Day 51: Acts 21-23

"For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 21:13b

*deep sigh*

I don't have anything to write on this topic. I haven't faced death for the name of Jesus. Nor have I ever had the threat. So I can't really spend much time on what it is like.

But what I can do is ponder. What would it be like to be face death for Jesus? What would I do? What would I say?

Part of me wants to believe I would face it with boldness and confidence, with joy and honor to be counted worthy enough to suffer for my Lord - much like Paul.

Another part of me fears that I would cower and run like Peter just before Jesus was crucified. Would I beg for my life? Would I hang my head in shame and denounce the One who died for me? Would I look at all this world has to offer and count it more precious than Jesus?

I have good friends in India who are praying for us American Christians. They pray that persecution will come to America so Christianity will become stronger and Jesus will be glorified more. It is a staggering thought, but Jesus did say the persecuted are the blessed ones (Matt 5:10-12).

By the power of the Holy Spirit I think there is hope for me if this day ever comes.

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:8-12

Day 50: Acts 18-20

I have always been challenged and encouraged by Acts 19:17-20:

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Here we see the power of the gospel, the fruit of repentance, and the end result of God's glory and kingdom expanding. That which was previously important and valuable to them became known for what it really was: sinful and offensive to God. So they destroyed it!

Surely they could have sold their scrolls and made a great deal of profit, even with the intention of giving it to the church or in support of Paul's ministry. But the ends do not justify the means, and the only suitable end for these items was complete destruction, lest they lead others away from the one true God.

In our lives, are we willing to take such drastic measures to rid ourselves of those things that displease and dishonor God? Do we make the effort to completely end those sinful habits in our lives, or do we merely try to limit them? Tone them down? Or maybe profit from them as they exit the door?

May God grant us to live out this kind of repentance, regardless of the cost, that it might glorify Him and display the power of His gospel in our lives!

Day 49: Acts 16-17

The Apostle Paul had impressive credentials. Paul (whose former name was Saul) was a Jewish Pharisee which had been converted to Christianity. He was a highly intelligent scholar of the Jewish law. He was born a Roman citizen in Tarsus. Scripture tells us that he studied at the feet of the great Rabbi Gamaliel. But Paul tells us in Philippians 3:8 “…I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Yet in the midst of all that happened in Paul’s life, he was found walking in the will of God! Acts 16 Verses 6 – 10 says:

"And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing ... to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

This passage is all about being in the center of God’s will. It’s an age old question, “What is God’s will for my life?” I’m confident that God will show us His will, but we have to have the key in order to unlock it. So what’s the key to knowing God’s will? It’s wanting God’s will!

Psalms 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."