A Gift of Life

Whew! After all his mischief, Herod sure had a quick demise.  "And the people kept shouting, 'The voice of a god and not of a man!' Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died." (Acts 12:12-24) Yuck!

I noticed that he wasn't struck down because of killing James or torturing Christians. It was because "he did not give God the glory". That is evidently more important than we think!

But even though Herod and others greatly persecuted and attacked on the baby church, verse 24 reveals God's ways and means of enlargement and victory: "But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied". 

This method sounds like cells that grow and multiply to form new life - even a baby. In fact Hebrews 4:12 explains: "For the word of God is living and active ... ".

Isn't that thrilling that God's word is living and works in us, and those we share it with, to bring new life (even eternal life). This word works and grows in ways we'd never dream possible. 

Let's be women of the Word this holiday season and trust that Christ will enable us to keep birthing this new life in others. We can celebrate the Word made flesh (John 1:14) in the weeks coming up. Rich opportunities abound. Praise God for His marvelous gift of life.

Being Left Out

We sure do not like the feeling of being left out! I remember waiting for the first bell in high school and so wishing that I was in that popular group that I could see off to the side. (Oh, the lie of popularity's satisfaction!)

But speaking of being left out, there's Peter. He had just experienced a miraculous escape from prison. So he went to the house where the church was fervently praying for him. The servant girl, Rhoda, came to answer his knock at the gate and "when she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate". She must have been gone a while because "they said to her, 'You are beside yourself!' Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, 'It is his angel.' (Acts 12:12-19)

Meanwhile, the focus of their prayer meeting is still outside the gate, knocking. Amazing! I got to wondering if Peter was getting a chance to remember another time he was left out. 

When Jesus had been arrested and bound, He was led to the high priest. The "other disciple" got to go in with Jesus. (John 18:15-18) "But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in." 

Sadly, this entrance resulted in Peter's first denial: "Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, 'You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?' He said, 'I am not."'

However, back at Rhoda's gate "Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished". Peter was then able to tell them all of His amazing deliverance by His now precious Lord Jesus.

The postscript is also precious. Peter seems in a hurry and makes one request: "Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren." Here he is not talking about his old fishing buddy, James, who had recently been killed by Herod. He is talking about none other that Jesus' closest earthly brother (Matthew 13:55). Earlier this James had actually mocked Jesus in unbelief. (John 7:3-5). But now he has become a leader in the baby church.

How powerful and full of wonder is our Lord, who through His Holy Spirit has turned around denying Peter and doubting James into the first leaders of His body left on earth. And His body includes all of us believers. We need never to fear again being "left out".

Fervent Prayer

King Herod was sure intent on showing off in Acts 12:1-11. "And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword." Next, he had Peter arrested during the Passover feast. As "the Rock" sat in prison with 16 soldiers guarding him, "prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God."

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, an angel suddenly appeared in Peter's cell and prodded him awake. This Brightness prompted quick dressing as they were moving out! Peter's chains fell off and grabbing his shoes and coat he hurried after the Messenger. They passed one guard station, the second guard station, the prison iron gate (which opened by itself) and ended up on the street before Peter realized this was not a dream. "When Peter came to himself, he said, 'Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.'"

What an answer to prayer! This church must have been engaged in prayer like that described in James 5:16: "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." This prayer is mentioned in verse 15 as "the prayer offer in faith".

But we know that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God ". (Romans 10:17)

Lord, we ask again for a refill of the Holy Spirit so that we desire to dive into Your word and be strengthened in faith. We want to be able to pray fervently!

The Best Gift

I may get a lot of things wrong in life. I may be confused and not know who to believe. But one thing I know. God is worthy of praise. And the ability to praise and thank Him is one of His Best Gifts. In fact it is a sign of having the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 10: 45-46, "All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God."

When Peter travels to Jerusalem to explain this unprecedented event, he says, "Therefore if God gave to them (the Gentiles) the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"

Living in the Spirit, abiding in Christ, living as a daughter of the King is beautiful. Because He is. And it rubs off.

The beautiful sound that comes from such living is praise. Gratitude for life in its details. Giving honor to the One responsible. 

Lord, we want Your best gift. Fill us with Your Spirit today!  May our life in the Spirit be evidenced by overflowing praise.

Going Out of His Way

Cornelius was a leader of those hated Roman soldiers. But Acts 10 describes him as one "who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually". Hmm...  Surprising!

Evidently he was seeking God because the Lord went to great lengths (sent two angels, one vision, three messengers, and then Peter and friends back to Caesarea) to cross that great culture wall and get the truth to this God-fearing Gentile.  And it was sure a set up because "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message".

The result was that a whole family was added to God's kingdom ("Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ"). 

And wonderful for us - the door was opened for the good news to be spread to the Gentiles. God will go way out of His "normal" path to bring His people back to Him. 

Thank you. Lord

To See Jesus

Isn't it ironic that the Holy Spirit is often called the Comforter, but many are so afraid of Him and even reluctant to learn of Him? In Acts 9:31-43 it says, "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.' Hey, ditto that for our church!

In this section we read that Peter is traveling to Lydda and finds Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden eight years. He says, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed." Aeneas does! So .... many "turned to the Lord".

Then Peter is called to Joppa and raises Tabitha from the dead. Wow! All these who had been grieving the death of this generous seamstress must have been more than a little comforted. 

The Holy Spirit always draws us to Jesus. In these cases it is recorded that many "turned to the Lord" and many "believed in the Lord".

Father, we desire the comfort of the Holy Spirit so we can see You.

It's Beautiful!

When God does a work it is beautiful! It is thorough, costly, deep, pure and enduring.

God had gotten Saul's attention on the ground smacking, blind humbling Damascus road. (Acts 9) But Saul was going to stay 3 long years in that city until Jews started accepting that he had actually changed sides and would not kill them. Then it would be another eleven years before Saul was ready to go out and establish churches. The fiery zealous man of God had much to learn. 

He needed to know the love of this Jesus that he had met on that road. He needed to know that he was entering a tough battle and there would be troubles galore. But mostly he needed to be grounded in the truth that would set countless others free.

The man we know as Paul left some 14 letters that would inspire innumerable Christ seekers for thousands of years. The joy and hope his words give us is a treasure that endures.  

Lord, even as it takes precious time, do Your beautiful work in me.