When Others Despise Your Transformation
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. (Acts 16:16 ESV)
Luke is known for capturing details that help paint a picture for us to easily visualize the encounters he experienced. In one sentence he describes the personal bondage of a young unnamed girl – and we can’t help but feel compassion toward her.
This girl is like so many people we encounter everyday:
She was enslaved spiritually.
She was being taken advantage of.
She was desperate for hope and change.
Luke says that this girl, being prompted by the demons, continually harassed and mocked Paul and his team, following them around the city.
Finally, Paul had enough. He turned and commanded the demons to set the girl free. And she was immediately liberated.
Still, like many young people today who give their lives to Jesus, she had to go back and face the people in her life who despised her change of heart and wanted her to go back to the way she used to be.
Freedom in Christ is often met with great resistance from others. But he who the Son has set free is free indeed.
Father, today I pray for young believers who need to feel the wind of encouragement in the sails of their lives. Set them free today, and encourage them in the changes they are making.
In Jesus name, amen.
How Do You Respond When You Are Proven Wrong?
Every now and then I am wrong about something or someone.
Like many people, I am typically gracious to give the benefit of the doubt, to withhold personal judgment against others; but occasionally I come to a conclusion that, although is based on seemingly solid evidence at the time, ends up being less than accurate.
The Jewish believers were concerned about Peter’s recent conversation with a group of Gentiles (non-Jews). They sincerely believed that salvation through Jesus was specifically and solely given to the Jews.
Then Peter, who himself had to be taught by The Lord through a vision to have a different mindset, told his Jewish brothers what God said about the Gentiles, what He did for them in pouring out His Spirit to them, and what He intended for them – that salvation through Jesus was offered to every tribe, tongue, and nation.
The story itself is compelling, but it is the response of the Jews that impresses me most.
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18 ESV)
How should we respond when we are proven wrong?
1. Stop speaking and listen. Pride argues; humility listens. There’s no need to keep defending and justifying that which has been proven wrong, inaccurate or less than beneficial.
2. Thank God for revealed truth. The disciples didn’t condone their misbelief, but neither did they condemn themselves for having been wrong. They simply acknowledged the truth revealed from God, embraced it as truth, and thanked God for the lesson.
3. Change your mind and your actions will change. Those Jewish believers no longer practiced bigotry against Gentiles. They changed.
Are you so busy defending yourself that you have ignored revealed truth?
Are you more agitated and embarrassed by being viewed as wrong, or do you truly want to be a person that walks in truth?
What relationships are you missing out on simply because you refuse to acknowledge your wrongs?
It’s better to BE right than to be RIGHT.
Eternal Life is Worth Earthly Hardship.
But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. (Exodus 1:12-14 ESV)
What is celebrated in one generation may barely be tolerated in the next. Jacob and his sons had come to Egypt to escape the ravaging famine. Through an act of miraculous benevolence Joseph, the son Jacob had believed to be dead, brought his family to a place of protection and provision. The saved had become the savior.
But, in the words of Moses, as he would later tell the story in his memoirs: “Joseph and his generation died, and there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph.”
The seventy people who had come to Egypt as seemingly insignificant shepherds had grown to be a huge percentage of the populace of that region. They were, as it were, a nation within a nation. To this new, insecure king the heirs of Israel were a threat. So he enslaved them.
Two groups of people who have endured as much or more persecution as any on the earth are Jews and Christians. That statement is not intended to lessen the significance of any other group who has faced the brutality of slavery, but it is to recognize that satan himself has personally stewarded horrific evils on Jews and Christians in an effort to preempt the power and Person of Jesus Christ from bringing freedom to all mankind.
Even a casual reading of the Old and New Testaments will reveal that God’s people are often persecuted. In fact, Jesus Himself declared it would be so.
Yet, despite persecution, the church still grows stronger. Perhaps because of it.
Just as the family and emerging nation of Israel experienced in the days of Moses, we, the church of Jesus Christ, will face unfairness, cruelty, harshness, and even death. Yet we retain hope. Our Savior is soon coming to bring justice.
