Verse of the Day - Acts 5:38-39

Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.
~ Acts 5:38-39 (NIV)

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If you have never read through the book of Acts, I encourage you to do so! What an encouraging set of snapshots of the history of the early church! These people were on fire for Jesus, and persecution only seemed to spread the fire like a strong wind to a flame on dry brush.

If it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men...

We in America don't face the persecution of our faith in Christ like many in other parts of the world. But we often feel pressed down when political action threatens to weaken the fabric of God's kingdom values. We want to fight back. We want to reclaim what we feel is being lost on Christ's behalf. But are we losing the vision for which we were called...that is, to preach Christ and His salvation? Has the flame of our fire for Him jumped the fire line and crossed into another field that may not be fueled by God?

We are called to be salt and light in the world, pointing people to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. Sometimes, though, we can run with an agenda that doesn't point people to Jesus -- it just points them to the political boxing ring. And then the gloves are on, and we're sparring against our "enemies"... instead of sharing the good news with the world. I just don't see that example shown to us by those 1st century believers. Jesus said to love our enemies and bless those who curse us. Hmm...

Is it possible that one of Satan's tactics is to throw us off track, tempting us to throw our flame into a dry field where God's Spirit isn't blowing? Because where God is, His flame can't be extinguished. But where God isn't, the flame will simple burn out.

We worry and fret that if we don't take a stand against all the moral evil going on around us, somehow God's kingdom values will get flushed down the drain. But is God's kingdom so weak that He is not able to advance it amidst evil?

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. ~ Psalm 37:1-13 (NIV)

There's a saying that goes The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. So what is our main thing? Policies, or peace? Rules or reconciliation?

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message... ~ Jesus, in John 17:20 (NIV)

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ~ Acts 10:36 (NIV)

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:16-20

Jesus and salvation through Him is the main thing. His Spirit is the fire that can't be extinguished. And our responsibility and privilege is to share His good news to the world. I pray that we can seek the Lord's guidance as we live day by day in a world that seeks to throw us off track. We need to listen to Him and go where and when and how He sends us, always with the message of hope and peace with God through Jesus Christ.

Love,
Joelene