times when it seems my actions, attitudes and decisions reflected "the fool". What an outlook of insanity it is to not fear the Lord and allow that posture to influence my actions, attitudes and decisions! "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10.

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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Our Intolerant God - 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 4:12,

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Peter tells the religious leaders of the day that the man they had crucified, Jesus Christ, was in fact the only One through whom salvation could be found.

A more intolerant statement could not be made! Imagine the lack of political correctness! No Mohammed, no Joseph Smith, no Buddha, no Confucius, no pope-- just a sweeping condemnation of any path to God that isn't Jesus Christ himself!

Although John tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), it would behoove the wise to not underestimate God's lack of tolerance for the foolishness of any man who would attempt to supplant God's Son with his own inventions. Pretty sobering, isn't it?!

I wonder how many church members are aware of how intolerant God is... Don't even think about affirming homosexuality, genderbending, sexual immorality of any kind. We serve an intolerant God!

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.