√ Reality Check: November 2006

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The Easy Way Out

Acts Chapter 21

Scripture= Acts chapter 21:10-14, 30-31
10) After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."

30) The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Observations and Applications=
Have you ever been tempted to take the easy way out? Just lie down and not try so hard? It could be working out at the gym or working at our job; the temptation to just not try so hard is always in front of us.

Paul amazes me, he knows that he is heading into trouble and taking it easy is not even an option. Quitting is not in his vocabulary. He is determined to go to Jerusalem no matter what consequences await him there. Being safe was not the criteria that Paul used to decide what to do with his life. Danger and persecution had become a way of life. Going to Jerusalem for Paul, was in some way like Jesus saying to his Father, “not my will but yours be done.”

While it seemed that no good could come from Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem that decision is what ultimately caused his trip to Rome to take place. If Paul had avoided Jerusalem how would he have made it to Rome?

Sometimes it is hard to trust God when he is leading us to take the hard road. We may face confrontation and even persecution but if we are being led by the Spirit of God to face our issues and our fears we will always be better off to face them than we would if we took the easy way out. Who knows what visits to Rome are in store for you?

I remember a hymn that we used to sing in church when I was a boy. It was called ‘Trust and Obey.’ The chorus went something like this (if I can remember), “Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.” One verse was (I think) “When we walk with the Lord. In the light of His Word what a glory He sheds on our way. When we do his good will, he abides with us still, never doubting simply trust and obey.” I remember another phrase of the song I think, went like this, “what He says we will do, where He sends we will go, never doubting simply trust and obey.” Now I probably even mixed the verses together but you get the point.

Are there areas in you life where it feels like God is leading you to Jerusalem? Like Paul, you too might be moving toward your destiny! Are you willing to trust and obey?

Prayer= Lord, when I am afraid I will trust in you.

Posted by Reality Check at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments

Monday, November 20, 2006

Much Needed Sleep

Acts Chapter 20
Scripture= Acts chapter 20:9–12
Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!" Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Observations and Applications=
Have you ever fallen asleep in church? I am sure at some time all of us have. I love what it says in verse 9, “Paul talked on and on.” How many people in church have said that about their pastor; “He just kept preaching and going on and on?” I don’t think that Paul was preaching this way out of an ego problem. The chapter is pretty clear that Paul felt a sense of urgency to give as much of an impartation to this congregation as was possible. Most likely he would never see them again this side of heaven.

As I chose these verses for today’s post it just struck me as sort of humorous what happens in this story. Here Paul is basically preaching all night and people are falling asleep. We all have heard that person snoring in church. We have been both amused and probably at times annoyed with this behavior. What makes it more interesting to me however, is not the perspective of the congregation but the view and thoughts of the speaker.

You should see what it looks like from the other side. Here you are preaching your heart out and during a pause you hear the droning of a person sawing logs right in the middle of your sermon. What goes through your head? First of all you might take a quick glance to see if you can find the perpetrator but what if you don’t see the snoring offender? Do you continue to scan the crowd until their identity is uncovered? What do you do when you discover them? Do you alert an usher? That would mean stopping the sermon. Do you try to stare the person down? They are asleep and won’t see you anyway. Do you make a funny remark? That is really uncovering your brother and sister and exposing them in a time of weakness. What would you do?

Paul just kept on preaching and when Eutychus fell out of the window and died, Paul went outside, raised him from the dead, went back upstairs, ate some food and continued preaching. No big deal right? I think we get so uptight sometimes and have no clue what is really happening? I don’t know about you but if I see some guy fall out of a third story window and die that is something pretty exciting in church! And when the preacher raises this person from the dead I am going to stay awake and remain there all night to see what else is going to happen. I don’t care how late it is and how tired I might be I am not going to miss anything, no way! I bet the people at Troas didn’t quickly forget the words of Paul from that night. And I bet they talked about the events of that service for years to come!

I have been in church with people who had trouble keeping awake and I couldn’t get annoyed with them. Why? Because I knew that they had been up all night or at least, out very late working at their job and yet they still came Sunday morning to honor their responsibilities to serve the congregation. Others I know had been up working all night but instead of going home and going to bed they chose to go to church and be a part of their community of believers. They wanted to be with their brothers and sisters in Christ more than they wanted to sleep. Now what could you possibly say to people like that besides, Wow or Thanks?

