Monday October 26, 2009
 11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
 14When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)

Reflection
I would imagine that most Christians and those earnestly seeking God desire God to come through. V. 13, they cried in a loud voice, have mercy on us.  They had a need, a very serious need, and they knew who to come to, and they had faith Jesus could heal them.  Jesus healed them, all of them, completely.  Complete healing offered to any who would trust in Him.  Although this moment shows Christ’s power over sickness, it also demonstrates the right response, and the wrong response to God’s goodness in our lives. Just one returned, v. 15. His response is amazing. In that same loud voice he cried out for mercy, and out of agony, it was that same energy he praised God, v. 15. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him, v. 16. He we see a man totally thankful and filled with gratitude for what Christ had done for him. We see both Christ’s shock but also his gladness in the following two verses.  Where were the other nine.

God blesses us with so much throughout this day, do we take time to thank Him, truly thank Him.

Lord Jesus, so many of us do struggle with thankfulness. We live in a culture of excess. We feel self-entitled. American Western Christianity promotes the self, as we also invent ideas of a personal savior and personal relationship.  Lord Jesus, heal us of any ingratitude that we might have towards You.  Would we most importantly realize the price You paid for us to redeem us and rescue us.  Would we like the one man who came back, unashamedly praise You, and come before you with thankfulness for all that You do.

Longing For Jesus

Monday October 19, 2009

 10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

 13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

   “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

 15″Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

      Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

      She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

 17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” (John 20:10-17)

Reflection

It is helpful to remember the context. Jesus had just been crucified.  All the disciples do not recall that He will rise.  So, we find here, that they leave, v. 10.. They must have been discouraged.  They left everything to follow Jesus.  While the men went and left, Mary stayed.  If only the men were to stay. Mary wept, v. 11. The angels console her, asking her why she is crying, v. 13.  Mary’s sorrow is a Godly sorrow. She wanted to see Jesus and she mistakenly thought someone took Him away.  Jesus appears, asking the same question, v. 15, why are you crying? Once more she asks for Jesus not realizing it is He, and He calls her name. One simple word, “Mary”, v. 16 and she comes alive.

Sometimes it seems like Jesus has gone missing. It seems like other believers one by one give up until we’re alone, searching, persistently wanting to find Jesus. Mary was distort when she came to the right place but found nothing.  Even in the midst of disappointment, God sent two angels to comfort her. Moments later, the risen Christ would say her name. 

He knows us, each of us by name. He talks to us through our tears, asks us why we’re crying.  When it is Jesus we’re looking for and longing for, it will be Jesus who will call us by our name.

Lord Jesus, being Christian in a post-Christian and non-Christian world is difficult. It can even be difficult in church sometimes when most of us fall into complacency and our hearts grow cold.  Some of us persist, and desire to find You, and so we search.  I pray today, and this week that You would meet all those who are diligently seeking after You. That, through our tears, our emptiness, discouragement, and doubt, You would speak to us, and call us individually by name.

Longing For Jesus

Monday October 19, 2009

 10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

 13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

   “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

 15″Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

      Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

      She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

 17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” (John 20:10-17)

Reflection

It is helpful to remember the context. Jesus had just been crucified.  All the disciples do not recall that He will rise.  So, we find here, that they leave, v. 10.. They must have been discouraged.  They left everything to follow Jesus.  While the men went and left, Mary stayed.  If only the men were to stay. Mary wept, v. 11. The angels console her, asking her why she is crying, v. 13.  Mary’s sorrow is a Godly sorrow. She wanted to see Jesus and she mistakenly thought someone took Him away.  Jesus appears, asking the same question, v. 15, why are you crying? Once more she asks for Jesus not realizing it is He, and He calls her name. One simple word, “Mary”, v. 16 and she comes alive.

Sometimes it seems like Jesus has gone missing. It seems like other believers one by one give up until we’re alone, searching, persistently wanting to find Jesus. Mary was distort when she came to the right place but found nothing.  Even in the midst of disappointment, God sent two angels to comfort her. Moments later, the risen Christ would say her name. 

He knows us, each of us by name. He talks to us through our tears, asks us why we’re crying.  When it is Jesus we’re looking for and longing for, it will be Jesus who will call us by our name.

