share the good news – Be Still…

Acts 17:1-15 – Are You Open Minded?

Do you feel a little like you are accompanying Paul on his missionary journey? Does the way Luke writes this account make you feel like you are right there? We also see a little of life in Thessalonica to see what kind of believers there are and what their challenges may be. As you may know, Paul writes two letters to that community of faith as part of our New Testament.

What struck you most about this leg of the men’s journey? Do you want to see a map so that you truly picture the countryside being covered? I like picturing Paul teaching the Bible to folks. Of course, stories about Jesus were not part of the Scriptures Jews were familiar with. In those early days, it was writers like Luke who were also keeping track of Jesus’ life and impact on the world. Our New Testament was living out loud as it was written. Continue reading “Acts 17:1-15 – Are You Open Minded?”

Acts 8:26-40 – Divine Appointments

Read Acts 8:26-40

You never know when God is going to have a divine appointment for you to share your faith. That’s why it’s so important to keep our eyes and ears open. Be watching for openings and don’t shy away from action. In Philip’s case, he even got an angelic message of instruction about his next audience. His obedience was clear as he traveled quite some distance to get to his “target.”

In those days, many traveled on foot, but Philip’s divine appointment was with someone in a carriage. That would signify wealth or importance. In fact, this eunuch did have “great authority” and connections to the queen of Ethiopia. I wonder if Philip felt a bit intimidated. Continue reading “Acts 8:26-40 – Divine Appointments”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – God’s Timing

Read 2 Peter 3:1-18

I continue to marvel at how fast time seems to speed by. Days turn into weeks in the blink of an eye. As a child, it seemed to take forever for the weekend or summer vacation to arrive. Now, I wonder how I managed to get everything done while working full-time! Thankfully, we can rejoice in God’s perfect timing! Peter has something to say about that, too.

It’s all relative to God. As Peter says, “A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” When waiting for answered prayer or even Jesus’ return, it’s helpful to remember God’s timing is always perfect. We are the impatient ones, with our desire for immediate gratification. Solomon’s wisdom tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Continue reading “2 Peter 3:1-18 – God’s Timing”

James 5:19-20 – Are You Wandering?

Read James 5:19-20

James has an interesting way of bringing this letter to a close. There’s no “see you soon” or “have a nice life” kind of ending. This letter has been full of content from the start. Certainly, James’ parting thoughts have been full of wisdom. And his devotion to his readers by calling them “dear brothers and sisters” concludes what has been a recurring theme. James is not a stranger to his audience.

In these two short verses, we see James’ version of searching after the lost. Matthew’s gospel reveals a series of stories about lost items. Jesus used those parables to emphasize the importance of not leaving anybody behind. Or, as Paul puts it, God “wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

Read James 5:19-20

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)