No Charge

He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Acts 7:60 NLT

Stephen was one of the original seven deacons chosen to take care of the 1st Century church. Almost every Scripture translation defines him as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5) who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. A Godly man. A righteous man who lived his life above reproach.

However, one day, he got into a debate with some men and because they could not stand up against his wisdom and knowledge, they conspired with others to lie about Stephen and charge him with blasphemy. Liars all and yet it was their voices that were heard and believed, in spite of the Truth spoken by Stephen.

How many of us would have been angry at the lies? Filled with disbelief that his accusers actually won their court case through deceitfulness? How many of us would be angry at God because we had been doing His work and been falsely accused, but were charged as though we were guilty?

How many of us, in the middle of being stoned to death, would have cried out as our last words, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!”?

I'll just tell you straight up that I would want to be exonerated. I would want to know what good this could possibly serve. In my mind, if there is great suffering, it should be the cost for some greater good that will come of it. But the Truth of the matter is, we don't always see it or live long enough to know about it. It's not our right to know everything. The hard truth is, it's not our business. We are not God. Our business is to be about HIS business, in spite of what anyone else thinks or does and despite the consequences. And His business is forgiveness in perfect love.

Prayer:

Father,
            We want to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit. We want to be like Jesus and like Stephen. We want to walk in such love that we cry, "No charge!" when someone sins against us, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Faithless

Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” 

Revelation 21:7-8 NIV

Have you ever been afraid? If so, this Scripture could strike fear into your heart and mind. Pun intended. Whoever thought that being cowardly and unbelieving would be listed with the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars? 

In the KJV and several others, cowardly is translated as fearful; it is the Greek word 'deilos' which, according to the Strong's concordance means 'timid, fearful, and by implication, faithless'. Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Interestingly, this particular Greek word is only used three times in the New Testament, and two of those times were when Christ was asleep in the boat and the disciples woke Him asking if He cared that they were going to drown (Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:40). The third is in our Promise for Today.  Its full implication is more about believers who because of fear give way under persecutions and renounce their beliefs.

As Christians, we have been taught that Faith is the opposite of fear - and that's true - but there is more. Peace and confidence are also opposites of fear. Jesus promises us His peace, not the world's version (John 14:27), and provides us with the confidence that whatever we ask according to His will, He hears us (1st John 5:14). Additionally, trust, boldness and security are opposites of fear (Psalm 91:1-2).  When we follow God wholeheartedly, He is our strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you have heard that, and also that in our weakness, He is strength (2nd Corinthians 12:9). Not that we are to be weak, but that when we are, we go to God for strength, which also is the opposite of fear. 

As you can clearly see, all these things in their truest form are found only in Christ. So how do we go about striking fear FROM our lives? 

1st John 5:5 provides the perfect response,  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Prayer:

Father, 
           Forgive us for being feckless and fearful. We believe that Jesus is Your Son. Help us to see clearly all that is ours through the redemptive power of Christ. Grow us up to be the sons and daughters You created us to be, according to Your plan. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Measure an Increase

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 12:3 NKJV

...each one a measure of faith... Does that mean that God has given the same measure to everyone or to each a measure of faith according to God's purpose in his or her life?

Today, I thought about this with regard to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. In that story, one servant was given 5 talents, one was given 2, and the last received 1, but ALL were expected to increase what they were given...

It is my opinion that similarly, we are to increase our faith. Hebrews 11:6 reads, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How do we do that? According to Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We know that trials and tribulation will test our faith, but it starts very simply. We must spend time in His Word. Spending time, building the relationship. We can't trust or have faith in Someone we don't know.

Prayer:

Father,
            We humbly ask for a fresh anointing to read and understand You and Your Word. Increase our faith so that we may please You and You alone. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Good or Evil

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.

Romans 12:9 The Message

In all of life, we pit good against bad in one form or another. Good versus evil. Good guys - bad guys. We may root for an underdog, but if we do, it's because underneath, he's really the good guy! We never want the bad guy to win.

I can't seem to get away from Chapter 12 in the book of Romans. But then...it's all about being the good guy in life. Read on from our text:

Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness.

Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. Romans 12:10-21 The Message.

Prayer:

Father,

          We wanna be the good guys! We want to win, too! Keep our hearts and minds close to You, so that we can win in You! Cause us to overcome evil by Your Goodness alive in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Get the L Out

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NLT 

Today, there have been several conversations and much discussion about the world situation with regard to CoVID-19. Yes, quarantine. No quarantine. Yes, mask. No mask. Yes, vaccine. No vaccine. Yes, social distancing. No. Pick a side  - any side - and you will find any disparate, even desperate discourse to "support" your choice. 

What grieves me is when people come together to pray, but preface their prayers with rumors and the ensuing fear that follows the rumors. I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, and I'm not sure who would be a good source for reliable information because the story has changed too many times as we supposedly "learn more." So, in times like these, I can only go to the One that does not change, even though the world is trying to keep us from Him. With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. However, I find no matter the question, no matter the doubt, Jesus not only has the answer, He IS the answer. 

We know the worLd's version of current events. Let's seek the Word's version of it. John 14:27 NKJV reads, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  WorLd. Word. 

When it comes to finding the Truth and peace, let's get the L out.

Prayer:

Father, 

           You are our God and we will ever praise You. You are the Truth we seek in every situation. Nothing has caused You to fall off Your throne in despair. Your Word says You are the same yesterday, today and forever, and You have promised to never leave us or forsake us. We choose Your Word over the world's words, Father. It's what we know to be always true. Help us to walk in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Made Up Minds

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
2nd Chronicles 32:7-8 NIV

Hezekiah had made up his mind that because of the Lord God, he and his people were going to win against the Assyrian king. Then he spoke it to his people in such a way that they heard and believed and gained confidence!! They made up THEIR minds that what Hezekiah said was Truth and would not waver from it.

Even when the enemy came and bragged about all their great conquests. Even when the enemy ridiculed everything about them and their leader and their God! Even when the enemy browbeat them with all the terrible things they planned to do to them. Hezekiah's people - God's people! - chose to believe the Truth of God over the facts before them.

Daily, we're in a battle of some kind. How are we going to be victorious? Who are we listening to? Are we listening to the "Woe is me" crowd spouting that the odds are stacked against us? That it's bigger than we are? That we can't escape, fight or win? Or do we have our minds made up even then...

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to guard our hearts and minds to hear and heed only You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Safe Path

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Listening to some old John Denver tunes, I was reminded of how easy it is to get distracted. Was I sinning? No. And I think it was great that God reminded me of just how easy it is to allow things into our spirit without any effort at all, and how much more effort it takes to get rid of it. We're bombarded from all sides all day long. How much defense do we have on hand? Are we prepared? Are we guarding our hearts against the everyday drivel, angst and frustration?

Verses 24-27 conclude the chapter of our text today - with these instructions:

Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.  [emphasis mine]
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.
Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

It's easy... way too easy to get sidetracked. If we're going to expend energy, let's make it worth our while. Let's make the effort to put in the good stuff - God's Word, His praise. Sound teaching. Make the effort to guard your heart. It's much easier than having to do a transplant...

Prayer:

Father,
          Make us ever mindful of You and Your ways and Your will for us. Keep us focused so that we stay on the safe path - the one You have walked before us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.