Day 306...(Hosea 12; Romans 13)..."Pray for Those Who Are Given Authority"

This time of year we think of the privilege of living in these United States of America, as we celebrate our independence. What an awesome gift is freedom of religion! How great is the sacrifice so many have made for our nation to preserve this freedom!

Paul teaches us to respect those in authority. We may not always agree with our leaders in a democracy but we can always respect the position. In our politically charged climate, we can always pray for our leaders. This is part of God's design as well. Here is the way Paul states this respect for those in authority in chapter 13.

"Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

Day 305...(Hosea 11; Isaiah 66)..."Comfort"

Isaiah is one of the longest books in the Bible. The second longest in number of chapters. As we end the reading, I was struck by the word of comfort in chapter 66. Isaiah, the Book, for the most part speaks in a harsher tone with consequences of a people who have gone astray. Chapter 40 makes a turn for the exiled people with the words..."comfort, comfort my people."
As Isaiah ends an endearing image is used of God comforting as a mother with a child. What a great mental picture for a people in exile. One message from this placement of comfort at the end is hopeful for all who are struggling or in personal exile. God will comfort in the end.

"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

Amen!

Day 304...(Hosea 9,10; Isaiah 65; Romans 12)..."Two of My Favorite Chapters"

What a day to read through the Bible! Two of my favorite chapters in the same day. Isaiah speaks of a "new day" for Israel.

"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth."

What powerful images of a new beginning. A vibrancy of building homes, babies not dying, ending suffering, enemies getting along...on Mt. Zion. (Mt. Zion is an image for the Kingdom of God)

Paul also says so much in Romans 12. This whole chapter sounds like a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. How often have I recalled these words of overcoming evil with good. Is this not the strongest position for the Christian to not be weary of treating others well? What a lofty thought to aspire! Here is the passage...

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Day 303...(Hosea 7,8; Isaiah 64; Romans 11)..."God's Gifts and Call are Irrevocable"

Paul connects Israel and the Gospel in Romans 11. What a fascinating bridge between the Old and New Testaments. He is emphatic that disobedience leads to God's mercy and all of Israel can be saved. The remnant can be saved...

"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

In one of the strongest statements, Paul says God's gifts and call are irrevocable...or cannot be undone. What a fabulous passage to ponder in ministry. We cannot undo what God can do. God is faithful and merciful. Here is the passage...

"for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."

Day 302...(Hosea 5,6; Isaiah 63; Romans 10)..."Salvation"

Paul explains salvation in Romans 10. This chapter is a tremendous part of our salvific tradition. Christ makes it possible to be saved. Confession of Christ is central in salvation. Here is the teaching from Romans 10 from the Message...

"This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"

I love the NIV phrase on Romans 10:9. I have quoted this to those desiring to be a Christian or seeking assurance...

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Day 301...(Hosea 1,2,3,4; Isaiah 62; Romans 9)..."Would You Name Your Child Nobody?"

(Reading schedule is altered slightly as Job 41,42 were missed but given yesterday to compensate for the error...today the reading will be the first 4 chapters of Hosea.)

Names are important in the Bible. We read of symbolism in most names. Hosea begins with names of insult for Israel's disobedience. Like "No-Mercy" and "Nobody"! How would you like those names? Who would call their child Nobody? There will be some hope in this harsh message. Interestingly, Romans 9 picks up on this part of Hosea as well. Here is the passage from the Message...

I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I'll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, "You're nobody!" they're calling you "God's living children."

Is this not the truth for all people? In God, we are all somebody!

Day 300...(Job 41,42; Isaiah 61; Romans 8)..."Peace with the Unanswered Questions of Job"

We leave Job not answering all the theological questions. How appropriate that we also read Romans 8 and give us some perspective of God's faithfulness through suffering. Job does end with a blessed life after enduring the miserable years. The questions are not answered of suffering but peace comes in knowing God is with us through what we do not understand. Here are two passages that help make some sense of Job from Romans.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Amen!

