Do not fear, only obey . . .

While not a close follower of evangelist Billy Graham, I know some qualities that set him apart from many other Christian leaders. He was firm about what he believed, shared it with simplicity yet was always direct and uncompromising. He was a humble man willing to see and admit his own faults. He gained the respect of people in many countries and in every level of society. Even those who rejected his message accepted his person and treated him honorably.

The Christians in the early church has many of Billy Graham’s good qualities. They stood out as model citizens, not persecuted by the Roman government or many others. Their biggest tormentors were usually religious Jews, oddly also like Graham who was mainly criticized by religious leaders.

The book of Acts shows that when the apostles contacted officials of the Roman government, they were usually accepted or ignored but never harassed. Three of these encounters are described in Acts 13, 16, and 18.

Acts 13 describes Paul and Barnabas summoned by a Roman proconsul named Sergius Paulus who wanted to hear the word of God. A Jewish false prophet/magician tried to turn him away from the faith, but Paul told this man that the Lord’s hand was on him and he would be blind . . .

 . . . Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:11–12)

Acts 16 was no less startling. Paul and Silas traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia. There they were pestered by a demonic female slave who earned money for her owners by fortune-telling. Paul commanded that the demon leave her. It did and the slave’s owners dragged Paul and Timothy to court, then threw them into prison.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:25–31)

He believed and was saved, took care of Paul and Silas, and with his family was baptized. He brought them into his house and fed them, rejoicing with his entire household that he had believed in God. (Acts 16:34) Soon after, the magistrates found out that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens and apologized to them!

In Acts 18, when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying,

“This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” And he drove them from the tribunal . . . But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. (Acts 18:14–17)

In the first situation, God used Paul to make the opposition blind, literally. Christians might not ask the Lord to do that these days, but it seems right that we can ask Him to blind the eyes of those who oppose our efforts to tell others about Jesus Christ. People will not oppose or persecute anyone they do not notice! Perhaps that is why much good that Christians do is seldom mentioned in the news. God may be using that to protect us!

In the second situation, God used an arrest to reach the man in charge of a prison. The lesson here is simple: God can use anything for His glory. Even when people oppose us, it can be an opportunity to share the Gospel!

In the last instance, we see a separation of church and state. Gallio was not concerned with how or what religious people believed, only about law-breakers and crime. He refused to judge the problems between Christians and those who opposed Jesus Christ. We have had this freedom for a long time and need to be thankful. It gets challenged now and then so we also need to be prayerful.

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Jesus, You are on the throne. The Bible is clear that politicians and other leaders are not the ultimate authorities. You are. In that, I can put my trust. Whatever goes on in our country or the other countries in this world, You are still ruler over all. You are also able to use all things, even situations that appear totally evil in our mind, for Your glory. For that, I am thankful and praise Your name.

Going for a deeper motivation

I’ve become frustrated with myself because I don’t know how to help a person who obviously cannot do many things, but insists that she can “do it myself.” Over the past few days, it seems the best solution comes from remembering when my children were like that. I would let them try until they realized they were too little or too weak, finally coming to me and asking for help.

It’s different with adults though, particularly if they do not realize their efforts are not working, or who is putting themselves in danger by trying to do what they cannot do. Without giving examples, I can only say that I’m not sure how to be what I need to be, but not only that, I’m running out of motivation.

Before getting into a raging pity-party, God speaks to me this morning about motivation. He uses the prayer of Jesus from my favorite New Testament book:

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do . . . .’” (John 17:1–4)

Jesus faces far more challenges than I do. All of us were “I’ll do it myself” people who thought we could run our own lives. He sees my helplessness and pitiful self-effort. He sees the danger I put myself in by my pride and determination to do my own thing. He is patient and kind, but He also knows when to step in and intervene. He will not let me stand enjoying the limelight instead of getting on the train before the doors shut in my face, but grabs my hand and yanks me out of harm’s way or total humiliation and abandonment.

The line that speaks to me is that last one — Jesus glorified God by accomplishing the work God gave Him to do. This is why He came. He was on a mission, not for Himself, and not even for us, but for the Father. His mission was to reveal the God of gods to a world busily trying to live rich, full lives by ourselves, not realizing how blind, poor, and nakedly helpless we really are. We needed to see the glory of God to realize our impoverished state and with that vision of God in human flesh, we are changed forever.

I know that I cannot accomplish anything without the full power of the Holy Spirit. I also know that what I do for the people in my care is not about me, nor is it even about them. It is about living in such a way that I glorify God, that I reveal to others the wonder of Jesus Christ who lives in me.

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Jesus, we both know that this is an impossible task. I cannot do it any more than I can “do it myself” with any part of life. To bring glory to You, I must be filled with Your Spirit, not trying to bypass the grace of God that enables me. If I am going to “do all things through Christ who gives me strength” then I need to abandon all self-effort and all motivations that may seem right. The only one that I need is that You are glorified.

Adversity and Grace

Isaiah 52:1–54:17, Luke 20:41–21:24, Job 12:1–12

Isaiah 53 and 54 are two of my favorite chapters in the Bible. They speak of Jesus and His sacrifice for our redemption, and point to the promises of God concerning future guidance and protection. The original audience is Israel, yet this is the living Word of God; it speaks to me also.

It says of Jesus: “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3–6)

Such great injustice, or so it seems. Yet we so easily forget the prevalence of sin (don’t we all turn our own way much of the time?) and our need for redemption and forgiveness. Take time to think of what this says.

It says why Jesus had to die: “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:10–12)

Besides the plan of God, these chapters also declare His grace: “For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer . . . . All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you . . . . no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:7-8, 13-15, 17)

In the good times, we sinful beings tend to forget God. When adversity happens, we tend to blame others or the devil. Job had it right when he said, “In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand. But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:5–10)

Just as God planned the greatest injustice in the death of His sinless Son, He also is in charge of all adversity. He has a purpose for everything that happens to us. Even all creation knows this is true. What I don’t always remember is that when adversity comes, I can seize it as opportunity to share the goodness of God, just as Jesus said I should . . .

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”

That is not the normal reaction to terrible trials, but by the grace of God, it can be. Jesus adds further instruction so that I can bear witness to Him, no matter what: “Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:10–19)

Jesus encourages me to remember that God is sovereign over the good times and adversities. I can rest in His promise to give me His attitude, His words, His peace, all because of His amazing grace.