“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”....I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Acts 10

“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” v15....I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. v34-35.

If only I could see and love others as Jesus sees them.  I am commanded to in Matthew 22:37-40 yet I know I fall short.  The key is of course is fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and focusing on a renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2).

My Prayer: Lord You are awesome!  What a beautiful fall day it is and what a beautiful place You created here in Raleigh, NC.  The fall colors are amazing!  I know You created this for me to enjoy but I am not worth such love and blessing...I fall short as all do.  I am selfish, I steal, I am harsh with my words and actions, I am quick to anger and slow to listen...there is of course more!  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help grow in my faith.  Help me apply today's message You have for me.  Help me fix my eyes on You and renew my mind.

Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Acts 9

Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. v31

We must live in reverence (awe) of the Lord AND be encouraged by the fact that Jesus is WITH us all the time through the Holy Spirit.  Reverence of the Lord is commanded by God and the Holy Spirit supports our efforts to love and revere God because God is just and He loves us...he chose us and then died on the cross for us.  He continues to be available to us anywhere and anytime...why would we not revere and love such a God!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - indeed You are a great God!  I marvel in how You create the seasons and the beauty of nature.  You do this for me!  How great and kind You are.  I am not worth such love and blessing. I am quick to anger, slow to listen, selfish, harsh with my words and actions, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be always in awe and in love with You.

"This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."

Acts 9

"This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel." v15

Amazing that Jesus CHOSE us...knowing everything about us, including our sin.  God DOES have a plan for us all...and it is a great plan. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus...it is amazing how You can redeem imperfect beings like me and use me for Your perfect will and glory!  You are truly amazing!  I am not worth the sacrifice You made on my behalf, nor for the many blessings You have provided and continue to provide today (and tomorrow, etc.).  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, selfish, harsh with my words and actions, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me apply Your message for me today...Help me understand how You chose me and You have great plans for me!

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

Acts 8

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. v1

After the stoning of Stephen (see post yesterday), it would be understandable if the apostles also scattered but interestingly they did not.   Note that all, except the apostles, were scattered...even the NKJV uses the word except.  

Will I stand my ground in the face of opposition to my faith...whatever form of opposition that might be.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are!  Your hand, designs, will, might, grace, mercy, etc. are all perfect...everything about You is perfect.  You even see me as perfect....You provide second chances when I don't deserve them...I am not worth such blessing. I am selfish, quick to anger, slow to listen, impatient and harsh with others, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  In the face of opposition, help me stand my ground with my faith.

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 7

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. v60.

As Stephen was being stoned to death by the Sanhedrin, he clung to Jesus to the end.  The way Luke writes this verse it is if these WERE his last words.  THIS is love...in the face of anger, hate, AND mortal physical harm, Stephen instead responds with love.

Two of the greatest commands have to do with love:

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

Loving to this extent REQUIRES a renewing of the mind:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

My Prayer: Lord, You are love...everything You do defines love...love of Your children...even though we sin and fall short of Your glory.  You love us and see us as perfect in Your eyes.  Amazing!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I take Your name in vain, I am quick to anger, slow to listen, prideful, arrogant, selfish, etc.  Thank you that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith and help me apply Your teachings in my life.  Help me love. 

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 6

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. v15

This story demonstrates the power of Satan, hate, and how a hardened heart leads to sin.  The Jewish leaders KNEW that Stephen was innocent AND that He was set apart in ways that God wanted the Jews to be set apart.  Yet despite this, the Jewish leaders hardened hearts led them to kill Stephen.

We must fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great beyond description.  I have personally seen Your might in my life and in the life of others.  Just recently You brought my mom to belief in You.  This is ONLY something You could have done.  Amazing.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, impatient, harsh with my words, prideful, arrogant, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin towards You and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith and help me avoid a hardening of my heart - help me fix my eyes on You and the renewing of my mind.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Acts 5

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. v41-42

What's amazing is that Peter and John had just been thrown in jail and flogged and then their response was to keep praising Jesus and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The question and challenge for me of course is: to what extent am I thankful for the blessings I have received and as confident as Peter and John?

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great - Your name is great, Your ways are great, Your acts are great...You are perfect beyond description and while I grumble about my life...I should be thankful that I have YOU!  You are all I need.  Thank You Jesus that You adopted ME into YOUR family.  I am not worth such an act of love.  I am selfish, I grumble constantly...I worry...etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me stand FIRM in my faith as Peter and John do.