Expect suffering

Acts 9:16 “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Paul suffered much because of his faith as he journeyed through life spreading the gospel.  He was whipped a few times, spent numerous false jail occupancies, ridiculed seemingly continuously, shipwrecked, beaten, stoned-all because of his strong persistence in representing his Savior.  Logic would tell us he should have had a life of protected pleasure.  But God tells all of us just the opposite.  Each of us will experience hardships confessing and representing Him on this earth–expect it, endure it, even enjoy it–our eternal reward is coming.

The Good News

Acts 8:35 “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” You and I can only imagine how excited the recipient of the news about Jesus was.  He had to be curious or he wouldn’t be reading Scripture; however, he was soon to become undoubtedly the happiest he had ever been.  Is that the way you and I react to our reading the Scriptures?  If we don’t, maybe we have a lesson to learn from these few verses in Acts.  It is great to be emotionally elated with knowing the great news of our Savior!

Creation or evolution

Acts 7:50 “Has not my hand made all these things?” It is impossible to believe in millions of years of development of the universe while at the same time believe the Word of God is truth.  Throughout God’s Word (the Bible) creation is stated as truth.  This verse is an example of words of Peter recorded by Luke in God’s Word.  Two apostles-Peter and Luke.  They both had an outstanding faith as taught by our Savior.  They would never say or record Creation if it was not true.  Therefore, we can only reach one conclusion–God is the Creator of the Universe! Have a great weekend.

The heart is a treasure chest

Acts 8:20-21 “Peter answered, ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.”‘ God does not want anything other than our heart.  The man in this lesson thought he could be right with God by buying that favor.  He was far from understanding God.  God is love and He wants our sincere love–that’s it-nothing else as there is nothing else to offer that God doesn’t already own.  Even the richest billionaire has nothing to offer God.  Our love and obedience to Him through our Savior is our treasure chest–nothing else. 

Be careful what you value

Acts 7:41b-42a They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made.  But God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the sun, moon and stars.” Can anyone actually worship, I mean worship, honor, put their trust in, glorify, anything or anyone other than the True God?  Yes, it’s done by many regularly.  Money, assets, education, images of gods, self are all false gods many rely to gain security and comfort.  How foolish.  All idols crumble.  True comfort and security and peace is from one source alone.  All of us constantly seek the One thing needful–the One True God.  We thank God that He has opened our hearts to know Him alone.

Why care?

Acts 7:17a “As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham…” God always fulfills His promises.  That truth is absolute.  What promise has God made to you and me?  Answer: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.  What does that promise mean for you and me?  Answer: We will spend eternity–imagine–eternity in Heaven!  That promise will be fulfilled.  That promise eliminates our fear of our life coming to an end on this earth.  Heaven is our Home!