Category: Scripture Journal

A faith that does not waver

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HIGHLIGHT

Romans 4:19 (ESV): 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.

EXPLAIN

In the first several chapters of Romans, Paul first established that all have sinned and deserve God’s wrath, both Jew and Gentile. Then, Paul explained that we cannot be made righteous by obeying the law. We must believe in Christ, who makes us righteous by his sacrificial death on Calvary.

Paul’s primary example for grace by faith in Jesus alone is Abraham. Even Abraham was not circumcised (a singular expression of obedience to the Law in that day) before he was justified by God. Rather, Abraham believed God’s promise.

Furthermore, Abraham’s faith in God did not weaken as he and Sarah grew older, yet did not have children. Rather, he continued to believe against hope that he would be the father of many nations (Romans 4:18).

APPLY

We must follow the example of our father in the faith and believe God’s promise. Furthermore, our faith must grow stronger, not weaken, as we continue to follow Jesus.

We know that Abraham did question God, wondering why God had not given him a son sooner. We know that Abraham and Sarah got ahead of God’s plan, believing that Sarah’s servant could produce the heir God promised.

Despite his questions and misstep, however, Abraham did believe God – and he did not waver in his belief that God would keep his promise.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to imitate Abraham’s example of unwavering faith, holding tightly to your promises, believing you always. Amen.

Don’t be so quick to judge

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 28:6 (ESV): 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

EXPLAIN

The ship carrying Paul to Rome, after being blown about in the sea for days, finally shipwrecked at the island Malta. The native people were very kind to the people coming off the ship and built a fire to help them get warm.

Paul gathered some sticks to add to the fire, but a snake came out of the heat and bit him. The people expected him to die, assuming that he was a murderer and deserved such. When Paul did not die, however, they changed their minds and called him a god.

APPLY

This mindset is very similar to the thinking expressed by Job’s friends in my reading from the Old Testament. Because calamity had befallen Job, he must have sinned somehow. Job needed to repent, they thought.

In reality, Job had not sinned, nor was Paul a murderer. Neither was Paul a god, nor was Job, at the end of his story, perfect. Job had to repent of speaking too boldly of God and God’s ways.

Both men were followers of God allowed by God to suffer difficulty.

We should not be hasty in attributing sinfulness to those who suffer or godliness to those who achieve success in life.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you that neither the difficulties I experience in life necessarily are a sign that I have displeased you nor the successes I experience are proof that I am extra-spiritual.

Thank you for your grace that accepted us when we are sinners but changes us to be saints, reflecting the image of Jesus. Amen.

Our confidence and hope

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HIGHLIGHT

Job 4:6 (ESV): 6 Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

EXPLAIN

Eliphaz the Temanite was the first of Job’s friends to speak and to try to make sense of the tragedy Job had experienced.

In verses 3-4, Eliphaz spoke of Job’s various good deeds. And in verse 6, he suggested that fear of God and integrity in one’s ways gives us confidence and hope.

There is truth in what Eliphaz said. We do find confidence when we know we are living a holy life before God.

Yet there is a danger here also. Our fear of God and integrity comes through our faith in God and our resulting faithfulness, aided by the Spirit, to God. Furthermore, confidence and hope do not preclude trouble from coming our way.

Eliphaz continued down this train of thought to suggest that Job couldn’t be truly pure before holy God. Therefore, he argued, Job had sinned and therefore God was punishing him or allowing this difficulty in his life.

This, of course, was not true. God had commended Job as most upright, but still allowed Satan to test him. The tragedies Job had experienced were not the consequence of any sin he had committed.

APPLY

1 John 3 emphasizes this truth.

1 John 3:14 (ESV): 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

1 John 3:21–22 (ESV): 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

Our confidence is not found in our goodness, but rather in that by grace through faith God has redeemed and renewed us; therefore, our changed life is evidence of God’s grace.

If our faith is in God and we are striving by his help to live holy, we can have confidence and hope even though we may suffer difficulty and setback in life.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, my hope is in you. Thank you for your grace. Continue to change me to be more like you. Amen.