When we think about this story we also laugh because all of us have fallen asleep during a devotional or prayer time. My Father used to say to me, “Dan, if you are having trouble falling asleep just begin to read your Bible or pray and the devil will put you to sleep.” Now, I know that he was kidding and not necessarily stating theological facts but we have all been there. In fact, if there really is an anointing present during the sermon perhaps the peace of God might be too hard to ignore and sound sleep becomes irresistible.

Well, I guess it is time to wrap up this post today before some of you fall asleep. You know how damaging it can be to drool on your keyboard. Just remember if you are having trouble sleeping tonight just re-read this blog or any of the previous postings. I would print it out however, because you really don’t want your laptop to fall off the bed! And please, don’t worry about sending me a comment and telling me how much your sleep patterns have improved, I am simply glad to help.

Prayer= Oh help us be real Lord Jesus, people need to know who we really are so they can see what you are doing in our lives!

Posted by Reality Check at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Taking One For The Team

Acts Chapter 16

Scripture= Acts chapter 16:22-23, 26-30, 34
22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

Observations and Applications=
Have you ever heard the expression, 'take one for the team?' I am not sure where that expression got started but it refers to making a self sacrifice for the sake of the team even if it hurts you personally. Many times it refers to playing hurt or letting someone play in your place. However this expression is used, it always indicates a willingness to sacrifice self for the sake of another.

While reading Acts 16 something struck me that I have never seen before. When Paul is brought before the town magistrates, accused and subsequently beaten, why doesn’t he tell everyone right away that he and Silas are Roman citizens? Look at what happens to Paul and Silas. They are beaten and incarcerated without trial and all Paul had to do to stop this mistreatment was to declare that they were Roman citizens. Why didn’t he say something?

Maybe Paul was simply taking one for the team? Think about it; would the jailer and his family have known Christ without Paul’s incarceration? Because of the incarceration there was an earthquake that literally brought the jailer to his knees. Without Paul’s intervention the man would have committed suicide.

It is hard to believe that the earlier verses in this chapter that refer to Paul specifically being led by the Holy Spirit are simply coincidental to the order of this passage (see verses 6-10). Perhaps Paul’s silence was directed by the Holy Spirit in the same way their journeys had been? Because Paul was willing to take one for the team, so to speak, the jailer and his entire family came to Christ. Taking this ‘take one for the team’ thought even further, perhaps the church at Philippi was able to grow and thrive without immediate persecution because the magistrates were concerned about the repercussions of their actions toward these two Roman citizens.

It just astounds me that Paul would be so willing to suffer for Christ in such a way to allow this man and his family to get saved! I complain about going out of my way to listen to someone’s problems. I can get upset when someone’s issues inconvenience my schedule.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you about being willing to ‘take one for the team?’ What would happen to our lives if we were this willing to serve our Lord and to serve one another in this way? Who knows whose life and whose family would be changed? So what do you say; are you ready ‘to take one for the team?’

Prayer= Lord Jesus, may I be willing to lay down my life for my friends; even if I don’t know who they are yet. May I trust the Holy Spirit’s leading and be obedient to your voice. I want to learn to live a life that is willing ‘to take one for the team.’

Posted by Reality Check at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Passing the Test

Acts Chapter 15

Scripture= Acts chapter 15:8-11
8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Observations and Applications=
Did you ever have a class in school where the tests were so hard that nobody received a good grade? I mean even the teacher’s pet, straight A student, didn’t even make an A? Do you remember everybody saying how unfair it was? Why did we think that the teacher had to listen to us? Why did we believe that somehow our declaration about the injustice of such hard questions would really be heard? It wasn’t right that no one could ace the test or even make an A. Why would a teacher make the test so hard? What did it prove?

By not being able to make an A or even pass the test we were forced to accept that no matter how smart we thought we were; we weren’t smart enough! It didn’t matter how hard we studied and for how long we studied, no one could get all the answers right. When the grades were averaged and everyone was treated the same no one could complain about anyone else’s performance pulling down the averages because they didn’t make an A either. Nobody and I mean nobody could do it! Nobody could be good enough!

