Category: Bible (Page 1 of 288)

After a massive wave of persecution scattered the young church in Jerusalem, followers of Jesus continued to spread his teachings wherever they landed. Instead of squelching the movement, the stomp on Jerusalem scattered live coals over the surrounding regions. Dry hearts caught fire.

One such place was Antioch, where a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. It was in Antioch (a city in present day Turkey, about 300 miles from Jerusalem) where the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians.

The locals meant Christian as a derisive term. They mocked the new believers. But the disciples of Jesus embraced the designation, much like early American colonists embraced Yankee Doodle Dandy, British slang turned into a proud nickname during the American revolution.

The term Christian gets drug through the mud today. Sometimes for wicked things done by those who claim to follow the ways of Jesus, but more often for adherence to the principles found in the Bible. The teachings of Jesus and Paul and the Prophets draw plenty of scorn in our cultural moment.

But the term, referring to a follower of Jesus the Christ, remains a welcome label. It points to a man or woman who chooses to submit to the direction and leadership of Jesus, who claims allegiance to the Christ above all else. Others proudly declare their status as Democrat or Republican, Socialist, Anarchist or Atheist. The disciple, however, inherits the moniker Christ-ian, one who seeks to embody the ways and teachings of Jesus.

Christian is not a term to wear loosely, but one to cinch on as part of your identity. Our world needs a lot of things, but for sure our world needs those who take the label Christian seriously, who soberly go about earning the appreciation, and at times the derision, that title bears.

Acts 11 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Austin Kirk

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