SCARED TO LIFE

READING: ACTS 27:13-25

Verse 20: “Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”

Acts 27 describes the Apostle Paul’s experience in a shipwreck. The shipwreck occurred because those on board refused advice from Paul that would have prevented the problem. When they realized they were about to die, they regretted their failure to accept Paul’s wisdom. By then they had given up all other hope, as it says above, and completely submitted to his directions. This incident reminds me of the saying that there are no atheists in a foxhole. When people are in trouble, very frightened or fearing for their lives, they they are inclined to turn to whatever or whoever can save them. The men in the ship were opened to God’s grace through Paul by their fear of death. Those facing death in combat or other circumstances are also often turned to the Lord in their situations, by the recognition of their mortality. Many people carry in their hearts the knowledge that God is their salvation. They only need a situation that will cause them to act on their knowledge. For these, rather than being frightened to death, they can be frightened to everlasting life. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How might Paul’s role look in a modern situation?

2. What other godly purpose can be served by fear?

MARANATHA

READING: MATTHEW 24:29-31

Verse 30: “Then the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Each year we joyously celebrate the wonder of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. After each Christmas, as we gratefully look forward to the New Year to come, we should not relent in our expressions of joy and wonder. Along with our on going respect for His advent, it is appropriate and necessary to also be aware that He will return soon. In Revelation 22, Jesus repeats three times the promise that He is coming back. While He was on earth, Jesus did all that was needed to obtain salvation and a place in the Kingdom of God for all who accept His offer of the gospel and salvation. However, He did not manifest all there is that constitutes the fullness of His nature and character. He was not seen during those years as He will be seen according to the Revelation 19 description of His return. At that time He will display the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God against all evil. As stated in the quote above, He will display power and great glory. It is proper to remember the joy and wonder associated with His birth, but we must also look forward with focused anticipation to the power and glory of His return. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is your primary thought about the return of the Lord?

2. Why is information about His return important to us?

HE TURNS IT AROUND 

READING: ROMANS 5:1-5

Verses 3 & 4: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” 

Tribulation is defined as a state of great affliction, or a time of great affliction. Neither of the two is something that the great majority of people would request, seek or welcome. In fact, a common natural reaction to a state or time of great affliction, would be disappointment that such a time had come into being. However, since Christians are not bound by common natural reactions, we can expect that something better is provided in Christ; and it is. The spiritual or supernatural response to tribulation that is intended for us, is defined by the sequence defined in verses 3 and 4 above. Generally speaking, people like clear step by step guidance that assures good results. These verses accomplish that clarity as they march us through from tribulation to hope. In verse 5 following, this passage then goes on to declare that hope does not disappoint. Because of the goodness of the Lord the result of tribulation, instead of disappointment, is the absolute opposite. Tribulation, experienced by the Spirit of the Lord, produces perseverance, character and hope. God turns it around! Intrusions that the devil intends for evil, the Holy Father uses for good! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What has the Lord reversed from evil to good in your life?

2. Do you have any disappointment to which hope needs to be applied?

HE IS NOT SLACK

READING: ROMANS 4:19-25

Verse 21: “and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform,”

“I guess it was just meant to be.” That is an expression we hear used at times. It seems to indicate a surrender to whatever comes, or a decision to accept some fate or destiny that is operating. It could even be called a form of fatalism. As Christians we are not called to that, we are not fatalists. Our lives are not directed by some vague destiny, but by relationships which submit us to the will of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit. We are FAITHalists! Abraham was an adherent and a foremost example with regard to this type of response. He fully believed, completely committed and totally dedicated himself to the conviction that God would keep His promises. Abraham’s type of faith is the type that remains best for us today. It is faith that does not stop at believing “something” will happen, but trusts that Almighty God Himself will direct and oversee the occurrences in our lives. We have been saved through faith as the gift of God. It is also through that same gift of faith that He constantly blesses our lives. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Is there a difference between your faith and the faith of Abraham?

2. How can a person know if they are a fatalist or a faithalist?

WHO KNOWS?

READING: EPHESIANS 4:17-24

Verse 17: “This I say, therefore, and testify in the LORD, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.”

Our human tendency is to try to figure things out. It seems to comfort us greatly when we can see and understand for ourselves that things are working, and how. If conditions start to feel threatening or out of control, the desire to understand can become more like a need than just a desire. If the pressure continues to increase, the need can get to be more imperative and become a demand. A person may feel they must understand. Although the natural urge for this type of understanding is very strong, the Apostle Paul warns us to resist it. He teaches that it is futility to trust the human mind. In verse 18 he gives the reason to not trust natural understanding. We are told that alienation from the life of God has darkened human understanding. However, this truth does not necessarily generate a “woe is me - all is lost” situation. There is a godly alternative! Instead, according to verse 23, we can learn Christ and be renewed in the spirits of our minds. Then through this newness of mind, all of the understanding we need can flow from the divine, ever-present provision and power of His Lordship. It becomes His understanding that gets imparted to our lives for every good thing. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What effect does darkened human understanding have on a person?

2. What is the right response when a person begins to feel the pressure to understand in the natural?

NOT A ROSE GARDEN

READING: ACTS 21, 22, 23

Acts 23:11 – “But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome’”

The chapters in the Book of Acts mentioned above describe what happened to Paul as the result of a divine call to Jerusalem. A sampling of his experiences is as follows:
1. His presence resulted in all of Jerusalem coming to be in an uproar.
2. A riot resulted and Paul was arrested.
3. While being arrested, he spoke of Jesus causing another outburst.
4. Paul’s defense of himself before the council resulted in him being removed by force from his trial. Those events were pretty turbulent and intense! They don’t seem to reflect the glory that we tend to associate with a divine call of God. In fact the situation was so extreme that it seems even the rugged and steadfast Paul needed encouragement. Therefore, the Lord Jesus appeared to support him as quoted above. Paul’s experience teaches us that a divine call does not necessarily mean smooth sailing. It can mean severe challenge. When it does, we have the Lord’s assurance just as Paul did. He will grant us good cheer in reward for our faithfulness. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What can we expect from a divine call of God?

2. What was expected of Paul?

LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK

READING: JUDGES 16:13-20

Verse 16: “And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death.”

We serve our God who is creative, fresh and innovative. In our Lord there are no ruts, boredom or monotony. Therefore, we should always be ready for God to provide some new way or to do some new thing. However, that is not so with the devil. He continues to use basically the same tactics that he has always used. One reason is that he lacks the creative abilities that are so present in our God. Another reason is that they still work. People still become deceived by his deceptions, even as old as they are. The manner in which Delilah took advantage of Samson is an example. She simply pestered him so incessantly that eventually he gave in to her. What Satan does today, is to use that to the same effect. He is repetitive and insistent with his lies and deceptions. Eventually he gets some to give in, accept them and respond to them. As the people of God we must know the truth that is given as a powerful aspect of our defenses against our adversary. With the truth of God to sustain us, we have the victory. We can resist being pressed or pestered into deception. Instead we reside in the truth that makes us free. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How do you resist the devious messages of the devil and the world?

2. What would you say is his most used persistent lie?