In Acts chapter 15 Peter stands up to address the Jewish leaders in the church at Jerusalem. Included in this group of leaders were the Apostles and the church elders. Peter talks to them about the new Gentile believers and reminds the leaders that none of them had been able to pass God’s test. Did you hear that? No one in all the history of Israel could ace the test or even make an A. Everyone had in fact failed and even with the help of a curve (the sacrificial system) and a pre-test (the law); everyone still had failed. Peter reminded these leaders that God had sent a student to pass the test for them; Jesus our Savior, who was the Son of God, who was God in the flesh.

This same Jesus had also passed the test for the Gentiles. How could anyone complain about the test or the grading system for Jews and Gentiles alike were both in equal need. How different the outcome would be for everyone if they allowed the one who had aced the test to be their tutor; someone who could enable everyone to ace the test. The leaders of the Church of Jerusalem concluded that no one would ever pass the test without the help of Jesus and since Jesus had declared to them (the apostles) that his yoke was easy and his burden was light (see Matthew 11:28-30), the best they could do would be to offer the yoke of Jesus to the gentiles as well. With limited restrictions, actually sound advice and wisdom; the Jewish leaders welcomed their Gentile brothers and sisters into the family of God. Together, Jews and Gentiles would accept the grace of God given through Jesus.

Are you still trying to ace the test? Have you discovered God’s grace? Take this little ‘grace test.’

1. Would you describe your walk with Jesus as easy?
2. Would you describe your walk with Jesus as something that you can never get right?

1. Is your burden to please God light?
2. Is your burden to please God something that seems impossible to bear?

1. Are you resting in what Jesus has done for you?
2. Are you constantly questioning whether you are doing enough for God?

If your answers are #2’s please read Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 and if you want to talk about this ‘grace test’ send me a comment.

Posted by Reality Check at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Truth In Plain Sight

Acts Chapter 14
Scripture= Acts chapter 14:16-17
In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."

Observations and Applications=
The evidence was there in plain sight for everyone to see…

This is not the opening line to some crime novel it is the truth about the knowledge of God. Paul, in Acts chapter 14 tells the people in Iconium that even though God let them decide which god’s they were going to follow he was always there showing the people that he cared for them. The people of Iconium might have given some other god the credit for their provision but Paul is informing them that it was God. They might have thought that what they had was just the result of good luck or even hard work but Paul enlightens them to the kindness of God.

How many times do we take the kindness of God for granted ourselves? Isn’t easy just to think that somehow things just happen? After all we are just lucky or very fortunate. Sometimes I wonder if we just don’t think about it at all? We just go through life oblivious to what is happening in our lives. We miss the kindness of God that is a part of our every day existence.

Stop today and think about the kindness of God. See him in the little things as well as the big events. Give back to God your appreciation for how he has watched over you and provided for you. Realize that like the people of Iconiom, God was there in your life providing you with kindness even before you knew him.

God is a good God, ALL THE TIME! Help others see that God has been in there life as well. Help them see that they have had God moments even though they might not even know him as their Savior. Like Paul we can tell others about the goodness of our God. Our God is not willing that anyone should perish and through Jesus, God has made peace with all mankind. It is the kindness of God, Paul wrote in Romans chapter 2; that leads us to repentance. God is not angry with mankind. He is eager for his creation to know that he is there, making himself known, every single day!

Prayer= Lord Jesus, may I notice and acknowledge your kindness. May I not take your goodness for granted. May I help others to see how you have been good to them. May I boldly proclaim the Grace of My God!

Posted by Reality Check at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

Monday, November 13, 2006

A Man After God's Own Heart!

Acts Chapter 13

Scripture= Acts chapter 13:22
After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'

Observations and Applications=
Did you ever have a friend in school that would do just about anything for attention or for money? You know the person who would put all the food together and eat it or drink it on a dare from everyone? While you slightly admired their bravado mainly if we were honest we thought that they were slightly a little off and now as adults we know that they were probably in need of attention.

In Acts chapter 13 Paul gives us some insight into the life of King David. Paul tells us that God describes David as a man after his own heart and then tells us why; David would do everything that God asked him to do. Wow, this is not someone looking for extra attention this is a man who without question will trust and obey his God! David is one of those crazy guys who would do anything just because God asked him too! Can you imagine being that far off? I mean what if God asks you to do…? What if people will think you are weird? What if you are asked to build an ark like Noah, or told to send all your soldiers home like Gideon?

