Category: Bible (Page 1 of 288)

I know several people who seem far from God. Some appear apathetic to his ways, while others vehemently oppose any belief in a higher power, especially one carrying the baggage of living within specific boundaries.

Saul full out opposed Jesus and went after those who claimed his allegiance. We read, Saul ravaged the church. Going from house to house he dragged off both men and women and committed them to prison.

Saul tyrannized early Christ-followers. His strategic plan led him to Damascus, where he hoped to cauterize the young church there. On the way, a blinding light from heaven seared his eyes and knocked him to the ground. Jesus spoke directly to him, and so began Saul’s new relationship with his Lord.

Saul’s transformation brought skepticism and disbelief among those he formerly victimized. But they soon realized his sincerity and opened their arms. First appearing too good to be true, Saul’s metamorphosis into the apostle Paul produced more good and more truth than anyone imagined.

I’ve started praying for those who appear far from the Lord, who seem hopelessly buried, to experience this blinding light of Jesus. I pray the Lord would shock them with his presence, his realness, his love for them. I pray they will respond with wonder and openness to his plan for them.

Some people need knocked to the ground, and so I pray: Jesus, in your goodness, blind those far from you with the light of your glory and goodness. Knock them to the ground, and raise them up as devoted followers of you.

Acts 8 & 9 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR

A successful enterprise depends on teamwork. I visited a coffeeshop once where the barista greeted me with an indifferent, Yeah? The coffee tasted good, but why return for a snarl? I never went back until a friend asked to meet there. This time the baristas chatted and smiled. I believe the owner caught wind of that crabby server and made changes.

Unforeseen problems emerge when running a business, and unforeseen problems emerged from the rapid growth of the early church in Jerusalem. One of these involved the feeding of widows in the community, some overlooked at dinnertime. So the disciples gathered, developed a plan, and issued a statement:

It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.

The disciples appointed seven men to take charge. They picked fellow followers of Jesus, full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit. This resulted in the word of God spreading, a wealth of new converts (including a large number of priests), and well-fed widows.

Logistics, when coupled with preaching and teaching, launch the gospel forward. Every man and woman out sharing the good news depends on colleagues serving behind the scenes. But not just anyone—fellow workers full and wisdom and the Holy Spirit.

We can be encouraged to serve wherever God has placed us, and to pray for increased wisdom and more of the Holy Spirit in our work. Together, we will see the Lord bring curious and needy people through our doors. Proving once again that a successful enterprise depends on teamwork.

Acts 6 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Louis Hansel

April 15 is tax day in the United States, when payments are due the government. A few days past now, it was no holiday—more a day of stress and running around for those who waited until the last minute to get checks in the mail. I finished my taxes weeks ago, experiencing the pain but avoiding the rush.

A number of people lie about their financial situation in order to pay fewer taxes. Cheaters get caught every year, but I have a feeling a good chunk get off scot-free. It’s tempting to fudge the numbers.

A couple in Jerusalem fudged the numbers and got caught. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of land and gave the proceeds to the growing church. Only they lied about the full amount. While they claimed to donate all the profits, they actually kept some back. They hoped for the accolades of the crowd while enjoying some jangle in their pockets.

Peter confronted Ananias, How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.

Then, in a twist no one saw coming, Ananias died on the spot. A few hours later Sapphira joined him. Church members took notice.

I’ve never seen such action in our era, a person falling dead because of lying to God. That moment in time and place marked a special movement of the Holy Spirit. His presence filled the atmosphere of the church, and to walk in and tell a brazen lie mocked the Lord. Satan actually entered the house of God, and the Holy Spirit acted accordingly.

When I posture and profess how good I am, I sometimes sense the Lord asking, are you telling the whole story? When that nudge comes, it’s best to answer honestly, even if the conversation is just between me and the Lord. Because one never knows how the Holy Spirit may respond to deception, but for sure it never gets ignored.

Acts 5 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Olga DeLawrence

As the young church in Jerusalem quickly grew to over 5,000 members, Peter and John healed a lame beggar in the temple gate. This miracle, along with their preaching, earned the ire of the religious establishment. The rulers seized John and Peter, threw them in jail and called them forward the next day to explain their actions.

If a night in jail was meant to intimidate these fired-up preachers, that plan failed. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, trumpeted the name of Jesus and spelled out to the assembled leaders:

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

The courage and response of these disciples astonished the council, along with the presence of a formerly lame beggar now bouncing around the room. The judges blustered, threatened and cajoled, to which Peter replied:

Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Indeed, Peter and John never did stop speaking about Jesus. They promoted the truth that salvation is found in no one else to their last breath. Those early church members spread around the ancient world, yielding generation after generation of believers from their witness.

Slowing down Peter and John was like trying to slow down a freight train barreling down the tracks. It ain’t gonna happen anytime soon. Fortunately for us, that train’s still running, and we get to climb aboard.

Acts 4 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Laurent Jollet