Making A Difference

Elizabeth’s story was moving, to say the least. Following a terribly humiliating experience in Massachusetts, she caught a bus to New Jersey to escape her embarrassment. Weeping uncontrollably, she hardly noticed that the bus had made a stop along the way. A passenger sitting behind her, a total stranger, began making his way off the bus when he suddenly stopped, turned, and walked back to Elizabeth. He saw her tears and handed her his Bible, saying that he thought she might need it. He was right. But not only did she need the Bible, she needed the Christ it speaks of. Elizabeth received Him as a result of this simple act of compassion by a stranger who gave a gift.

Jesus is our example of compassion. In Matthew 9, we read, “When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (v.36). Not only did our Lord notice the pain and hurt of broken people, He responded to it by challenging His followers to pray for the Father to send out workers to respond to the hurts and needs of this dying world (v.38).

As we follow Christ’s example, a heart of compassion for shepherdless people can compel us to make a difference in the lives of others.

 

Father, open my eyes to see the hurts and struggles of others. Then open my heart to respond to
them, so that through me they may see You and Your love. Amen.

 

A world in despair needs Christians who care

 

"Our Daily Bread"

Sacrificing Freedom to Win for Christ

Acts 16:3

Paul wanted to take him along on the journey [speaking of Timothy], so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

We know from our previous passage that Timothy's mother was a Jew, yet his father was a Greek. This made Timothy a Jew by birth (as religious bloodlines follow the mother's side of the family). "So why does this matter," you might wonder. "Has Paul finally succumbed to the pressure of the circumcision crowd?" You probably remember from Acts 15 that Paul (and Barnabas) had gone up to Jerusalem to argue against circumcision. Why then, would Paul now be the one to circumcise Timothy?

I think the answer lies in Paul's own words from, Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Paul modeled this order every time he entered a new town by going first to the local synagogue to worship and teach before beginning his ministry to the Gentiles. If Timothy were to accompany him, then Timothy would need to be circumcised. Paul didn't want Timothy to be a stumbling block to the very people he hoped to win.

The more we examine Paul's later writings the more clarity we gain into Paul's motivation as seen in 1 Corinthians 9:19, "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." How many of us would give up our own personal freedom to win someone to Christ? Rather I see many Christian's fighting for their rights -- winning a battle, but losing the war.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

Are you willing to give up your rights so you don't cause someone else to stumble? Are you like Timothy, willing to sacrifice in a real and tangible way (it doesn't get any more real than submitting to circumcision as an adult male) for the benefit of the ministry team you have joined? How much freedom will you give up to win for Christ? What are some possible rights that could cause another person to stumble? Would you be willing to give up any of these rights to prevent another person from stumbling or to win another person to Christ?

Fruit That Will Last

Acts 16:1-2

[Speaking of Paul's second missionary trip with Silas] He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

Paul now returns to Derbe and then Lystra; to the same people who had stoned him while on his first missionary journey. I wonder if he wasn't just a little wary considering how quickly the crowd had turned ugly which almost cost him his life.
But five years had passed and his ministry had taken hold in the hearts of the people, as evidenced in the life of a young disciple named Timothy.

Jesus tells us in John 15:16, "I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last..." Paul has seen this Scripture become real in Timothy. You see the real test for us is not how many people we can baptize on Sunday, but rather how many people's lives are changed and who are still in service to the Lord -- ten, fifteen, and twenty years later -- fruit that lasts.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

Can you name three young people in whom you have invested? If you can't, get out a sheet of paper and start making a list. There is nothing more rewarding in this life than when a young person returns years later, and allows you to see in them evidence of a seed of faith you planted that has now grown into "fruit that will last."

How do you get started? You might want to start by walking out your front door and meeting the kids in your neighborhood. Kids love adults who are friendly and smile a lot. Try it. Next, help out at Sunday school, volunteer in the nursery, or the youth group. Every church has multiple events to reach un-churched youth; all you have to do is be willing to help. How will you invest in a young person today?

Agreeing to Disagree and Second Chances

Acts 15:37-41

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

If you will remember from Acts 13:13, John Mark (the nephew of Barnabas) left Paul and Barnabas in the middle of their first missionary journey. No explanation was given for his departure, however the strong language of our passage today makes it is clear that Paul considered taking Mark along again to be foolish because Mark had already proven himself to be undependable ("he deserted them in Pamphylia"). A clue perhaps to the reason for Mark's departure is found at the beginning of Acts 13:13 "...Paul and his companions." Up until this time it had always been Barnabas and Paul..., Barnabas and Paul..., it now had become Paul and his companions. I wonder if Mark got a little angry that Paul had taken over the reins of leadership from his Uncle Barnabas and as a result went back to Jerusalem in youthful protest, "I'm not going to work for that guy!"

