It Figures

" In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)" Acts 3:6

Parenthetical words are important. In this case, the purpose of this particular set of parentheses is to modify the word ‘believers’ and put emphasis on it, clarifying how many that actually was. Luke (the writer of Acts) gives us an approximate number of 120. I wonder what we can derive from this number? Numbers are funny. Sometimes statistics can be vitally important, at other times they don’t accurately account for what is really important. I have both minimized and maximized the numbers whether it is church attendance, or giving, or baptisms, or participants in a ministry or activity. An old friend of mine from over 30 years ago, stood up in a church business meeting after a financial presentation and reminded everyone in no uncertain terms that his daddy, Floyd Knorr Sr. always said that "liars figure and figures lie." I am not sure what his real point was other than that he didn’t totally trust the members or their source. Well, the meeting fell apart, people got real heated, and no decisions were made.

Biblical Humor

"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!" Acts 2:13-15

After the Holy Spirit came upon them, the early believers were able to speak in languages they did not know, in order to reach all the people visiting from around the world in Jerusalem on that miraculous day. For lack of explanations as to how that could happen, a rumor spread through the crowds that they were drunk with wine and it somehow, as they say, “was the liquor talking”. Of course, this was not true and in order to squelch the rumor, Peter gets everyone’s attention to say it is not true and before he explains with a prophecy from the Book of Joel, adds a little note of humor by saying in essence…….”Hey everybody, these men aren’t drunk, it’s only nine in the morning.” I love his use of humor to reverse the misunderstanding. It was way too early to be drunk. Now, if it were happy hour I could see what you were saying, but nine in the morning, get serious. Nobody is drunk this early unless you have a real problem. When people believe you are believable it gives more credibility to what you say. The use of humor is an effective tool to break the ice, connect and be personable with a crowd or just one person. It was as though Peter used the rumor to make a joke so he could have their attention for what he really needed to say.

Acting in Ignorance

"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders." Act 3:17

Peter does not struggle with being frank. As a matter of fact, he often has been represented as being too brash and we know of several times in the Bible where he spoke before he thought carefully about what he was saying. But, that doesn’t mean that what he says every time should be seen as brash, when all he is being is frank and to the point. It is o.k. to say to someone is in error, when they are. We should, of course, be kind with our honesty, and careful with how and when, and where we share it. When Peter addresses those who don’t believe he says, “Now, brothers”. This is a warm and engaging introduction to what he says next. He is referring to people who rejected Christ, or called for His crucifixion, or supported leaders who did so. Ignorance is no excuse as the saying goes, but it does soften the conversation enough to allow someone to say they didn’t know, to which we can respond, “now that you do know…..!” I think suggesting that someone was ignorant or didn’t know, isn’t like saying they are dumb or stupid. It says simply that had you known Jesus was who He said He was, you would have acted or responded differently. Besides, leaders you trusted and believed passed their ignorance on to you. Peter is adept at putting it bluntly or as a matter of fact, without alienating anyone from the get go. And….if people feel they weren’t ignorant, they can say they just decide to reject Christ. We tend to not get to the point. Either you believe or you don’t. If you are ignorant, get informed, if you actually know what you don’t accept, then understand the consequences of that choice, whether you believe it or not. What could we say to people who reject Christ? We should accept their rejection and remind them the offer is always available. Most often, we deal with those who are weak or misled or faltering in their faith, which need to be informed more, so they can’t claim ignorance. Jesus loves you. Accept or reject that, but you can’t be ignorant anymore. When you share with others, cut them enough slack to be able to plant seeds in them for future watering. But, do make a point so ignorance will never be our excuse.

Between the Words & Lines

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up into heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had shown." Acts 1:1-2

The Bible, God’s word, is incredibly rich, full to overflowing with teaching, wisdom, and illustration. I have often said we must slow down our reading and the study of it in order not to miss so much. So let’s do that for our devotional today. Word by word, and phrase by phrase. We will only scratch the surface of all that can be ascertained, but we will not gloss over the first two verses as is so easy to do and not get something out of it. Every verse in scripture is a resource to know God. If you want to get deeper you must dig and keep learning how to dig, better.

