THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 38

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Day 38:  The Jailer, Paul, and Silas (Acts 16: 25-34)

Beaten and thrown into prison, chained by their ankles in the stocks, Paul and Silas began to pray aloud and sing praises to their God.  So loud were their prayers and praise, there was no one in the jail who did not hear their worship.  But the earthquake turned their concert of praise into screams of terror from their captive audience.  The violent shaking caused the foundations of the old jail to shift, and all the doors came unlatched.  Even the chains that held the prisoners to their cell walls broke loose. 

Awakened by the deafening and frightening sounds, the jailer arose to see an even more terrifying sight.  Having been charged to securely guard Paul and Silas, he knew that he would surely be killed for allowing the prisoners to escape.  Pulling the sword from its sheath at his side, the jailer was determined to end his own life; thus, he would avoid embarrassment.  With his sword poised, a tear ran down his cheek as he contemplated the shame his own family would surely endure.  But at that very moment, a shout rang out through the chambers of the jail.  “Do not harm yourself!  We are here!”  Calling for lights to be able to see and running into Paul and Silas’ cell, the jailer fell at the feet of the two. Hugging their feet, he wept for joy and relief that they had not fled.  

Something truly awesome had happened that night—things in the spiritual realm that the jailer had never before experienced.  Turning to his prisoners, he pleaded with them to tell him how he might be saved, for surely their God was the God he wanted to know.  They told him simply that he must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.   Trusting their testimony, he confessed his faith.  No longer caring what might happen to him, the jailer invited these Christian brothers to his home for a meal, these men who had once been his wards.  He took care of their wounds while Paul and Silas told his whole family how they too could be saved.

How do you react to the suffering and trials that come into your life?  Do you receive them from the hand of God?  Do you find ways to praise Him in the midst of your storms?  Or do you ask “why” and throw yourself a gigantic pity party?  Who might you influence, even to the point of salvation, with a testimony of praise and worship while you are being tested?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 37

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Day 37:  Saul and Ananias (Acts 9: 1-22)

Saul hated all Christians, and he wanted them dead.  They threatened the belief system upon which he had built his entire life.  He was more than happy to be used by his God to put an end to their destructive ways that threatened his religion.  As he traveled to Damascus, he had the support of the Jewish priests to bring all traitors of the Law back to Jerusalem.  He reveled in his thoughts while he approached Damascus, but suddenly his thoughts came to an abrupt halt.  The brightest light he had ever seen flashed around him, and being unable to withstand the power of it, he fell to the ground.  The men with him were startled as well, but it was the Voice that came from heaven that rendered them all speechless.  “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?”

Who was this who knew him by name, Saul questioned with great fear in his heart.  Yet, something inside of him knew it was Jesus.  Getting up from the ground Saul quickly realized that he had been blinded, perhaps by the bright light itself.  The men that were with him led him into Damascus, and it was there that he waited for more instruction from the Lord.  Saul then chose to neither eat nor drink for the next three days.

Ananias was told by God to go to the place where Saul was staying.  Struggling with his assignment, he questioned the validity of Saul’s conversion.  He knew all too well of Saul’s brutality toward the believers in Jerusalem.  But God had clarified to him what Saul’s mission would be—he would be used to bring Jesus and salvation to the Gentiles.  God deemed Saul a “chosen instrument,” much to Ananias’ surprise.

Arriving at the house where Saul was staying, Ananias confirmed Jesus’ involvement in both of their lives.  Immediately Saul could see again, he was baptized by Ananias, and he began to prove to the Christians in Damascus that he solemnly believed that Jesus truly was the Messiah.

Do you think (like Saul might have) that your sins have been too great to be completely forgiven, let alone to be used by God for ministry?  Do you use that as an excuse to not serve Him as He desires?  Do you question the validity of the salvation of those who have greatly sinned?  Do you support those who are newly saved?  Are you a chosen vessel?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 36

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Day 36:  Cornelius and Peter (Acts 10)

Cornelius believed in the God of Israel even though he was a Gentile centurion.  He was a devout man who not only believed in God but acted on his faith in the things he did.  Cornelius was a compassionate man who always was compelled by his heart to give money to the poor, especially to the Jewish people.  And prayer occurred constantly throughout his day as he depended on and called out to Israel’s God.  He knew that the gods of his people were not THE God!  Now this same God had taken notice of his faith and sent an angel who told Cornelius to send for a man named Peter.