Do you want to be a person after God’s own heart? Let’s be crazy today and do whatever God wants us to do.

Prayer= Lord I want to do whatever you want me to do. I want to be crazy for you today. I want to live as one who has a heart after you!

Posted by Reality Check at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments

Friday, November 10, 2006

Keeping the Right Schedule

Acts Chapter 10

Scripture= Acts chapter 10:34-36
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Observations and applications=
I don’t know about you, but my life is pretty full and seems to often fly by at about ninety miles an hour. I can get so caught up in all the activities that my family and I are involved in that my life becomes my world. With a wife, four kids and a dog and with all the activities they are involved in and with the church schedule; I can get pretty consumed with my life. My schedule becomes my sole existence and I can forget that there is a big world out there with all kinds of things that are happening. My world becomes appointments, sports practices and family activities so often that I can easily lose touch with the greater events that are happening around me. It takes a concerted effort to stay in touch with things outside my sphere of influence and activity. I can be so consumed in my life that I am not aware of all the things that are happening in the lives of those around me. Can anyone out there relate to this?

The same thing can happen in the ‘church world’ too! We get so caught up in our own church activities that we forget that we are a part of a body of believers all around the world. In America it is so easy to believe that somehow the world all revolves around what the American church believes and supports. It often seems like American Christians think that God loves us more than others countries or peoples. The most powerful moves of God are not happening in America however, they are happening in other places like South Korea or Uganda and somehow as Americans we act surprised. I hear people say, "Why doesn’t God do that here?" One of my favorites that I hear people say is, "Well that is what those people over there need!"

We need to be reminded of Peter’s words in this tenth chapter of Acts. Peter observes that, "God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." I can’t be so obsessed with my personal life that I miss what God wants to do through me in the lives of the people around me. I also can’t get so locked into my ‘church world’ that I miss out on opportunities to be a part of the harvest around the world. God does care about all of his creation and he uses people to carry out his plans. I can support others through my prayers, giving and even going to the mission field.

This same Peter, mentioned in Acts chapter 10, wrote that God is not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9). I need to go wherever my God directs me to care for his creation. I may miss his direction if I am too busy to hear him or to see where he is leading me. I also may miss the Lord’s direction if I have decided who is important to God and who in my opinion is not! Peter went to Cornelius’ house and a whole new world was opened up to those who lived outside of Judaism. Those of us who are Gentiles can rejoice that Peter was obedient to the will of God and wasn’t too caught up in his own world. Because of Peter’s actions we too can hear the good news of our Lord’s peace.

Prayer= Lord, help me to not be so caught up in my own activities that I miss revealing you to those around me. Help me to stay engaged in announcing your kingdom. I don’t want to judge where the gospel goes and to whom it is proclaimed. I want to enjoy the opportunities I am given to proclaim your love.

Posted by Reality Check at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

Thursday, November 09, 2006

A New Direction!

I am sorry for not posting a blog yesterday. I found out Tuesday night that I had lost a dear friend and I just never felt like writing. His name was Kim Powell and he is now in the presence of our Lord. I will miss his sense of humor and his love for telling others about the incredible grace of our God. Kim was like Paul, a man who Jesus radically grabbed hold of and had given a second chance in life and a new direction to travel. Kim and his wife Martha made an impact on my life at a time when their friendship was a blessing from God and a direct answer to my prayers. I was fortunate to know this man and I am glad that I can, with Martha his soulmate in Jesus, remember his life and ministry. I'll miss you Kim but I will see you again one day!

Acts Chapter 9
Scripture= Acts chapter 9:20-22
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

Observations and Applications=
When I was a kid I loved to watch westerns'. Of course as a boy one of my favorite parts of the movie were always the gunfights. I especially liked when the cowboys were shooting each other or Indians off their horses. The horse was going really fast in one direction and suddenly they were snatched off their horses in midair. The horse was going in one way and suddenly the men who got shot were flying in the opposite direction. Later, as I grew older I found out how they made this stunt work in the movies. The horse rider was literally tied to a rope and the rope was secured to a fixed object. When the rider took off riding their horse they were eventually ejected off the horse by the now completely taut rope. The effect was great it looked like the bullets had knocked the riders right off their horses.