Day 299...(Job 39,40; Isaiah 60; Romans 7)..."Paul Speaks of the Human Problem"

Paul writes candidly throughout the Scripture. Perhaps his most honest writing comes in Romans 7. Paul cannot overcome his weakness. Paul does not understand his weakness saying..."good he seeks to do he does not" and "that which he seeks not to do he does." Can we not relate to this? Good left undone. Bad habits done. Paul puts his finger on the human condition. Here is the passage...

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me."

Day 298...(Job 37,38; Isaiah 59; Romans 6)..."Job Put in His Place"

Job is a book about searching for answers in the midst of suffering and a man that is put in his place. After 37 chapters of reading humankind's inadequate explanation of evil and suffering, God puts Job in his place. The Book of Job changes dramatically in this chapter. The message also is straightforward. Do we get an answer to all the suffering questions? No. But at least we know Who is in charge! God speaks...

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone"

What a fascinating turn of events, as Job and all of us as humankind are put in our places.

Day 297...(Job 35,36; Isaiah 58; Romans 5)..."Another Life Passage"

Of all the passages in the Bible I have replayed in my mind in the disconcerting moments, Romans 5 is among the passages I have recalled the most. How fitting this passage is for all who struggle, in despair, face a challenge, or just need a burst of inspiration for the next step of a long journey. The end for the Christian is hope and these words are so powerful...

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us."

Amen!

Day 296...(Job 33,34; Isaiah 57; Romans 4)..."Our Faith Father"

Abraham is one the most recognizable names for all the world in history. Who is Abraham to the Christian? I like the Message wording. Abraham is our "Faith Father."

"For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that's reading the story backward. He is our faith father."

In the NIV version, in the same passage, I like the description of faith..."calls things that are not as though they were."

"Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations."He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."

Day 295...(Job 31,32; Isaiah 56; Romans 3)..."Justified By Faith - Saved By Grace"

Romans is perhaps the most theological letter of Paul. In chapter three, we have the real foundation for our doctrines justification by faith and salvation by grace. Without these doctrines we would be reduced to "rule keepers" and coming up short. Thank God for a gospel that saves people who are need of grace. All of us are sinners in need of the grace of God. How do we know? The Bible tells us so. Here is one passage that is pivotal for our theology of grace...

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

Day 294...(Job 29-30; Isaiah 55; Romans 2)..."God's Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways"

Job ponders aloud how popular he was when everything went his way. His is entertaining bitterness as when things fall apart so do your friends. One of the themes of Job is "God's ways are higher than our ways." This happens to be stated in the turning point of the exile for Isaiah. He says it like this...

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

God's ways are higher than our ways and His word does not return empty. The reading of Scripture each day makes a contribution we cannot measure. We seek understanding of God's higher ways and daily meditation on God's truth fills our emptiness.

Day 293...(Job 27,28; Isaiah 54; Romans 1)..."A Biblical Thought on the Oil Spill"

Our reading through the Bible comes to the same theme over and over..."worship God first." As Paul begins Romans, he states this principle another way. He confronts the human condition as loving the creation more than the Creator. How true? Do we not see this played out in many expressions of greed and excess? Is the "oil spill crisis" not a flagrant case of worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. How foolish to drill without a plan for a spill. Is our balance with relating well and being good stewards of our environment not found in the truth of the passage...

"So God said, in effect, "If that's what you want, that's what you get." It wasn't long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out. And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes!"

Day 292...(Job 26; Isaiah 53; Acts 28)..."Paul and a Snake"

When they reached Malta Paul was bitten by a snake but the power God used the incident to demonstrate Paul was connected with the Lord. (I definitely would not try this at home!) Paul makes the trip to Rome and Acts ends quietly with Paul under either house arrest or guarded supervision. Do we know what happened to Paul?

Christian tradition (according to Calvin Lashway) has him beheaded under the persecution of Nero around A.D. 64. The Book of Acts does not tell us but given the "back and forth" of the last chapters, we can deduce the hostility swung more violent and a persecutor of Christians Nero acted brutally to end Paul's earthly life...his heavenly life though was secure.