Peter’s recent vision allowed him to believe the men who now stood at his gate, beckoning him to come down and go with them to Cornelius.  God had shown him that He had no partiality to Peter and his people.  From now on all people would have an opportunity to be a child of God.  God told him through the vision that He had cleansed all people.  Cornelius and his people could never again be considered unclean.  Peter left with the men and went straight to Caesarea where Cornelius lived.

Arriving at Cornelius’ home Peter found that many people had gathered, relatives and friends of Cornelius.  What was God’s plan for Cornelius, Peter wondered?  When Cornelius described how he had come to seek Peter out, Peter could see the hand of God at work.  Now, Cornelius anxiously awaited a word from Peter.

Speaking of God’s impartiality, Peter began to lay out the entire plan of God’s salvation:  belief, reverence, and fear followed by a life of godly works that flow from that belief.  He spoke of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection and the peace that is found in a relationship with Him.  Then, as he continued, God’s Holy Spirit descended upon all who were in the room.  Cornelius, all of his family, and the friends he had invited were saved, filled with the Spirit, and baptized.  Cornelius’ faith in the God of the Jews had now become complete as he trusted in Christ, the King of the Jews.  That day Jesus became his Lord and Savior.

Are you living a religious life that includes aspects of faith and good deeds, but living it without Jesus being the Lord and Ruler of your life?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 35

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Day 35:  Peter  (Matthew 26: 31-35, 69-75)

Peter’s spiritual journey proved to be long and difficult—painful, to be exact.  His pride had gotten the better of him too many times to count.  But it hadn’t always been like that.  When he met Jesus on a deep sea fishing trip, Peter fell down at Jesus’ feet, proclaiming his sinful unworthiness.  That day he began his journey with Christ.

From the beginning there seemed to be favor on his life.  It was Peter who was called to walk on the water to Jesus.  It was Peter who first declared that Jesus was the Christ.  Christ said of his bold statement, “Upon this rock I will build My church.”  He was one of three who saw Jesus transfigured and was allowed to see Moses and Elijah as well.

Despite these incredible events, Peter seemed to keep trusting in himself.  He sank in the waves.  He thought it would be a great idea to build tents for Jesus and Moses and Elijah, pridefully hanging on to the fact that he had been a part of that powerful moment.  On that day, God spoke aloud and said, “Listen to My Son!”  But listening wasn’t Peter’s strong suit, either.  He can be found on the pages of the Bible usually speaking with great devotion, but little follow through.  “I will never fall away.  I will never deny You,” are the words that surely played over and over in his head along with his three denials of Christ just before His trial.  Had Jesus not said, “You will deny me three times”?

Peter’s pride had caused him to rely more on himself than to trust in Jesus and His word, and he paid a bitter price for it.  I wonder if anyone has wept harder over their sins than Peter.  On the other hand, it’s possible that no one understands forgiveness to the same degree as Peter.  After the failure of falling to pride, Peter received his forgiveness and went on to preach salvation with a boldness that caused thousands to be born again.  Thus, the early church was born, and he learned to tenderly care for and feed God’s sheep.  In the two letters of Peter that have been preserved in the Bible, he feeds us today, as well.

What sins cause you to deny Jesus?  How do you trust more in yourself than in Jesus and His Word?  What have been the results of such a walk?  Is repentance your next step, or will you deny that it needs to be?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 26

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Day 26:  The Two Criminals (Luke 23: 32-33, 39-43)

The beatings and the trial were now behind Him, but the cross still loomed ahead of Him.  While Simon of Cyrene carried His cross, the two other convicted criminals carried their own crosses to Calvary.  Yes, death was just a few hours ahead.

Crucifixion was a torturous and horrific way to die.  But Jesus kept His eyes fixed on the goals:  the sacrifice to be made once and for all, salvation that would be available to the whole world, and a chance for all to have a personal and real relationship with the Father, the Spirit to come, and Him.  But He also focused on the glorious moment that He would return to His Father and be Home again.  But what would lie ahead for the two criminals?  What were they thinking about on the way to their deaths?  What did they have to look forward to?

As Jesus and the two men hung from their trees of death, some of the rulers, the commoners and the guards began to hurl insults at Him.  Even one of the criminals joined in.  “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us!” he sneered, laughing an evil laugh.