Saul of Tarsus had a very similar encounter in Acts chapter 9. No, Saul wasn't shot off his horse but the encounter he had with Jesus virtually had the same effect. Not only did Saul (Paul) get knocked on the ground altering his travel plans, his life's direction would never be the same as well! Saul thought he had everything figured out. Paul was persecuting this rebellion of Judaism in order to please God. Now suddenly Saul discovered that this rebellion was actually of God and that Jesus was in fact, the Son of God, Saul's messiah! Saul realized that his whole life had been heading in the wrong direction! Now suddenly Saul is left blind and without direction. He is so moved that he cannot even eat of drink. He is suddenly a very humble and powerless man.

After Ananias meets with him, Saul's entire life immediately begins to radically go in the opposite direction of where it had been heading. Now instead of persecuting those who believe in Jesus he is preaching about having a relationship with him. Instead of persecuting those who followed Jesus, Saul is arguing for their position and helping to strengthen the church. Now instead of taking peoples lives Saul is actually on the run to save his own. If ever there was a man whose life looked like one of those riders who were shot off their horse it was Saul (Paul). It is almost unbelievable to conceive that so much change could occur so quickly and so radically! Saul had been RADICALLY SAVED!

The church had a hard time accepting and believing that this change was genuine. This Saul had done great damage to the cause of Christ and I am sure they all knew people whose lives were drastically altered due to Saul's zealousness. How could they trust Saul? It might all be a trick? Isn't that the way we often view our own walk with Christ? We think back about the Saul that we once were and often doubt the radical work of Jesus in our own lives. Philippians 1:6 says we can be confident that Jesus will finish the work in us that he started. Colossians 3 tells that we can set our hearts on heavenly things and walk away from what we used to be. We too can be radically saved; never to be the same ever again (see Colossians chapter 3). Believe this day in your Savior who like he did for Saul changed the course of your life forever and started you in the right direction. Jesus is both the author and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews. 12:2).

Prayer=Lord Jesus, thank you for my salvation. May I continue to see the fruits of my salvation and my relationship with you. You have stopped me from the path of destruction and placed me on your highway to holiness.

Posted by Reality Check at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Acts Chapter 7

Scripture= Acts chapter 7:55-60
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Observations and Applications=
Have you ever read any stories about Christian martyrs? Those people who are wiling to lay down their lives for their God. I am always in awe of the men and women and even the children who throughout the ages have courageously gone to their death often singing praises or praying and rejoicing in the name of their Savior. Foxes Book of Martyrs has always fascinated me and even today we can read of such heroes of the faith in the periodical ‘The Voice of the Martyrs.’

One question that I have asked God and I am sure you have wondered about too is; how these martyrs can withstand the pain and still sing praises and die proclaiming the name of Jesus? In Hebrews 13:5-6 we find the answer,

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. “So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

This passage is quoted from Deuteronomy 31:6 and Psalms 118:6-7
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.” (Psalms 118:6-7)

In these verses of scripture we have our answer and we can see it happening in verse 55 of Acts chapter 7. Stephen is caught up in the glory of God. I do believe that God honors his word. If he says that he will not forsake us then I believe that these martyrs are caught up in the glory of God. So much so, that they are able to sing and exalt their Savior and like Stephen even ask God to give their executors forgiveness.

If God is with us even in times of torture and death how can we doubt that he is with us every day? How can I doubt his presence and complain about the simple little episodes of life that come against me. The author of Hebrews in writing about Christ’s suffering tells us that when life comes against us we need to have a proper perspective. He writes,
“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:3-4)

Today, let’s rejoice in the trials we face and acknowledge that God is always with us. Let’s ask him to forgive us for whining over trivial issues and then stop and pray for our brothers and sisters who are really suffering around the world. Pray for their safety and thank Jesus that he is with them. Pray also for their courage and their deliverance.

Prayer= Lord Jesus, thank you for never forsaking me. I know that you are always there; an ever present help in time of trouble. Forgive me for doubting your love and concern for me. Forgive me for whining about nothing. I pray today for all my sisters and brothers who really are suffering for their faith. May they sense your presence with them and remain strong in the face of persecution.

Posted by Reality Check at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

Monday, November 06, 2006

U Can't Touch This...

Acts Chapter 6
Scripture= Acts chapter 6:5, 8, 10

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Observations and Applications=
In 1990, M.C. Hammer wrote, sang and performed a song entitled ‘U Can’t Touch This.’ This song pretty much told all the other rappers and dancers that they couldn’t come close to touching M.C. Hammer’s success. The song declared that they all might as well give up because they ‘can’t touch this’ (his fame and fortune).

M.C. Hammer’s career fell apart about as fast as it rose to prominence but this song came to my mind after I read this chapter in the book of Acts. When you look at Stephen and what the book of Acts chapter 6 says about him I believe that you really could say ‘U can’t touch this!’

The Holy Spirit was so evident in his life that Stephen’s attackers could not stand up against the wisdom of God that was in Him. Stephen was a man full of God's grace and power, and he did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. The power of God in Stephen could not be touched (matched).

No matter how brilliant man’s wisdom appears to be, it is no match for a man or woman who is full of the Holy Spirit and God’s wisdom. Man’s brilliance will always fall short of God’s simplicity. The fact that Stephen was yielded to God made him more than any man could contend with. When you faced Stephen you were encountering His God.

If God is not a respecter of persons we too have the same abilities available to us if we, like Stephen are yielded to the Spirit of God. Ask the Holy Spirit today if you are yielding to God? Ask him to reveal to you any areas that you are holding back? Ask the Spirit of God to reveal areas of your life that you are ashamed of confessing to God and to others?

Yielding to God doesn’t mean that we don’t have issues in our life. Yielding to God is a decision to open ourselves up to God. He is a God who loves us unconditionally and who died and rose from the dead to empower us and ensure our complete salvation. The Salvation that God gives us is over every area in our lives that would bring harm, destruction and death into our lives. We too can be described as someone who is full of God's grace and power. With the Spirit of God working in our lives we too can say, "You Can't Touch This!"

Prayer= Lord Jesus, by your precious Spirit reveal to me any areas in my life that I am holding back. Areas that I need to give to you. I want to be yielded to your Holy Spirit's power in my life. I want to be a person who lives as a man (or woman) full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

Posted by Reality Check at 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments

Thursday, November 02, 2006

The Lost Ring

Acts Chapter 2
Scripture= Acts 2:22, 23, 36
22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Observations and Applications=
Were you ever given something of value from a grandparent or a parent that was to be passed down to your children as well? I was given a ring by my Father when I was about 11 or 12 years of age. It was a special ring that was my Fathers and had ties to my Grandfather. This ring was silver and looked like a small belt with a buckle on it. I thought it was really cool but what made it extra special was the fact that my dad was entrusting it to me. I could tell by the way my Dad talked about the ring that it was very special to him and I knew when he told me to be careful where I wore the ring that I was not supposed to lose that ring…ever! I knew to lose that ring would make my Dad sad and that he would be very disappointed with me! My Father told me that his ring could become something special that I would also give to my son.

Well, I am sure you have figured it out by now that I LOST the RING!!! I lost it right away. I was not used to wearing rings so I must have wore it somewhere I shouldn’t have and it fell off or I simply took it off and left it somewhere. The sad thing is that I never even realized what I had done until my Dad asked me about the ring! I had been given a trust and I had seen in my Father’s face and heard in his voice how valuable it was to him and I had LOST the RING! I had taken one of my Father’s prized possessions and I had lost it!

In Acts chapter 2 Peter is speaking to his Jewish kinsmen and he told them that God the Father had given them Jesus and had showed them how valuable Jesus was to Him by endorsing him through miracles and other signs. The Father had given them specific proof of Jesus’ identity and had even spoken from heaven his approval and instead of believing in Jesus, the people helped the wicked leaders of Israel put Jesus to death on a cross. These were the same people who had been screaming “give us Barabbas” and were yelling about Jesus, “Crucify him.” They had been trusted to receive God’s only Son and instead of believing in him they had killed him (see Luke 20:9-19). This Jesus who they crucified was their Messiah the one promised to their ancestors, to them and to their heirs and they missed it! It is awesome to see God the Father give them another chance to believe. This time 3,000 of them repented of their actions and believed in their Messiah.

Today, let’s make sure that we receive all that our loving heavenly Father is giving to us. We can’t misuse or misplace the gifts that God has placed in our hands. It can be so easy to take Jesus for granted and not honor him with our time and our obedience. We don’t want to miss recognizing the moves of God that come through the circumstances and the people that God has placed in our life. We want to treasure the Father's most precious gift.

Prayer= Lord Jesus, help me to see you and recognize you for who you are. Help me to follow hard after you and your will today. Forgive me for taking you for granted and not expressing my gratitude for my salvation and my relationship with you. Jesus, you are my Savior and my Lord. You Are the CHRIST, the Son of the Living God!

Posted by Reality Check at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

An Incredible Turn of Events

Acts Chapter 1
Scripture= Acts chapter 1:3, 9

3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Observations and Applications=
Did you ever have a day that you wished would never end? Have you ever been on a vacation that was so good that you didn’t want to go home?

Probably one of my favorite vacations was my honeymoon in Bermuda. The water was so clear it seemed that you could see forever. I was so much in love I couldn’t stand to be away from Jan for a minute. We would swim out to little outcrops of rocks and just lay in the sun for the whole day. Everything was taken care of and we were treated like kings and queens. The food and services at the hotel were first class and the island views were breathtaking! I didn’t want to ever come home and end our magical moment.

Something happened though that ended all the magic. Toward the end of our stay we overheard a couple talking to a desk clerk about how much money they owed in extra charges. They were shocked to find out that they had to pay gratuities on everything that they had done during their entire stay at the resort. For every meal, for every service (even the room maid), for renting snorkel equipment or anything from the hotel and of course for every drink or any extra thing that they thought was a part of their room package. The cost added up to an unbelievable amount of money! Suddenly their great vacation was ruined. And suddenly so was ours!

We had been told that all our expenses were taken care of and that all the gratuities were inclusive. We were promised that we wouldn’t need a lot of money so we should leave it at home or we would just spend more. We had rented mopeds and were planning to buy some souvenirs and suddenly we realized that we also might have a lot of charges added onto our bill and we might actually run out of money. This was so frustrating because we had more money but we had chosen to leave it at home. We quickly turned our mopeds in early to receive a refund. Then we asked the desk clerk to please ring up our bill so we would know how much money we would need. We were surprised with the total cost and we barely had enough to cover our cost and leave the right amount of money in the country to fly home. Incredibly, the best vacation of my lifetime had almost become a great disaster. What an incredible turn of events!

Can you imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus left them and disappeared into the sky? What an emotional rollercoaster they must have been on? First you think Jesus is about to be crowned king and then instead he is crucified. You can’t believe how distraught you feel about his death and suddenly you hear that he has been seen and is actually alive! You were actually ready to leave Jerusalem and go back home when you meet Jesus in the upper room. He really is alive and the joy you feel is unlike anything that you have ever felt before. You actually get to be with Jesus again, and in some ways this time with him is better than all the other times combined. Now after spending forty days with him suddenly he is gone! What an incredible turn of events!

Little did they know that in ten more days they would experience God like never before? I wonder what was going on in their minds as they waited in that upper room as Jesus had told them to do. What was coming would be for them their greatest incredible turn of events but I’m sure that like Jan and I returned from our honeymoon that they were filled with very mixed emotions. The fact that Jesus had gone away would allow the day of Pentecost to take place. God was about to turn their worlds upside down.

What is happening in your life right now that you can’t control? Are you in the middle of an incredible turn of events? Are they good events or are they troubling? Know that God sees your life from the beginning to the end. He is able to take whatever you are experiencing and make it an incredible turn of events. Jan and I look back at our honeymoon now and laugh. We realize that what happened could not diminish our time together. We have memories to last a lifetime.

Whatever God is doing in your life right now keep trusting him to finish what he has started. Phil 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Prayer= Lord, Thank you for watching over my days. I am grateful for your awesome plan for my life. Help me to keep trusting you that you know what I need more than I know myself.

Posted by Reality Check at 9:49 PM | Permalink | Comments

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