Acts 4:13

 

Acts 4:13

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

These men had been with Jesus. Isn’t that what all of us want to be remembered for? Being with Jesus. Living for Jesus. Sharing Jesus.

Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men, but because of their boldness and courage, they were sharing the gospel message. I’m sure most of us have heard this quote before: “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” It, indeed, is a true statement!

Godsbless.ing: “This verse is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of faith and the Holy Spirit. Despite being uneducated by societal standards, Peter and John exhibited incredible boldness in proclaiming the gospel. Their unwavering commitment to sharing the message of Christ’s love and salvation astounded even the religious leaders of their time . . . This verse reminds us that God can use anyone, regardless of their background or education, to spread His word. It is not about our own credentials or eloquence, but about surrendering to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work through us.”

Ask anyone who has been used by God if they felt qualified. I believe most of them will say no. Yet, in God’s miraculous way, He brings opportunities before us, and we find ourselves in situations talking about Jesus that we never thought possible.

Biblerepository.com: “The council realized something unique about Peter and John. Despite their lack of formal education and training, they displayed a wisdom and understanding that came from their relationship with Christ. It shows us that being with Jesus has the power to change us, making us bolder and more confident in our faith . . . Our relationship with Christ can empower us just like it did for them. In life, we may feel unqualified or inadequate for a task, but we can draw confidence from knowing that we are not working in our strength alone. Jesus equips us with what we need when we stay close to Him . . . One of the primary lessons from Acts 4:13 is the importance of spending time with Jesus. The more we immerse ourselves in His teachings, the more we grow in wisdom and the more confident we become in our faith. Our spiritual growth comes not only from reading Scripture but also from praying, worshiping, and being part of a community of believers . . . We also learn about the power of God transforming ordinary people. The Bible is filled with stories of those who were initially unqualified but went on to fulfill God’s calling.”

God opens a way that finds you able to accomplish things you felt unprepared for. When I was asked to talk about the note writing ministry at a conference where I worked, I thought, “How can I do that? I can’t talk in front of people. My mind goes blank.” Then God told me to write down, word for word, what I wanted to share. Trusting in His answer, I did stand up in front of people and told them about this encouraging ministry. I believed in it and could share boldly to a group of people because my word-for- word notes were right in front of me. All I had to do is read them. God directed. I followed. A miracle took place.

I had been with Jesus. You have too. Ask God to direct you so you can do miraculous things for your Lord.

By His Grace . . . 

Psalm 138:5

 

Psalm 138:5

“May they sing of the way of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great.”

What are the ways of the Lord? We have hymns on all topics of our God such as His Glory, His Love, His Grace, His Hope, His Majesty, His Power and so many other attributes! Why did David write the words he did? Charles Spurgeon said:

“This Psalm is wisely placed. Whoever edited and arranged these sacred poems, he had an eye to apposition and contrast; for if in Psalm 137 we see the need of silence before revilers, here we see the excellence of a brave confession. There is a time to be silent, lest we cast pearls before swine; and there is a time to speak openly, lest we be found guilty of cowardly non-confession.”

So, again, what are the ways of the Lord?

Bibleoutlined.com says: “It encompasses the teachings, actions, and nature of God as revealed in Scripture. The psalmist is inviting us to consider how God’s ways are often filled with compassion, justice, and mercy . . . When we sing praises, we are acknowledging God’s sovereignty and authority in our lives. It is a celebration of the good deeds and the character of God, who works endlessly for our benefit . . . When we gather to sing, we create a powerful atmosphere of worship that can uplift our hearts and encourage our spirits. As believers, we recognize that when we glorify God together through song, we are not just reciting words; we are engaging in an act of worship that honors Him.”

Most of us love to sing whether we have a lovely voice or happy voice or loud voice. Singing infuses our hearts with joy and makes us feel good. It increases what our memory retains. It’s easy to remember a tune and the words that go with it. It has many health benefits such as enhances lung function, improves respiratory function and enhances cardiovascular health and can reduce stress.

Most of us enjoy singing with a group of people. Sharing that moment of happiness and joy. In worship, singing creates a powerful atmosphere that uplifts our hearts and encourages our spirits. Singing is just downright good for you!

When I drove to work in the early morning I would burst into song when I saw a beautiful sunrise. “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, And give him the glory, great things He hath done!”

“May they sing of the way of the Lord!” Always be ready to sing to your God. For He hears your heart and will receive your offering with pleasure.

By His Grace . . . 

