Rest is a requirement, not an option

"On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” Exodus 16:22-23

I encourage you to read Exodus 16, it’s a great chapter but here is just a little nugget the Lord showed me. God chose to provide a fresh supply of manna on the ground every morning for His children as they wandered the wilderness. They were told to collect exactly what they needed for that day and on the sixth day, to collect enough for the seventh day as well, which was to be a Sabbath rest.

I WIll Go

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

In a recent sermon, our Pastor challenged us to be people who say "I will GO" in response to our Lord's command. Today, I share with you a devotional about St. Patrick, the man for whom the celebration is named, and a man who took seriously the command to GO. I have culled information from various sources, including Facebook and Wikipedia.

Together in Prayer

"When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord", they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them." Acts 4:24

It is a powerful thing when believers raise their voices together in prayer. It is part of our unity, part of who we are as the Body of Christ, part of our purpose.

Our Own People

"On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them." Acts 4:23

I find it interesting that the Disciples went to "their own people" upon their release from the chief priests and elders. We can glean a little lesson from this simple choice. We too should turn to fellow believers, other Christians and "our own people" when we have been challenged by the powers of this world. We would do well and better to talk to each other from our perspective about what happens to us.

Because All The People

"After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over 40 years old."

Ever seen a miracle? Ever known someone who was miraculously healed? It is indeed an amazing experience. Truly life changing and challenging too. Especially when a bunch of people experience the same person's miracle.

I have seen God move in miraculous ways that many people experienced simultaneously. No denying it. I have witnessed lives transformed and physical healing too. It is hard to argue with a crowd.

We as believers must share the power of God that we have known with one other. There is power in the group experience and in the individual transformation. If we would confirm each other's experiences, it would bolster our faith.

Cannot Help Speaking

"For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

This is how it ought to be. Whatever is most important to you is what you speak of most. What is that? Is it a special someone? Or your child? Or your job? Or your team or interest? Or is it the weather, or politics or the latest social gossip or the latest news?

Trust in the Lord

This comes to us today from Council Member John Adams

Fists white-knuckled on the steering wheel and his stomach in knots, shouted out loud: “I can’t believe this is happening, Lord!!! I can’t be late for this flight - you have to help me make this flight!!!”

Cannot Help Speaking

"For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

This is how it ought to be. Whatever is most important to you is what you speak of most. What is that? Is it a special someone? Or your child? Or your job? Or your team or interest? Or is it the weather, or politics or the latest social gossip or the latest news?

What is Right in God's Sight

"But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God." Acts 4:19

Seems like a simple enough choice, right? Yet every day we choose man's ways over God's ways. We choose man's wisdom over God's. Man's traditions over God's principles.

The Name of Jesus

"Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus" Acts 4:18

"They" are the Sanhedrin, religious rulers of the day. "Them" refers to the Disciples, the followers of Jesus. We are headed for conflict. Whenever we must do what we must do and we are told not to, then we will be conflicted.