Lord Jesus, being Christian in a post-Christian and non-Christian world is difficult. It can even be difficult in church sometimes when most of us fall into complacency and our hearts grow cold.  Some of us persist, and desire to find You, and so we search.  I pray today, and this week that You would meet all those who are diligently seeking after You. That, through our tears, our emptiness, discouragement, and doubt, You would speak to us, and call us individually by name.

Will we let Him in?

Monday October 12, 2009

 14When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

 16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

   “He took up our infirmities

      and carried our diseases.” (Matthew 8:14-17)

Reflection

There are a few instances of when Christ entered a home.  This is one of them.  It reminds us that in the midst of all that Jesus did in his ministry, He also went into people’s houses.  Recorded here is His time in Peter’s home, v. 14.

The fact that Jesus came in, v. 14, means He was invited.

We don’t find Him forcing His way into Peter’s home.  Jesus comes where He is invited. First, have we invited Him into our hearts? Then, have we invited Him into our home?

There is a poem turned into a prayer sometimes read at weddings:

Christ is the head of this House, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation.

Lord Jesus, we are a very busy people. We need planners and elaborate scheduling devices so that we don’t forget what we need to do.  We schedule our friends in time slots and we go about our lives continually in this way.  Often, we make room for no one, and soon we are at life’s end.  Lord Jesus, let us be different from that. Be the Lord of our lives and the head of our home.  We invite You not as a random guest or stranger, but as our Savior, rescuer, God, and King. 

Friday October 9, 2009

    On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
 9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:1-25)

Reflection
When the pressure is on, we have choices.  We can choose to walk by faith, or we can deny our faith. When the early church was in crisis, they responded by boldly proclaiming the Gospel. In verse five we are introduced to Philip. He went to Samaria during the time of persecution in Jerusalem, and he stayed for a bit. He preached and he healed.  The message was validated by the presence and power of God.  People took notice, they saw, believed, and there was genuine joy, v. 8, great joy in that city.
God brought Philip to Samaria. While there, God was with him, healing many, giving him the words to say, and an entire city took notice, and great joy came. When life is difficult, and we respond in God-honoring ways, we too can make an impact on where we are at.

Lord Jesus, when times are tough, and for some of us that is now, let us not forget You have placed us here for a particular reason. Let us not try to relocate to Houston. Rather, teach us to trust You in the wilderness where there is not much water, to drink of Your water and totally be sustained by You,.  We desire for this city to be healed, and for hope to come and great joy to come to this place. Enable us to be Your messengers of hope, and hands of healing.

 Thursday October 8, 2009

    On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
 9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:1-25)

Reflection
A great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, Christians began to scattered, v. 1. Paul began to destroy the church, v. 3. What would we do?  Would we renounce our faith? Would we go back to our old life as if we never believed?  There is always an easy escape route.  When being a Christian costs us something, we might think it isn’t worth the cost.

V. 4 those who scattered preached the word whevere they went.  The faith that got them into the mess they were in, was the faith they continued to hold on to.  They didn’t give up.  Rather, they believed with even greater conviction, and boldly proclaimed the Gospel wherever they went.

Genuine faith is not seen when everything is well, when we have the right job, with the right salary, living in the right neighborhood, with the attractive spouse and exemplary children.  No, genuine faith is seen in how we react to the pressures and troubles that shake the foundation of what we believe.

Lord Jesus, thanks for giving us a glimpse of the early church.  This was not a church that turned back when things got hard and believing cost them their lives. No, they continued with greater conviction and boldness to profess their faith. Would we learn from such men and women.  Lord Jesus, cause us not to be shallow believers who believe on You and say that we worship You when things are going well.  Would we have a deep faith, one that remains through life’s unexpected challenges.

Wednesday October 7, 2009 

    On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
 9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:1-25)

Reflection
A great man of God had just been murdered while preaching the Gospel. Now, the church would experience persecution as it never had before. The text says it was a great persecution, v. 1.  It was so great that many would scatter and leave Jerusalem and enter into Judea and Samaria, v. 1.  Had God abandoned His church? Where was God when His own children were facing hardship?

In times of crisis, Christians then, and now need to turn back to His promises and His word. What did Jesus say only seven chapters before?
 
 8But you will receive 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.” (Acts 1:8)

Persecution, though it is a human evil, contrary to what God would want is still used by God to accomplish His purposes.  The disciples were to be His witnesses, not just in Jerusalem, but to Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth.  The church was never intended to stay in Jerusalem.