When the way grows dark

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HIGHLIGHT

Job 2:3 (ESV): 3 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”

EXPLAIN

The story of Job fills us both with questions about God and suffering and yet also gives us comfort and hope in times of trouble.

Satan appeared before God in heaven twice. The first time, God allowed Satan to touch all that Job had. Satan proceeded to destroy Job’s oxen, donkeys and sheep, and to cause a storm to knock down the house in which Job’s children were feasting, killing them.

Job responded by worshipping God.

Now, Satan challenged God to allow him to afflict him physically. God allowed Satan to do so, only sparing Job’s life.

APPLY

This scripture is incredibly challenging for us. Do we live such a holy life that God would characterize us as blameless, full of integrity, fearing him and turning away from doing evil?

If God were to allow us to suffer even a fraction of what Job suffered, would we respond by worshipping God and maintaining our integrity?

Will we choose to respond to setbacks and difficulty in life with the same hope and faith in God displayed by Job?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to live a holy life, blameless and full of integrity for your sake. When trouble comes, help me to worship you, trusting you completely and implicitly. Amen.

His path is not always easy

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 21:13 (ESV): 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

EXPLAIN

Paul was on his way back to Jerusalem. Paul definitely felt it was God’s will to go there, to deliver the money gathered to help those in need in Judea. But he also seemed to recognize that suffering lay ahead of him.

Paul and his group stopped at Caesarea for some time. While he was there, a prophet named Agabus prophesied that the Jews in Jerusalem would bind Paul and deliver him to the Gentiles.

Upon hearing this, the believers tried to convince Paul not to go. But Paul was determined. He was willing to suffer and even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.

APPLY

Living in the center of God’s will does not necessarily mean “success”, an easy life, the favor of those around you, and security.

Sometimes, God’s will means definite suffering, even death. We should not seek to find another way. Rather, we should continue to follow faithfully the way Christ has set before us.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to live faithfully for you, following you closely, regardless of where the path may take me. May I confidently, passionately share the Good News with others regardless of hardship that awaits. Amen.

Christ in all

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 18:3–4 (ESV): 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

EXPLAIN

According to Bible-History.com, tents were in high demand in the first century, by not only those who used tents for their home but also travelers who needed a portable tent. Furthermore, at least in Alexandria, those worshipping in the synagogue were separated by guild. Therefore, Paul would have found an opening into the community simply by his trade.

APPLY

What openings do our jobs or careers provide for us? How can we leverage our everyday connections to share the Good News with others?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, please open my eyes for ways to share the Good News with my community. May my life not be divided artificially into sacred and secular realms, but rather may Christ permeate all I do. Amen.

Singing in the Pain

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 16:25 (ESV): 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

EXPLAIN

Paul was traveling on his second missionary journey with Silas, having gone separate ways from Barnabus and John Mark. He first visited some of the churches that he had started on his first mission trip, and asked Timothy to join him.

After going through Phrygia and Galatia, Paul began hitting roadblocks. He wanted to go into Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbade him. He then desired to go up to Mysia, but the Holy Spirit stopped him again.

Finally, Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia urging him to come and help them. Paul immediately set sail for that area and was able to have some progress preaching and teaching in Philippi.

But a demon-possessed slave girl followed Paul and his companions everywhere and undermined his message by loudly crying out that these men were servants of the Most High God.

Paul finally cast the demon out of the girl. The girl no longer was able to tell fortunes and her owners seized Paul and Silas, who were beaten by the city rulers and cast into prison.

With their feet fastened in stocks, a torturous practice, Paul and Silas were left suffering in prison for the night. But instead of crying out and despairing, these missionaries sang in their pain, and God provided an earthquake to set them free.

APPLY

Paul and Silas provide a great example for how we should respond to suffering and indignity for the name of Jesus. Instead of moaning, complaining, seeking revenge, or feeling bitter, we should sing in the midst of our pain, entrusting ourselves to Lord Jesus.