Day 291...(Job 24,25; Isaiah 52; Acts 27)..."Smooth Sailing? Hardly!"

What do we do when we think everything is smooth only to discover the storm has come? In Paul's life, we see a metaphor for sailing troubled waters. God helps us through the storm.

Paul is taken prisoner to sail the rough seas. In this 27th chapter of Acts, we read of changing seasons, a good harbor, and an ignored forecast of rough sailing. Paul's warning is ignored and everyone is in peril for days. Also, interesting to note is Paul's life was spared and his treatment was pretty good. Obviously, they did not know what to do with Paul. He was not guilty to be punished but too persuasive to be released. The journey continues on an island in which everyone swims to safety following two weeks of rough weather.

Against all odds an angel speaks to Paul. Perhaps this message is reassuring to all those whose life is anything but smooth sailing...here is the message of the angel to Paul.

"Last night God's angel stood at my side, an angel of this God I serve, saying to me, 'Don't give up, Paul. You're going to stand before Caesar yet—and everyone sailing with you is also going to make it.' So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly what he told me. But we're going to shipwreck on some island or other."

Day 290...(Job 22,23; Isaiah 51; Acts 26)..."Almost Persuaded"

Festus called Paul mad. King Agrippa said Paul almost persuaded him to be a Christian. This difference of opinion is so revealing of the environment Paul found himself. His boldness to tell his story was both a winsome presentation and threatening revelation. Has human nature changed? I do not think so. The persuasive people of today receive the same response as some are inspired and others conspire. It is also interesting that Paul could have been freed had he not requested to be heard by Caesar.

Is this encounter with Agrippa not the spiritual state of so many? Almost persuaded. Here is the passage...

"Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Day 289...(Job 20,21; Isaiah 50; Acts 25)..."No Charges Hold Water"

Paul's trial went a great deal like Jesus. Everyone was hurling insults and accusations but nothing to "hold water" according to the Message version. Paul was, of course, in a longer "holding pattern" than our Lord. We will also see more indecision in the case of Paul. Here is the passage...

"Festus said, "King Agrippa and distinguished guests, take a good look at this man. A bunch of Jews petitioned me first in Jerusalem, and later here, to do away with him. They have been most vehement in demanding his execution. I looked into it and decided that he had committed no crime. He requested a trial before Caesar and I agreed to send him to Rome. But what am I going to write to my master, Caesar? All the charges made by the Jews were fabrications, and I've uncovered nothing else. "That's why I've brought him before this company, and especially you, King Agrippa: so we can come up with something in the nature of a charge that will hold water. For it seems to me silly to send a prisoner all that way for a trial and not be able to document what he did wrong."

Day 288...(Job 18,19; Isaiah 49; Acts 24)..."Total Despair"

If you are having a bad day, read the Book of Job. It will either drag you down further or cheer you up! I cannot imagine one getting any lower than...

"My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart."

Before we are too judgmental on Job...do we not sometimes drift into despair when things do not go as planned. Thank God despair does not have the final word but can lead to a greater hope! Amen!

Day 287...(Job 15,16; Isaiah 48; Acts 23)..."Paul's Family"

It is well documented that Paul never married. I am not aware of many teachings of Paul's family. In today's text we have a mention of his nephew. Paul's nephew actually saved Paul's life in learning of a plot to ambush Paul. In my readings of Acts before I never noticed Paul's family members. Below is the mention.

"But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him." So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, "Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you."

Day 286...(Job 13,14; Isaiah 47; Acts 22)..."Citizenship Over Intolerance"

Paul is known as one who could be all things to all people for the sake of the Gospel. In today's text, his being a Roman citizen is an advantage for his own sake. He avoids a beating. Humankind has always struggled over the issue of balancing religious tolerance, immigration, and citizenship. A citizen clearly has more rights, as is the case with Paul. What a fascinating text to explore ambiguity of citizenship, immigration, and religious freedom. Here is the encounter of Paul...

