About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Acts 16

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. v25

We all find ourselves in difficult circumstances and we may be tempted to grumble or complain - yet we must remind ourselves that God does not promise a trouble-free life.  On the contrary - John 16:33 and other scriptures tell us that we will have difficulties. 

John Piper's team advises us to view God as the only source of happiness and God can produce joy and happiness both eternally and in difficult circumstances.  This is what Paul and Silas were experiencing.  We don't know what God is doing in our difficulties but we do know that He is working (always!).  We must see how God's hand is producing something great and glorious in the midst of the troubles - we may not see it unfold in our lifetime but we do know that such greatness and gloriousness will result...ultimately.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always doing great things in my life and through my life - thank You Jesus...You are amazing!  I am undeserving of such love.  I worry and I am selfish, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

Acts 16

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. v14

As a follow up to my post from a few days ago, I once again have another example of unconditional election - in Lydia.   See also John Piper's use of Lydia as an example.

I gain much peace from this morning's scripture because I worry alot about the faith of Zach and Dustin - yet I must understand that faith is a gift from God and that my worry will not help - only prayer that God will produce a miracle of faith in Zach and Dustin.  I must focus on my own faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gave me the gift of faith and who adopted me into Your family - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

Acts 15

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. v39-40

As a follow up to yesterday's post we have yet another illustration that we are to avoid seeking approval of others vs Jesus.  Today's illustration comes from Acts 15 where Paul and Barnabas had a "sharp disagreement" and John Piper uses this text as an example where the earthly elements of our faith - people, relationships, community, church, etc. - lead us to take our eyes off of faith itself because we focus too much on these elements vs focus on Jesus.

In community itself, Piper offers great words of wisdom - with focus on keeping Jesus central and on bearing with another and offering forgiveness and grace.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me AND who has provided community for me that has blessed me and strengthened my faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.

Acts 14

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. v20

As the folks at DesiringGod.com put it, "[Paul] abandoned the haunted hayride of human approval to walk Calvary’s underground road to freedom from the fear of man".  In Acts 14, we see Paul traveling during his first missionary journey.  He rejects being glorfied as a god (v14-17) and is later stoned - yet Paul is so filled with the Holy Spirit that he returns into the city where he was stoned!  

The takeaway and guidance from DesiringGod.com with regards to Paul's response is spot on: 

"Beware of acceptance, and beware of rejection. Beware of followers, and beware of enemies. Beware of praise, and beware of criticism. Above all, be content in what God says about you because you are in Christ.

Find your identity and confidence in him, not in what people think about you or in your status here in this life. It will free us to tell the world the beautiful and offensive message it desperately needs to hear."

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always with me - thank You Jesus!  I know You love me and accept me - knowing everything about me - so that I need not concern myself about what others think about me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.

Acts 13

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. v48

In Acts 13, we see Barnabas and Saul in Cyprus (with John Mark), proclaiming the word of God in the Jewish synagogues (v4).  They encounter a sorcerer and false prophet, confront him, and this interaction triggers belief in those who witnessed it (v6-12).  They then travel on to Pisidian Antioch where they were invited to stay for at least two Sabbaths and Paul and Barnabas encounter both a warm reception and hostility; they respond boldly to this hostility (v46) and we see v48 which raises the question of "unconditional election" and John Piper gives us five reasons to embrace unconditional election. 

I recently posted on how faith is a gift from God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You gave me faith - thank You Jesus!  Thank You for transforming my heart and life and for giving me a new heart!  I am undeserving.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

Acts 12

But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. v24

In Acts 11-12 we see God working through Peter to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and throughout the lands the Gentiles populate including Antioch where believers are first referred to as Christians (Acts 11:26).  Peter is arrested by Herod but angels help him escape.  

In Acts 12:23, Herod is struck down because "[he] did not give praise to God". 

This is yet another reminder that nothing can stop God's plans and we should fear God as John Piper puts it to preserve our heart for God and to prevent ourselves from running from Him in arrogance, self-sufficiency and through hard-heartedness.  

Herod sought glory for himself and we all often do this - such arrogance is dangerous.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has taught me to be more humble - thank You Jesus.  Thank You for all that You do for me to teach, mold, protect, sustain, bless, etc. I am undeserving of such blessings and love.  I worry and I am discouraging with my speech.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

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

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

Acts 10 gives us the story of a divine appointment between Cornelius and Peter and how God fulfilled on the Great Commission by bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to Jews and Gentiles alike.

In Matthew 28, Jesus gives believers the Great Commission telling us to "make disciples of all nations".  God wants everyone to be His child; we ARE all His creation yet not all are adopted into the family of Christ - see post here from John Piper on this.  We should understand that our role is to BE Jesus and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others - it is up to God alone who actually becomes believers.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Faith is a gift from God - see more from Piper in this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and gave me faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift and the many blessings that come of such faith.  I worry and I have other sins - daily!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.