Sept. 8

Acts 6:1-6

The story of the early church takes a pivotal turn in Acts 6. The church has grown rapidly. They are caring for many people. The Grecian Jews feel that the Hebraic Jewish widows are receiving better treatment than Grecian widows. They complain. The Twelve, the apostles, feel the care of the widows is important but they need to give their full attention to preaching the gospel. So they appoint seven men, who all happen to be Grecian Jews, to care for the widows. The end result? More people take leadership in the early church and the word of God spread.

We are all called to serve in the body of Christ. The body is most effective when every part has a role. If you read the rest of chapter 6, you will see that an individual can have more than one role. As Stephen, chosen to serve the widows, takes on a second role.

Sept. 7 - Acts 2

Acts 2

This passages this week will be about the church. We begin with Acts 2 which tells the story of the birth of the church. The church begins with the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the believers. Jesus had given them instructions to go to Jerusalem to pray and wait. On the day of Pentecost, while they are together, the Holy Spirit comes and empowers them. A huge crowd gathers, Peter preaches a sermon that invites individuals to repent and be baptized. Three thousand turn to Christ that day. These new believers begin meeting every day with the disciples, who are now apostles, to be taught, pray and break bread together.

It is hard for me to imagine the world without Christianity. What would your life be like if you did not believe?

Sept. 5

Hebrews 11

This is the chapter of faith. The author recounts the great faith of many people of the Old Testament. Did the you notice some of the names of individuals that we read about failing this week? Great people of faith will have moments of failure. But they do not allow those moments of failure to define their lives. Do you?

September 4 - Matthew 26

Matthew 26

The failures of Jesus' disciples in this chapter are stunning. What must have Judas been thinking when he asked "Is it I?", or what did Peter experience when the cock crowed. After Jesus' arrest what went through the minds of the disciples who could not stay awake to pray with Jesus? While Peter follows Jesus after his arrest, what happened to the rest of them?

One crucial aspect for us to remember in considering their failures is what they ultimately did with their lives. Judas ends his life in despair but the rest become the leaders of the early church. Their failures were not the final word.

When we fail, it is not the final word. The forgiveness and redemption offered through Jesus to his disciples is offered to us.

September 3

2 Samuel 11

The first clue that something is wrong comes in the first verse. "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men....But David remained in Jerusalem." David should have been with his army, that was where the king belonged. Instead he sent someone else. The story plunges into disaster from this point forward. He knowingly sleeps with a woman married to one of his soldiers. He tries to cover his action, but Uriah is righteous and will not sleep with his own wife while the army is at war. In desperation he creates a plan where Uriah will be killed in battle. After Uriah's death, David takes Uriah's wife to be his. The chapter ends with this "But the thing David had done displeased the Lord." Maybe one of the great understatements in the Bible!

Prior to this, most of the story about David has been one of his faith and obedience in following God. Here is fails miserably. But God does not give up on him. Spend a few minutes to read chapter 12 and see how God uses Nathan to draw David to repentance. In his repentance, he engages his life once again with God.

Next time you think that your actions are so horrible that God could never forgive you. Remember David's adultery and murder, and God forgives him. God will forgive you.

September 2

Exodus 3

Moses' conversation with God is rather extraordinary. Each time God speaks, Moses seems to question God. I find it rather amazing that a human being that speaking directly to God questions what God wants him to do! At least Moses is honest with his questions and doubts. He speaks them directly to God.

Having doubts about what God wants us to do is a rather common experience. When we have them we tend to hold them in, thinking there is something wrong with our faith. Maybe Moses has given us the best model of what to do with our doubts and struggles. Openly express them to God. God knows what they are already. Maybe in expressing them, we can move past them.

September 1

Genesis 12

The story of Abram is quite amazing. His response of leaving his home and all that he knows to follow God is a measure of his great faith. What is fascinating is that as soon as he runs into his first real problem, he forgets all about his faith. When the famine arises, he is afraid the Egyptians will kill him so that they could have his beautiful wife. Wouldn't you think after having the faith to follow God to a strange land, that he would at least plead with God to help him? Instead, he takes matters into his own hands and tries to deceive the Egyptians. It does not work out very well.

When I read Abram's story, I think of my own. There are times in which I have great faith in response to the call of God upon my life. No sooner have I had faith, then fear grips me over a simple issue and I create a plan that has nothing to do with God. Part of the struggle of faith is we keep wrestling control of our lives back from God.