"As they spread-eagled him with thongs, getting him ready for the whip, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is this legal: torturing a Roman citizen without a fair trial?"When the centurion heard that, he went directly to the captain. "Do you realize what you've done? This man is a Roman citizen!" The captain came back and took charge. "Is what I hear right? You're a Roman citizen?" Paul said, "I certainly am." The captain was impressed. "I paid a huge sum for my citizenship. How much did it cost you?""Nothing," said Paul. "It cost me nothing. I was free from the day of my birth." That put a stop to the interrogation. And it put the fear of God into the captain. He had put a Roman citizen in chains and come within a whisker of putting him under torture! The next day, determined to get to the root of the trouble and know for sure what was behind the Jewish accusation, the captain released Paul and ordered a meeting of the high priests and the High Council to see what they could make of it. Paul was led in and took his place before them."

Day 285...(Job 11,12; Isaiah 46; Acts 21)..."A Softer Side of Paul"

Paul is remembered for persecuting Christians and then after his conversion being very bold. In the last part of Acts chapter 20 and the first part of Acts 21, we see a softer side of Paul. In fact, there is a river of tears cried as Paul leaves. He is heading toward Jerusalem (even though he is advised not to go) and his freedom to rove around the churches was about to end. Here is the passage...

"Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed. And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go. They knew they would never see him again—he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship. And so, with the tearful good-byes behind us, we were on our way. We made a straight run to Cos, the next day reached Rhodes, and then Patara. There we found a ship going direct to Phoenicia, got on board, and set sail. Cyprus came into view on our left, but was soon out of sight as we kept on course for Syria, and eventually docked in the port of Tyre. While the cargo was being unloaded, we looked up the local disciples and stayed with them seven days. Their message to Paul, from insight given by the Spirit, was "Don't go to Jerusalem."

Day 284...(Job 9,10; Isaiah 45; Acts 20)..."How Low Can You Go?"

Job, as earlier noted does match Ecclesiastes for sacrasm regarding the "vanity of vanities" or in today's language..."why bother?" or "what's the use?" Today we may have the lowest comment of all! How much lower can you go as wishing you had never been born! Here is the passage...

""So why did you have me born? I wish no one had ever laid eyes on me! I wish I'd never lived—a stillborn, buried without ever having breathed. Isn't it time to call it quits on my life? Can't you let up, and let me smile just once Before I die and am buried, before I'm nailed into my coffin, sealed in the ground, And banished for good to the land of the dead, blind in the final dark?"

After these kind of statements, life can only go up!

Day 283...(Job 7,8: Isaiah 44; Acts 19)..."Bildad Speaks"

Job's friend Bildad gives advice to Job and his troubles. In today's language it would be phrased like..."get right with God." According to Bildad, if you are right with God it will make no difference but if you are wrong with God your fortunes will be restored. Another friends opinion. Bildad would have a lot of company today. Here is what he said...

"Does God Almighty ever get things backward? It's plain that your children sinned against him— otherwise, why would God have punished them? Here's what you must do—and don't put it off any longer: Get down on your knees before God Almighty. If you're as innocent and upright as you say, it's not too late—he'll come running; he'll set everything right again, reestablish your fortunes.
Even though you're not much right now, you'll end up better than ever."

Day 282...(Job 5,6; Isaiah 43; Acts 18)..."A New Thing"

Dr. David Hopkins, in teaching Isaiah at Wesley Seminary... said something interesting about this passage. Anytime, he said, you see the phrase behold it is like "take a real good look." Isaiah really wanted his readers to pay attention. What is Isaiah saying? God is doing new thing. One of the most amazing things in the Christian experience is God is always doing something new. No matter how long we are a Christian. As God renewed Israel out of exile, He can renew us today.

"Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?"

What new is God doing in your life today?

Day 281...(Job 3,4; Isaiah 42; Acts 17)..."Eliphaz Begins Talking to Job"

Job question his birth and sounds more like the "preacher" in Ecclesiastes. His friend (is he really a friend) tries to make sense of Job. In his mind, you reap what you sow. Job's friends would not be could at pastoral care. This is enlightening to our own theology with those who suffer. Do we worry more about explaining? Or do we offer comfort and hope?