Ordinary Courage

"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." Acts 4:13

I too am an unschooled and ordinary courageous guy. You may say that since I am 'The Pastor' that somehow I am not ordinary. Allow me to straighten out that misconception. For sure I am unschooled to a degree. (Pun intended, since I do not have a formal degree). Truth is, I finished my Bachelor's program with enough units, but over a technicality about a Senior Project I did not receive my actual sheepskin. I actually have pictures of me in cap and gown and 'walking' to get my degree from the President of Relands University.

Broken Pieces Are We

When it's my time to prepare the Friday devotional, I'm never at a loss for what to share because inevitably, God always seems to provide me with at least three or four little gems, and I then have the difficult task of deciding between them. I get a lot of my inspirations from little devotional books that I've purchased myself or from ones given to me by good friends. Such is the case this week, when I had the choice of about three. But, as it turns out, the devotional for my nightly reading last night from a book given to me by Sara Botts for Christmas, "Be Still...And Let Your Nail Polish Dry," provided just the message which I think is applicable to all of us. One of the four authors of the book, Andrea K. Boeshaar, at page 130, used her literary skills to remind us of something that can be so easily forgotten, and that is, God can and does use broken things "for His purposes."

What Am I Doing?

This devotion is shared with permission of the author, Heather Gent. Original post may be viewed at The Write Hope.

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. " 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

I listened to a sermon a few weeks ago in which my pastor talked about our church's food ministry, specifically, what it means to be a part of it, and it occurred to me that although my particular church is relatively small, its endeavors to feed the hungry are mighty. From providing help to the congregation and local townspeople each week to a group of young adults who take food to the Santa Ana homeless every Saturday night, Grace Harbor Church of Tustin, CA (www.ghcs.us) doesn't just talk the talk, it walks the walk. However, as I examined my own shortcomings, I realized that while it's appropriate to consider the collective church's ways, especially when looking to get involved, the more pressing issue is not - what is the church doing to help others in need, but what are YOU doing and what am I doing? After all, what is the church if not a body of people (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) made up of flawed and imperfect individuals just like you and me? Or, better stated by John MacArthur in Ashamed of the Gospel: "The church is not the brick and mortar assembly in which the assembly meets; it is God's people in whom He dwells," but never forget that those dwelling places are also the home of our own inner sinful man. And yet remembering this, we're still content to point fingers from the comfort of our living rooms and sneer at all the hypocrisy in the church, but until we're willing to get out there in the middle of it and be the change we wish to see in the church, our mouths speak wiser words when they say nothing at all (Job 13:5). Instead of asking what the church is doing, ask yourself - What am I doing?

More Last Words

"He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will recieve power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight." Acts 1:7

Pretty safe to say that His last words on earth were these as the Ascension happens right after He says them. I have always taught and still believe that His last words were the Great Commission. Though we know these words best from Matthew 28, another derivation of them is shared here in Acts. Jesus instructs His disciples that they will be (sounds like a directive to me) His witnesses everywhere. (to the ends of the earth implies that).

This Thing

"But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." Acts 4:17

It always has been His Name that bugs people. There as the old song says, is....'just something about that name'. What is that name? His name is Jesus. Talk about church, talk about God even, talk about all the wonderful things that are happening because of Him. Just leave Him and His Name out of it. Can't we just have a nice little religion without the Crucifixion and Resurrection? The teachings are great, many of them are part of other religions. Why do we have to bring Him up all the time. Isn't what we believe in and stand for most important in principle without having to make it personal about a man who lived on this earth, who came from God and was His Son and paid the sacrificial price for sin by dying on a cross, and then resurrected in three days to conquer death and defeat the devil? Why can't we keep it simple? Why make it so messy and complicated?

We Urge You, Our Friends

"We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." 1Thessalonians 5:14

I like lists. Lists of things to do, lists of things to remember, lists of data and information, lists of names and lists of trivial information. All kinds of lists. In my study of God's Word lists are always great for me because they are easier to memorize. For example if there are four things on the list, such as in this verse I know I have the verse memorized when I come up with all four things.