Genesis 22:12 and Luke 15:20

 

Genesis 22:12

“’Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’”

 Luke 15:20

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Here are two verses of Scripture that are in powerful stories. The first, Abraham was going to do the unthinkable for God.  He was going to kill his only son. The second, a relationship is restored. A son returns after leaving and living a life of sin. We don’t like to think of these because we don’t ever want them to happen in our own life.

But they do happen. More than we know. If it does, you must trust God to see you through and expect Him to work while you wait in hope. Anger doesn’t help. That only hurts you more. Trust and obey.  

Psalm 2:11

“Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling.”

Scripturesavvy.com: “This verse captures a profound invitation for us to engage with God. When we are told to serve the Lord with fear, it is not a suggestion steeped in dread or anxiety. Instead, it calls us to a reverent acknowledgment of God’s power and majesty . . . By recognizing His greatness, we are more inclined to act with gratitude and sincerity in our service . . .

“The joyful aspect of serving as expressed in ‘rejoice with trembling’ brings another layer to our understanding of this verse. We find that joy and trembling coexist. It’s a reminder that our servitude to God should not only be motivated by duty but also by a heart full of joy . . . Our rejoicing comes from knowing that we are in a relationship with a majestic and powerful God who is not distant but very much involved in our lives.”

Psalm 71:20

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.”

Bibleoutlined.com: “This powerful verse from Psalms speaks of God’s promise to revive us during our most challenging times. The writer acknowledges the troubles and difficulties they have faced but expresses deep faith in God’s ability to bring them back to life and restore them. It isn’t just a statement of despair; it is a declaration of hope and reassurance in the Lord’s capacity to renew our spirits.”

Fearing God and restoration. Whatever we go through because of our faith in God, we are to obey and trust. Our God is able to see us through all we experience.

“Now I know that you fear God . . . he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

God never fails. God NEVER fails. GOD NEVER FAILS.

By His Grace . . . 

1 John 3:1

 

1 John 3:1

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”

Do you ever think about being called a child of God? We are children of God. We’ve been born into His family and will forever be His children.

At one time we were children to our parents. That may or may not bring about pleasant memories. You knew they loved you, they cared for you and they protected you. Or, like me, you’re growing up years were not warm and loving, and you don’t have pleasant memories of your parents.

Either way, all of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior now have the experience of being loved and cared for by our heavenly Father.

Enduringword.com: “This verse invites believers to contemplate the depth and quality of God’s love. It reflects a deep, familial relationship with the Creator . . . Being called a child of God means that believers share in His nature and are part of His divine family . . . Believers are granted a new identity and purpose and is characterize by love, acceptance, and the promise of eternal life.”

We now can experience being a child with a perfect heavenly Father who loves us and provides for us. Whether we are finding this joy as a young person or an older adult, it is there and won’t be taken away.

Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: “John cannot find words to express his feelings when he considers the great love God has shown in making sinful people His children . . . God’s children know little about the nature of life in the world to come, but they know at least that in some way they will be like Christ.”

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: “That we are the children of God is the wonder of it all. Who are we that we should be named as God’s children with all the benefits such a relationship provides? Like John, we should live in constant awe of this grand privilege.”

Studylight.org, Light of Israel Bible Commentary: “This has to be one of the greatest statements regarding our salvation to be found anywhere in the Bible. It is a picture of divine love lavished upon us as we are ushered into the heavenly family. What unspeakable, immeasurable majesty is ours.”

Children of God. The great and awesome Father chose us. Let’s show our respect and honor to Him.

By His Grace . . . 

Ezra 9:6

 

Country Road, take me home.

Ezra 9:6

“[Ezra] prayed: ‘I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to You,

because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.’”

Have you ever been ashamed to go to God because you’d done something you knew was very wrong. Sometimes it’s difficult to go to God and ask for forgiveness when you know what you did was a terrible thing. You are embarrassed and guilty and so ashamed.

That’s what happened to the prophet Ezra. He had gone before God numerous times to ask for forgiveness for the people. But the wrong seemed to never stop. He felt shame, and he was humbled to acknowledge the sins of the people.

Most of us are very familiar with this verse of Scripture: 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We know God will forgive us if we are asking with a sincere heart but doing it can cause us great pain—an unwanted lesson in humility.

Biblehub.com: “This verse highlights Ezra’s desperation and reluctance to approach God for mercy again, given the repeated provocations of the people despite God’s previous forgiveness. It signifies a moment of repentance and reflection as Ezra leads the people in recognizing their need for divine grace.”

Biblerepository.com: “This verse, Ezra 9:6, is a profound expression of sorrow and repentance. The prophet Ezra is communicating with God, acknowledging the weight of the sins that have accumulated over the years. He feels a deep sense of shame and embarrassment. There is a raw honesty in his words, revealing a heart that is truly burdened by the consequences of sin . . . The position Ezra finds himself in—unable to lift his face to God—mirrors the feelings many of us have experienced when confronting sin. It speaks to our shared human experience of encountering the magnified weight of our mistakes and desperately longing for redemption.”

Whenever this happens to us we must turn to God and ask for forgiveness. No matter how hard it is or how it makes us feel, we can’t carry our sin around forever. At some point, hopefully sooner rather than later, we must confess to God asking for His mercy and forgiveness.

God is always faithful. He will wash away the shame and guilt with the blood of Jesus and make us whole again. Never forget that your God forgives and forgets. No matter how bad you think it is, the blood of Jesus cleanses you and your Holy and Righteous God forgives you.

By His Grace . . .

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

 Deuteronomy 30:19-20

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

“Now choose life.”  What is your life? Is it yours? Can you do anything you want with it? As Christians, we are very aware that our life belongs to God. We certainly can’t do anything we want with it.

This verse is part of a larger passage where Moses is addressing the Israelites, reminding them of the covenant they have with God and the blessings that come from obedience.

Biblestudytools.com: "God shows them, in short, what their duty is, to love [Him], and to love Him as the Lord, a Being most amiable, and as their God, a God in covenant with them . . . He is thy life, and the length of thy days. He gives life, preserves life, restores life, and prolongs life . . . All these are arguments to us to continue in love and obedience to the God of our mercies."

The Lord is our life. We have given our life to Him, to live for Him, to serve Him, to worship Him. And for our effort He gives us life everlasting.

“For the Lord is your life.”  We always have a choice. We have to make the decision. By choosing God, we receive eternal life. Choosing God’s way above our own.

Biblerepository.com: "This verse, nestled within a pivotal chapter, speaks volumes about the fundamental choices we have in life. It emphasizes the importance of loving God, obeying His voice, and holding onto Him for our very existence . . . To love God means to establish a relationship with Him, one characterized by trust and commitment. Obeying His voice suggests that we not only hear God but actively listen and follow His guidance."

The choice is yours. Have you made it? Do you stand by it? If you falter, do you repent? He sets before you blessings and curses. We are a privileged people offered the greatest gift in this world. Life with God.

By His Grace . . . 

Genesis 6:6

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Genesis 6:6

“The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth,

and his heart was deeply troubled.”

We cause God to be deeply troubled. The choices we make, all known to God, causes sorrow. I like these words from Godsbless.ing: “He grieves not out of surprise or mistake, but from a place of righteous sorrow over His creation’s choices.”

We disappoint ourselves. We disappoint others. Yet I don’t think neither of those are as bad as disappointing God. When we bow our head and say, “I’m sorry God.”

Biblerepository.com: “Genesis 6:6 is a profound reflection on God’s sorrow over His creation . . . It suggests that God experiences emotions and is deeply affected by humanity . . . The Creator, who endowed us with autonomy, nevertheless watches with a heavy heart as His creation turns away from His goodness. This not only highlights the depth of God’s feelings but reveals an important truth about our relationship with Him. God is not a distant observer; He cares deeply about our choices and lives.”

Even though we disappoint God every day, He still loves us. He loves us as sinners. He loves us as new creations in Christ. He loves us each and every day that we live on this earth.

We must strive to live a life that is worthy of our God. To make right choices and ask for forgiveness when we don’t. We must seek His guidance and pray for His every control over our life.

I don’t want to continually cause God to be troubled at my choices. And yet, I do, every day. We are fallen creatures.

Job 22:25

“Then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you.”

 Godsbless.ing: “This verse reminds us of the unending love and grace of God. It speaks to the idea that when we stray from God, when we lose our way or make mistakes, all is not lost. God is always ready to welcome us back with open arms when we turn to Him in genuine repentance and faith. It’s a beautiful reassurance that no matter how far we may feel from God, we can always find our way back to Him through humble repentance and unwavering faith . . . Drawing from additional biblical references such as Psalm 37:4 and Philippians 4:19, we see a consistent theme of God’s provision and faithfulness to those who trust in Him. Delighting in the Lord aligns our desires with His will, leading to a fulfillment that transcends earthly riches. God’s promise to meet all our needs according to His glorious riches underscores the sufficiency of His provision when we place our trust in Him.”

We can go a long way from “His heart was deeply troubled” to bringing delight to our God. That’s what I want. I know you do too.

By His Grace . . .