One of my favorite passages is found in Acts 17. One that counters the disconcerting message of Job. Ultimately all we are and do is in God's Hands. The passage is state like this...

"For in him we live and move and have our being."

This is a better explanation than Eliphaz!

Day 280...(Job 1,2; Isaiah 41; Act 16)..."Job and His Troubles Teach Us Theology is Not Easy"

How many have tried to explain the Book of Job? I enjoy listening to anyone try. Obviously, human suffering is better understood (though never fully explained) by reading the Book of Job. What is a message from Job?

One message that is reassuring to me is that theology is not easy. Our lives always have some complication. We lack the ability to give total explanation of all that happens. There is some ambiguity in all of life. The fact we cannot explain God is clear in Job. Our lack of explaining God is no reason not to seek the knowledge of God. In fact this provides all the more reason we must think, learn, stretch, experience, and even grapple with life. There are no easy answers but God is larger than any question. This is how I think, when I read Job. Come to think of it this is the way I think as I try to make sense of an oil spill, violence, and many modern puzzles.

All and all God is faithful in spite of suffering. This is our message and hope. Amen.

Day 279...(Esther 9,10; Isaiah 40; Acts 15)..."My Life Verse"

If one verse is my life verse it would be Isaiah 40:31. The waiting on the Lord renews our strength. As I have person recently indicate, this is not a waiting like God is late but rather that God moves at the perfect time. When God moves, we are renewed with strength as eagles. Speaking of never growing tire...I never grow tired of these words from the New King James Version...

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

Day 278...(Esther 7,8; Isaiah 39; Acts 14)..."Evil Comes Back"

Haman was going to annihilate the Jews. Esther intervened at just the right time. Haman constructed gallows for the execution of Mordicae. When his plot was exposed, and he was hung on his own gallows. What a powerful lesson of "evil action coming home to roost."

In this story, we have the origin of an important day. The feast of Purim still holds great significance for the Jews. Evil leaders such as Hitler, remind us this story of seeking to wipe out an entire group of people is still a threat in our modern world. The story of Esther wakes humankind up to never let this happen.

Day 277...(Esther 5,6; Isaiah 38; Acts 13)..."God Extends Hezekiah's Life 15 Years"

Isaiah 37 and 38 is a prelude to exile coming to an end. Hezekiah prays. Isaiah gives him a thorough explanation of the history of what he is asking. (Even tells him he will die) In spite of the sin of the people...the prayer makes a great difference in beginning to reverse the fate of the remnant. Here is the prayer in chapter 37.

"Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. "It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God."

Later God extends Hezekiah's life by fifteen years. Here is the account...

"Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city."

What an amazing change of circumstances for Hezekiah and Israel!

You can read how the deliverance prayer was answered in reading the entire account.

Day 276...(Esther 3,4; Isaiah 37 (see next day) Acts 12)..."Peter Experiences the God's Power to Break Chains"

Peter is involved with a supernatural (miracle) of a jail break. His chains are removed. How symbolic is this for those who are obedient to the Lord. Herod tried to stop him but this only made the movement stronger! The miraculous power of God continued to spread. A popular modern version of Amazing Grace adds..."My chains are gone, I've been set free." How true.

Here is the account of the breaking of chains...

"The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists."

Day 275...(Esther 1,2; Isaiah 36; Acts 11)..."The Name Christian First Used"

We begin Esther today. What an interesting story of how Esther represented her people through a delicate time for Israel. This Book is a nice break from the longer Old Testament books without an easy to follow story line.

In our Acts reading is something very significant...the first use of the name Christian. The term Christian is often used in our culture today. Sometimes misused to represent opinions or a mind-set that really have little to do with Jesus Christ. It is good to trace our heritage to see the name actually is first used in the Book of Acts. The identity is clearly in the life changing power of the risen Lord Jesus Christ in the community of Antioch. Here is the account of the first use...

"Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians."