PERSECUTION

Acts 8:3-4 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. (4) Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

It seems that the early church was much like us. They were comfortable and they all stayed together enjoying their salvation and fellowship with one another.
It wasn't until persecution came that they began to scatter and spread the gospel through the world as Jesus had commanded them to do. They had to be pushed out of their comfort zone before they did that which they were commanded to do.
We certainly can identify with the early church. Most of us are in that comfort zone where we are enjoying our relationship with Christ and our fellowship with other Christians but we are not concerned about those who don't yet know him.
Things are quickly changing in this country. Don't be surprised if persecution comes. It might be the only way we will do the things we should be doing anyway.

HOLDING THE ROPE

Ac 9:24-25 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.(5) Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

There are many today who want to be in the limelight. They want people to see their good works and know what they are doing. Someone said that great things can be done if it doesn't matter who gets the credit. Read the entire chapter of Acts 9. You will see how things were and you will see that there are heroes in this chapter who never were mentioned.
Paul was beginning a great ministry after his conversion. Many of the other disciples were suspicious of him. Many of his old friends and others wanted to kill him.
As his enemies were pursuing him some of the disciples helped him escape by lowering him in a basket out of a window. Who was holding the rope? As far as I know, no one knows for sure but look at the great ministry they were a part of. Paul carried the gospel to the gentiles and preached wherever he went.
Holding the rope is a thankless job but it is definitely important. There is so much that we can do that others may never know about. When we pray for others we are holding the rope. When we give we are holding the rope. When we are present and encouraging others we are holding the rope.
Remember what is at stake when you have the opportunity to be a rope holder.

NO DISCRIMINATION

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
I like this verse. It means that God does not discriminate.
God does not look upon a persons status in life. He doesn't care what we look like or how smart we are. The color of our hair or skin doesn't make a difference. It is not necessary to be rich or popular.
God looks upon us and sees our need. He provides for that need according to His riches in glory through Jesus Christ.
There have been times in my life I have had strong feelings of inferiority. I have often overcompensated by being a loud mouth and a show off. I thought that everyone else suspected that I was inferior so I would try to impress them in some way. If they didn't think I was inferior to begin with my rash behavior might have made them think so.
I guess what I really wanted was to be accepted, to be loved, to be cherished.
When I begin to feel inferior now I try to remember. God loves me. He loves me with a perfect love and He loves me in spite of everything else. That makes me feel pretty good knowing that the Creator of the Universe is interested in me as an individual.

THE NEW BIRTH

(John 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The new birth is really very exciting when we take a close look at it. We are passed from an old way of life to an entirely new way of life.
We have a new way of seeing. We have eyes that see by faith instead of normal sight. We have a new focus, Jesus instead of the world. There is a new light to show us the way. We have a new vision, the vision of God's glory.
We have a new way of thinking. The new mind is the mind of Christ. Our thoughts are celestial and not terrestrial. Our thoughts are eternal and not terminal. Our mind is focused instead of foggy.
We have a new strength that should keep us from growing weary:
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
We can fly above the circumstances. We can run the race that is set before us. We can walk the straight and narrow path and keep our balance.
We have a new voice. A voice for praise and an attitude for service instead of being served. We will want to minister instead of being ministered too.
Most of all we have a new heart. A clean heart and a pure heart. We have a heart that won't stop beating through eternity because it comes with a new spirit that is eternal.
Isn't it wonderful to be Born Again?

Building Your House

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go, and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, “This is your house – my gift to you.”
The carpenter was shocked!
What a shame! If only he had known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with shock, we realize we have to live in the house we’ve built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently.
But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your attitude and the choices you make today help build the “house” you will live in tomorrow. Build wisely.
(copied)

The Train of Life

Some folks ride the train of life, looking out the rear,
Watching miles of life roll by, and marking every year.

They sit in sad remembrance, of wasted days gone by,
And curse their life for what it was, and hang their head and cry.

But I don't concern myself with that, I take a different vent.
I look forward to what life holds, and not at what’s been spent.

So strap me to the engine, as securely as I can be.
I want to be out in front, to see what I can see.

I want to feel the winds of change, blowing in my face.
I want to see what life unfolds, as I move from place to place.

I want to see what’s coming up, not looking at the past.
Life’s too short for yesterdays, it moves along too fast.

So if the ride gets bumpy, while you are looking back,
Go up front and you may find, your life has jumped the track.

Oh, it’s all right to remember, that’s part of history.
But up front is where it’s happening, there’s so much mystery.

The enjoyment of living is not where you have been.
It’s looking forever forward to another year, and ten.

It’s searching all the byways, never should you refrain.
For if you want to live your life, you've gotta drive the train.

Copied from Bob Dearborn's Website
http://bobdearborn.blogspot.com

NOT WELL PLEASED

1 Corinthians 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
This verse is a real attention getter. It is referring to those who died in the wilderness between Egyptian bondage and the promised land. It does not say that God was angry with them. It does not say that they had acquired God's wrath. It simply says that God was not well pleased.
God was not well pleased with them simply because they lacked the faith to trust Him. He had promised to lead them into a land flowing with milk and honey. A land of plenty lay before them for the taking but they did not trust God enough to posses their possessions.
God has promised us an abundant life in Jesus Christ but many of us are still wandering in the wilderness, that place between spiritual bondage and the life God would have us to live. I suspect that there are many of us in whom God is not well pleased. How sad that many die in the wilderness without ever truly enjoying the abundant life in Christ that is available by submitting to Him.