There are many applications for us today. We wonder at times, if we should take a job in another city, or country.  We wonder if we should stay, or if we should go.  As simplistic as it sounds, God leads.  God led some to Judea, some to Samaria, and some to remain in Jerusalem.  All of it was part of His plan.  We are to be purposeful wherever He has placed us, and sometimes that can be in very difficult situations. Also, we need to trust in His Word, and in His promises. When the world seems like it is falling apart, we need onlly turn to His word to be reminded, He is still God.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your precious promises.  We cling to You and what You’ve said to us when times are tough, and even when times are good. Some of us really don’t like going to work. Some of us don’t like school.  We find it difficult sometimes to make it through the week. You’ve placed us here, exactly where we are at for a reason, though sometimes we rather relocate.  Enable us not merely with the patience, but also with the will, wisdom, and motivation to thrive and grow where You have planted us.

 Tuesday October 6, 2009

    On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
 9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:1-25)

Reflection
We are all at different stages in our lives. Some of us have absolutely nothing to complain about, while at the other end, we are going through various trials and we don’t know if we can make it through the rest of today.  There is always good as well as evil in our lives.

There are the Godly men in v. 2. Then, there is Paul placed in contrast in v. 3. The work of Paul and the work of evil is to destroy, v. 3.  It isn’t a casual, passive destruction, but he goes from house to house.  Then, in contrast, we have the Godly men who burry Stephen and mourn for him.  Love is contrasted with destruction, Godliness with wickedness.

In our lives it isn’t as simple as saying there are two categories of people.  We too, are capable of being both, in the same day, in the same hour.  There are really two choices, at any given moment, in how we act, the way of God or the way of destruction.

Lord Jesus, there is a whole lot that isn’t right with the world.  We don’t need to look too far to find problems that plague human society.  Each of us, today can contribute to the problem, or to the solution.  Teach us Lord Jesus to be Godly men and women, men and women who deeply care about the people You have placed in our lives. Enable us to be the family of believers You intended us to be, forbid us from ever turning our backs to our brothers and sisters in pain.

Monday October 5, 2009

    On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
 9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:1-25)

Reflection
In the previous chapter, Stephen preaches this amazing sermon, but the people react by killing him.  We find that further persecution of the church results.  Tucked between the narrative of further persecution, is this one statement of what Godly men did. They buried Stephen, and they mourned deeply for him, v. 2.  I think we miss what’s going on when we over simplify the fact that these men buried him.  We must remember that the church is in crisis, persecution is going on, people are dying. Stephen was just murdered.

Not too distant in our memory is Acts 2 when the early church is sharing their possessions, meeting in homes for prayer, Bible study, communion and fellowship. The church was a family. This church several chapters back that was a family is now scattered, scattered except for these Godly men who burry Stephen and mourn for him.  These Godly men had a deep love for Stephen, their brother in the faith.

Who are we when the pressure is on?  Do we still care about our church family even in tough times?  When someone in the church dies, or faces challenges, what do we do?

Lord Jesus, I can’t picture the United States living like this, but in many parts of the world, this is normal, persecution happens every day.  Here in the states though, we do face a problem of another sort, pressures of other kinds, yet still we need to care.  Raise up Godly men, and Godly women, both old and young with a deep love for You and for Your church.  Men and women that don’t walk away from the church when times are tough.

Friday October 2, 2009
 

 1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3:1-11)

Reflection
A number of “natural disasters” have happend recently.  I am reminded of the age-old problem of suffering.  Where is God when it hurts?  I wonder if the man sitting at the gate here was wondering about that very same thing.  He had been there for so long.  One day, Peter and John appear on the scene.  They both see the man and realize his predicament, not his material problem, but his spiritual one.

V. 7, he was healed.  Did Peter heal him, or was it Jesus? 

We can see from the passage that it is both.  It is the authority and name of Jesus, but it is the faithfulness of Peter to reach the man.

It is the same with us today.  If we are to make a difference for the Kingdom, we must go in the authority and power of God to bring hope and healing, but we too are required to do our part.

Lord Jesus, it is sad when many men and women in the world sit beside beautiful gates, ignored, forgotten, and passed by daily.  It is sad when those people are men and women who worship You on Sunday but pass by hurting people on Monday.  Lord Jesus, we need not just Your eyes, not just Your heart, but Jesus we need Your presence and power to bring hope and healing.  Send us Lord where You need us to go, and go with us.