Clearly age and experience improved their relationship as later in 2 Timothy 4:11 Paul asks for Mark to be sent to him, "...because he is helpful to me in my ministry." That's a pretty big turnaround in Paul's opinion of Mark. So who was right about Mark, Paul or Barnabas? I think they both were. I don't know about you, but I see the Lord's hand at work here. First, Paul goes back out with Silas on his typically intense missionary expedition. While Barnabas takes his nephew Mark with him on his own journey. They agreed to disagree and two missions instead of one were the result.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

Have you ever needed a second chance? How about a third and fourth? Who gave it to you and why? Did you make the best of it? Who in your life has let you down? Would you consider giving him/her another chance? Do you judge others more harshly than yourself?

Questions to Ponder:

When was the last time you checked in on the seeds of faith you planted? How are they doing? Do they need some attention? Many times it is the first person who brought us to Christ that becomes our most influential memory. Who planted the first seed in you? Wouldn't it be meaningful to let that person know how much that seed has grown and how much fruit is being produced? Be an encourager -- make a call today -- Go back and check in!

Speaking Encouragement to Strengthen

Acts 15:30-32

The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

As the story goes, on Valentine's Day one year the pastor of a local church decided to offer a ceremony for all married couples to renew their wedding vows. When the pastor asked one of the more elderly men in the congregation if he and his wife would like to participate, the answer was an emphatic, "No." The pastor asked, "But wouldn't you like to express your love to your wife one more time?" The grizzled veteran of marriage answered, "I told her once fifty years ago, 'I love you', and if I ever change my mind I'll let her know." Now that's a funny story, but I've always wondered how the wife must have felt about her husband's answer. Sure the wife had the original ceremony, piece of paper (marriage certificate), ring, and the presence of her husband for fifty years, and certainly actions speak louder than words; but let's face it -- sometimes it is comforting to hear those encouraging words, "I love you," from time to time.

In our passage today, Judas, Silas, with Paul and Barnabas had come to Antioch with a letter of instruction from the church in Jerusalem. The letter did much to clarify to what degree the Mosaic Law would continue to be observed by new Gentile believers (which we have covered in much detail in previous devotions). There are two things I find particularly interesting in the role of Judas and Silas in this event: the first, they "said much," and second, what they said was to, "...encourage and strengthen the brothers." Too often I see people who either say too much or don't speak at all, neither of which are encouraging or strengthening. It's sometimes difficult to understand how the right words of encouragement can be so strengthening, yet how the wrong words (or no words at all) can contribute to such defeat and emptiness.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

Ask your friends, wife (or husband), children and parents, "Do I say too much or not enough? Do my words encourage and strengthen, or do they have the opposite effect? Your words will typically follow your intention when you begin speaking. Therefore the next time, before you speak, ask the Lord to give you words which encourage and strengthen according to His will, just like Judas and Silas.

Causing Friction

Acts 15:17b-18

[James speaking] "Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

James is saying that if the Law through Moses had the power to save, it would have already done so, "For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." He also says, "Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood." When you look at this list (food polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat of strangled animals, and blood), you might think it odd that sexual immorality would be included with the rest, and to a certain degree it is because it deals with a moral issue while the other three are about sensitivity to the Jewish culture. I think James is really saying, "If Gentile believers would abstain from these things, then they would not only please God, but also get along better with us, their Jewish brothers and sisters." I'm sure the Gentile believers were participating in other inappropriate activities; however these were the big four. This compromise, (one of the reasons James is known as James the Just) allowed the church to grow without the constant friction of major cultural differences between the Jews and the Gentiles.

Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:23, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." He then further explains in verses 31-32, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jew, Gentile or the church of God." Many times when we violate another person's sensitivity by exercising our own personal freedom, we cause another to stumble; which can lead to friction and a rift within the body of Christ. This is the issue that James and later Paul were addressing.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

Is there a behavior that another Christian displays that really rubs you the wrong way? Does the Bible prohibit this behavior? Could it be that you need to be more tolerant of another's expression of their God given freedom?

Let's say instead others are offended by something you do that you believe is not prohibited by Scripture -- "everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial." Is what you're doing "for the glory of God"? Is it beneficial? Do you need to re-think your approach?