Perhaps you are facing injustices and are being mistreated. Whether it is being overlooked for a position in your company or turned down by a friend, your experience may not be as harsh as slavery, yet it stings nonetheless.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. Not only is He the author of your faith, He is it’s finisher as well. Justice may or may not come in this lifetime, but it is coming.
Eternal life is worth earthly hardship.
Father,
Would you encourage your people with hope and joy today? May we see Jesus no matter what we must endure.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Christianity is Free, But It Will Cost You Everything.
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33 ESV)
Christianity is free, but it will cost you everything.
Last week I arrived at my office early one morning and spent about an hour in prayer. As I prayed for my family, my staff, our church, and various groups of people, I sensed a prompting from the Holy Spirit.
“Give your life to Me.” The voice was clearly the Lord’s whisper to my heart, but my initial thought was, “Lord, I gave you my life a long time ago.”
Still, the Voice persisted. “Give your life to Me.”
So I began an inventory of my life. I began to verbally yield my life to The Lord, one part at a time.
I gave my spirit, then my soul (mind, will, emotions), then my body.
Then I gave him my wife – the relationship of greatest value in my life. Then I gave Him my daughter. Then my son.
Then I gave Him my ministry and my church, my staff and my dreams and goals.
Then I gave Him my house, my cars, my possessions.
This process went on for a while, and with each commitment I made to God I realized the lesson He was giving me.
You see, when I first gave my life to The Lord I was very young. I was innocent, if not ignorant of the weight and value of my life. I certainly had no idea of God’s plans for my life.
As a teenager and young adult I came to a deeper understanding of my need for Jesus. In those years I renewed my commitment to Him with greater understanding of my decision.
When I gave my life to God as a child, as a teenager, and as a young adult I gave Him all I could give – all I had at the time.
But now I am older. I have so much more. I have a wife, a daughter, a son, a home, a reputation, a ministry, a sphere of influence – none of which were a part of my life originally.
So when the Holy Spirit prompted me to give Him my life, I quickly realized that, this time, giving my life to God would cost me much more than last time.
The weight and value of my life is greater than ever before – but God still requires ALL.
So, with renewed faith and overwhelming love for my Savior, I counted the cost and paid the price.
Once again, I gave Him everything.
Why would I give Him everything? Why would I trust Him with that which is most precious to me?
Because without Him I would have none of it. My gifts to Him were first gifts from Him. He has been so good to me. I know I can trust Him with ALL I have – all of my life.
Father,
My life is Yours. You gave it to me. Now I give it back to You. Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Reminders from the Book of Revelation
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20 ESV)
When it comes to the Book of Revelation some well-intended believers get caught up in forecasting the details of the last days, resulting in their missing the central theme of John’s letter to the seven churches over which he had leadership.
What many view as the secret code to understand the end times is actually intended to be exactly what it says in it’s opening line: “The revelation of Jesus Christ.”
The book reveals the Person, power, and promise of Jesus Christ.
Written to believers from various cities who were facing persecution, The Revelation was written to remind them that Jesus is Head of his church, Lord over time and eternity, and King over every living being.
Revelation reminds us that we are in a cosmic battle – but one that Jesus has already won!
Revelation reminds us that our current tragedies will not compare to the glory of eternity with Jesus Christ.
Revelation reminds us of the absolute necessity of being a person of prayer, so as to bring God’s will from heaven to earth.
Revelation reminds us that suffering for Christ does occur, and it is rewarded by God.
Revelation reminds us that life is not just about me. A life given away to Jesus and others has far greater value than one lived for self.
Revelation reminds us that Jesus is coming again. His return is soon. He is coming for His bride – His church. Simple but sincere faith is the only requirement to accepting His promise of salvation and eternal life.
Today I close the year of 2014 with the same words john used to close his letter known as the Book of Revelation:
“Amen. Come Lord Jesus.”
Pastor Dale Jenkins 