“How could he say those things?” the other criminal thought.  The sheer audacity of that sinful man!  It just doesn’t make any sense that he would be demanding to be saved from the consequence of his own sin!  How could he so blatantly speak out such evil?  Did he not fear God Almighty?

Finding his voice amidst the pain, he had to speak.  “The punishment we received is just and fair for us.  We did what was unlawful and hang here today because of our disobedience.”  Then looking directly into the eyes of Jesus he said, “But this Man, He has done nothing wrong.  Jesus, please remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”  Seeing into the man’s heart, Jesus answered him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Are you looking for Jesus to save you out of the circumstances of your own sinful life, expecting Him to change them?  Or are you recognizing your sinfulness, confessing it to Jesus, and letting Him change you?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 16

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Day 16:  The Thankful Leper (Luke 17: 11-19)

Again we find Jesus in today’s passage on His way to Jerusalem, to the cross on which He would die to bring salvation to the world.  His path led Him through the middle of Samaria on the north, and into Galilee.  Upon entering a village along the way, a group of men stood off in the distance, hoping to meet Jesus.  Seizing the opportunity at hand, the ten men went out to the One they had heard so much about.  By this time, Jesus had healed many people.  Word of these healings had surely reached their village.

“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” they cried out, desperate to be heard over the crowd that was surrounding Him.  These ten men had been afflicted with the awful disease of leprosy, and they knew He had an authority like no one else they had ever seen.

Jesus’ attention turned to the lepers.  “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”  His answer was simple, yet it begged the next question.  Why did they need to go and show their leprosy to the priests?  It had been required of them when they first contracted it. Why show the priests now?  Jesus mused, knowing their thoughts, and knowing as well that their healing was on the way!  He had sent them to show the priests that their leprosy was healed.  In just a moment it would be GONE!

Deciding that it was best to obey the Master’s words, the ten men took off to show the priests, even though it seemed to make no sense.  On the way to the temple their “mercy” came.  All ten of them were healed of their despised condition.  What had made no sense before made perfect sense now.  Their meeting with the priests would render them all clean.  Nine continued on to the temple to fulfill the Jewish law, but one of them made a clear transition from the Law to the Grace of Jesus Christ.

As fast as his feet would carry him, he turned back to Jesus.  Glorifying God loudly, he fell at the feet of Jesus and worshipped Him, giving Him thanks for the awesome miracle that had taken place in his life.  On that day ten received cleansing, but only one received the greater healing—he was saved.  His faith had made his HEART well.  How’s your heart?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE--Day 1

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Day 1--God's Covenant with Abram  (Genesis 12, 15)

You may be wondering why I would include an Old Testament character in a devotional about heart and life transformation due to a relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is a good question, and I think you might be surprised at the answer.  Over the next three days you will clearly be able to see that Abraham was aware of the coming Messiah, and that he himself was directly involved in God’s marvelous plan for salvation.

In Genesis 12 we see that Abram was set apart by God, and was called forth from the country he knew, from all of his relatives, and from his own father’s house, to go to a land that he did not know.  God promised to bless him and make his name great.  Abram was 75 years old. 

He departed his home town of Haran, taking Sarai, his wife and Lot, his nephew, his servants, and possessions.  Can you imagine the faith that it took to leave everything familiar, safe, and secure in his life?  What would it require of us to respond in such a way?  Maybe, if we knew that surrender was required of us for the Savior’s purposes, we would respond with that level of obedience and faith. 

Abram wasn’t walking in blind faith.  God had clearly spoken a message to him that encouraged his heart to respond as he did.  In the initial promises of the covenant with Abram, God’s last words were these:  “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”  Do you see the importance of this tiny revelation?  Abram was the beginning of the Hebrew (Jewish) race.  But God did not say that through Abram the Jewish families would be blessed.  He said that all the families of the earth would be blessed.  That included you and me!  Jews and Gentiles would be blessed through Abram and his seed. 

Today, it is important for you to consider what great things you have been told and promised in God’s word.  It is time to evaluate your life in order to measure your level of obedience to God’s words to you.  Are you going in the direction that God has asked you to go?  Your obedience is no less required of you than was Abram’s to fulfill God’s purposes.  Obedience is always our choice, and it flows out of our relationship with God, on in which we understand what is required of us.