Tag: Witness

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A Captive Audience

Daily Reading

Acts 27-28

Daily Thought

At long last, Paul arrived in Rome and lived there “two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him” (Acts 28:30). Paul, under house arrest, was chained to a Roman guard, but the way Paul looked at it, the guards were chained to him. Obstacles are better seen as opportunities. “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen” (Luke 28:28). They had to! Think of all they heard, a captive audience to Paul’s stories of Jesus.

The Book of Acts does not end, it stops. The disciples continue taking the Gospel to the world, but Luke is done writing. He puts his pen down as Paul is “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Luke 28:31). Paul is in chains, the Gospel is not, and Luke has written of its progress from the streets of Jerusalem to the seat of Caesar in Rome. The book of Acts closes as the door to the world opens wide to the advance of the Gospel and we are part of the story of God’s Kingdom come.

Daily Prayer

Father God, may we set our eyes on Christ, Your Son. Jesus, the Name above all names, the One who saves us. May I let go of my ways, submitting to You. It is by Your grace that I am saved, Your gospel, Your goodness, Your glory.

May I speak of You at all times, seeing opportunities when no one would think they exist. The chains of Rome did not stop the gospel, nor should anything stand in my way. May I be bold, continuing the acts of the disciples into the 21st century.

Amen

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Bad for Business

Daily Reading

Acts 18-20

Daily Thought

In 1904, a revival broke out in Wales, and over one hundred thousand suddenly put their trust in Jesus Christ. It was reported that crime slowed to a standstill. Taverns and brothels were deserted because churches were packed. Sir T. Marchant Williams, a circuit judge, observed that his work was much lighter, especially regarding drunkenness and related offenses. The police force had time to form a choir and sang at revival meetings. Coal miners stopped cursing and their donkeys and mules stopped obeying instructions when they could not understand the gentler words of their masters. This is the collateral “damage” of Christianity, it may be bad for business if your business depends on bad behavior. The revival lasted less than a year.

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” ~John 3:19

The city of Ephesus is a city of idols and its Temple of Artemis counted as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Paul entered this city proclaiming Jesus as the true Lord and Savior and “gods made with hands are not gods” (Acts 19:26), which is exactly how they made their gods, and more importantly, sold their idols. Idols were bad gods, but good business. “A man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen” (Acts 19:24), but the preaching of Paul was turning many away from idolatry, so he called his fellows together with a warning, “there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing” (Acts 19:27). The former concerned him more than the latter. 

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” ~1John 5:20-21

That’s the thing about Jesus, he changes everything. Life can no longer be business as usual, and we do love our idols.

Daily Prayer

Lord God, you are the King of kings. May Your Kingdom be established on earth. Your grace has changed my heart. May it change my community. May “In God We Trust” become a reality in this country. But first, may it be a reality in Your church. Purify Your people God, so that we might be a light and a blessing to the world.

Start with my heart, God. I cannot show You to the world unless the world can see You in me. Create in me a clean heart, fully devoted to You.

Amen

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Going Public

Daily Reading

Matthew 9-10

Daily Thought

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).

The rancher wanted the farmers to pay for his drowned cattle. “Judge, you know we’ve been having a drought. The farmers had a prayer meeting and asked God to send rain. I don’t put much stock in prayer, but dad gum if it didn’t work. It rained the next three days and flooded my ranch. Their prayers drowned my cattle, Your Honor.” The farmers objected, “There is no proof that God sent the rain.”

“Let me get this straight,” clarified the judge. “What we have here is a man who doesn’t pray, but believes God answers them. And you guys who do pray say God doesn’t.”

“But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33).

Humor is best when it bears the sting of truth, and this farmer joke is funny and stings. Jesus charges his followers, “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops” (Matthew 10:27), and yet, with such slight opposition, we allow others to silence our voice. Jesus grants no Christian claim to a right to privacy; following Christ means going public in his Name, the Name of Jesus.  

“You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ~Matthew 1:21

Daily Prayer

God, You are faithful and true. I desire to be one who trusts in You, walks in Your Word, and steps out in faith. Help me with my faith where it lacks. Test me and strengthen me where I lack. I believe in You in word, but may I also believe in You in action.

I know, God, that it is fear that keeps me from standing tall for You at times. Help me build upon the solid foundation of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May I be one whose life points to You at all times. May I be one who stands for, lives by, and speaks aloud your Name.

Amen