Feb 20 - Just Something about Paul - Acts 27:21-25

In this passage, Paul is on the ship sailing for Rome. Against Paul’s advice, they had set sail rather than find a harbor to winter in and encountered a fierce storm.

In these verses, Paul relays to the ship’s crew what he had heard from an angel, assurance that not one man on board would lose his life. Now I don’t know about anyone else, but looking around at the damage to the ship and seeing the storm unrelenting, I would think Paul was crazy. But the men on the ship were encouraged and the verses following, they followed Paul’s advice on different occasions. There had to be something about Paul that caused men to believe him even when he said things that were in the natural unbelievable. The Spirit of God was on him and people could tell. He had an unwavering faith and so spoke with confidence and authority – people believed him. What about us? Do we carry the Spirit and the confidence in faith that enables us to speak with authority and cause those around us to believe what we say whether it makes sense or not. I have experienced this rarely – Lord I desire to be more yielded to you such that my life might be this kind of witness and influence!

Feb 3 - Peter's "Aha" Moment

In Acts 10:34-35, 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.” Even though Peter in earlier sermons and teachings alluded to God saving all men, it wasn’t until his vision and being summoned to Cornelius’ house that he had his “aha” moment. At this time he then truly realized how wide-reaching this truth was and what it truly meant. Peter had gone from ignorance to faith, but in this moment, he progressed from faith to knowledge. A knowledge he wouldn’t always live in as at a later time, he would be confronted about his error in the double-standard he lived by regarding eating with the Gentiles – but still a knowledge that he now had by revelation and experience. I love those moments when something I've known in my head and maybe even have spoken in word, now becomes real in a new, "aha!" sort of way.

Jan 7, 2010 – Different Strokes for Different Folks – Luke 7

In Luke 7, after Jesus had been talking about the life and purpose of John the Baptist, in verses 33-35, he compared the perspectives of people's view of John and of Himself. He said that some people viewed John the Baptist and his ascetic lifestyle and thought he had a demon. Then he said about Himself that He came eating and drinking and people thought him to be a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Then comes a key verse in 35 – “But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” In other words, John had a different role and purpose than Jesus. So they behaved differently. In both cases, wisdom was shown to be true in both their lives. We should not think someone is odd because they do ministry or service differently than we do. We should not think someone is a sinner because they do not follow the practices we follow. We should look at their life and see if they are bearing fruit. If God’s purposes are being served, then perhaps this person who is so different from us is also one of wisdom’s children. Learn to appreciate all the variety of wisdom personified in different people. God has good and great purposes for all His followers and we should not expect them to all look the same!