Singing in the pain keeps our spirit sweet, demonstrates trust in our Heavenly Father, and robs our enemy of any joy he might feel in inflicting harm upon God’s people.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to respond to difficulties in life with singing praise to you. May my spirit be sweet and my attitude jubilant because of your love for me and my hope in you. Amen.

After fasting and praying

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 13:2–3 (ESV): 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

EXPLAIN

Due to persecution, many believers were scattered, away from Jerusalem. A number of disciples went to Antioch of Syria and a strong church was started, a church that over time became a center, if not the center, of the church world in those days.

Paul had returned to his hometown of Tarsus, but Barnabus went looking for him. There, they taught many people for a year (Acts 11:26).

The influence of the believers in Antioch is seen in that they were first called Christians, a term of insult, there.

A prophet foretold a worldwide famine, and so the church of Antioch sent relief to the believers in Judea by Barnabus and Saul or Paul.

After they returned to Antioch, various leaders in the church were worshipping and fasting, when the Holy Spirit revealed to them that Barnabus and Saul/Paul should been sent out as missionaries. After praying and fasting, they laid hands on the men and sent them off.

APPLY

It was in the context of prayer and fasting that the Holy Spirit revealed to the church his desire to send Paul and Barnabus out as missionaries. But it was not enough to fast and pray to receive God’s direction. Rather, the believers continued to fast and pray as they sent them men to the work.

Do we regularly pray and fast enough that we are able to hear God’s call upon our lives and our church?

If God only revealed his will through prayer and fasting, would we ever hear from Him?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, I desire to know your will and be guided by your voice. Help me to cultivate the discipline of both prayer and fasting so that my heart might be in tune to your voice. Amen.

What is our desire for growth?

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 12:24 (ESV): 24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

EXPLAIN

The book of Acts demonstrates that numbers do matter. We find in the first two chapters that the believers meeting in the upper room numbered 120. After the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, the number of believers increased by 3,000.

As Luke continued telling of the story, he included markers from time to time to speak of the increase of the gospel. After the seven were chosen to oversee the food ministry to widows, we are told that the word of God continued to increase, the number of disciples multiplied greatly, and a great many priests became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).

Acts 12:24 is another such marker. King Herod had killed James, and wanted to kill Peter, but God delivered him in response to the prayers of the church. The believers were praying so fervently that they couldn’t believe Peter had been released, but God had responded to their prayers.

King Herod executed the guards and then gave a speech to emissaries from Tyre and Sidon. Seeking his favor, they said he was a god. God struck him dead. And the word of God increased and multiplied.

APPLY

It is interesting that the emphasis here and in Acts 6:7 is on the word of God increasing and multiplying. That included the number of disciples increasing and multiplying, yet the focus seems not to be on people and standards by which we might take pride. Rather, the emphasis is on the increase and expansion of God’s kingdom.

I see a tension here that we must keep in balance. We need to know if the number of disciples is increasing and multiplying in our midst. That will necessarily happen if the word of God is increasing.

But the focus should not be on numbers, attendance, and the pride we might feel from having a large, or merely growing, church. Rather, is God’s kingdom increasing in our world?

Is God’s message of good news flourishing?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, I pray that your kingdom and program would increase in our world. May I be used by you is proclaiming the good news of your kingdom. Amen.

She was truly missed

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HIGHLIGHT

Acts 9:39 (ESV): 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

EXPLAIN

Luke, in the last part of Acts 9 and then in Acts 10, records Peter’s physical movement as he traveled from place to place, which reflects his mental and spiritual movement that led him to accept Gentiles as equal candidates for God’s grace.

In Joppa, a little known woman named Dorcas had made a huge impact upon the entire community, sewing clothes and distributing them to people in need, as well as doing other good deeds. Dorcas had died prematurely, and the believers sought Peter to come.

APPLY

I want to live such a life of generosity and charity that my community will also be sad when I am gone, not because I am necessarily any special person, but because I was a good ambassador of Christ, sharing the love of Jesus by deed and word.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, help me to develop a mindset of generosity and caring for others. Help me to see needs in my community. Give me the faith and push to do something about it. Amen.