John 17.21 - One?

We in BICF are far from united on lots of issues of Christian faith and practice. (I think that makes us more interesting as a family and more attractive to the world.) But we are arm-in-arm-agreed that Jesus Christ is God and Savior and the Bible is our standard for faith and practice. Biblical unity is being one in “the faith” - God’s truth “once for all” written in Scripture and revealed by the Spirit. We cannot achieve or improve upon Biblical unity. No matter how many verses of “Kum Bah Yah” we sing around the campfire, what God has done in Christ forever stands. When we are brave enough to go beyond superficial “hello’s” we’ll find the great strength and depth of our Unity in Christ gets firmer under pressure. We are one by blood and birth – the blood of Christ and our new birth in His Spirit.

John 17.25 - Father Failures

Most American Christian “family success formulas” have dozens of handy tips. “….an hour of private devotions, family inductive Bible study, 15 minutes of Scripture memory, then conversational prayer…all before breakfast!” Woe is me! If we had any time reading the Bible at our dinner table without someone getting bloody or screaming, that was success! Mercifully, Paul’s specifics are very brief. In Ephesians, the most urgent parental task is to know the pardon and power of Jesus. Next, have a spouse who truthfully loves the Lord. (The best thing I did for my three sons was choose an excellent mother for them!) Then, strive to “walk your Gospel talk” at home – being honest about your failures! My guys learned – by word and deed (mine) – they BETTER trust God, because their Dad was not trustworthy! What a comfort and confidence to have a Righteous Father (John 17.25)! Do you?

John 20.1 - Done

He was dead before most young men get their first big job; because His big job was done. We might think He died too young, but on God’s clock it was the fullness of time. Muhammad was 62, Confucius 72, the Buddha 80, and Moses 120 when they died of natural causes. Ask their followers if they’re absolutely certain about their eternal destiny and the best you’ll get is a “I hope so.” Jesus bitter death earned great blessing for all who trust in Him. He died for His Church, paying their enormous debt of guilt and satisfying the wrath of God we deserve. No human eye saw the Lord Jesus rise from death. His silent emergence from the tomb declares “done!” We are free and forgiven by faith in Him. The stone was rolled away – not to let Jesus out, but to let us in. Come and see!

Acts - Change and Constants

The Christian life demands knowing what should and should not change. Take this week’s Royal Wedding. Thirty years ago when Charles married young Diana the world appreciated their virginity. Today we hear how ‘great’ is that Will and Kate have ‘lived together’ for years!  Constants constantly change in the world! Acts reveals this navigating is not easy. Even the Jewish religious establishment missed the radical changes God intended in sending Jesus their Messiah. Largely because they ignored what never changes - Scripture. Jesus followers defined themselves by The Book like He did. But hundreds of man-made laws covered its true message like layers of old paint. Jesus’ clear and correct interpretation of the Word He inspired was heresy to those guilty painters. No more blood of bulls, no sacrificial priesthood, not even a Temple in His new covenant. New wine needs new wineskins. But God still uses preachers, like Enoch before the Flood.  Now the whole Roman world can repent and believe, just like Jacob along the Jabbok.  These followers held onto an unchanging God amidst their ever changing world. Acts invites us to follow their challenging journey.

Acts 1.13 – Upper Room

One place Our Lord’s sacred feet trod the earth was ‘…the upstairs room where they were staying’ (Acts 1.13). This ‘Upper Room’ was in ‘the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark’ (Acts 12.12). Mark – author of the first written Gospel – was a Jerusalem kid who struggled to find his footing in mission work. The disciples and their Lord ate their Final Passover there.  The church father Epiphanius wrote of ‘a little church of God’ there since emperor Hadrian. In 1971 excavations in this southwest corner of old Jerusalem found two and three story structures with cisterns and baths; revealing wealthy inhabitants living in splendid private homes. Even from earliest times loyal followers gave freely to serve their King.

Acts 2.42 - “They devoted themselves to… prayer”

I am thankful for this guide to help us in ZGC become more devoted to prayer.  I wish Luke’s simple description of the early followers of Jesus characterized me. In almost forty years of trying to follow Jesus I have learned three things about prayer –

God answers, I need it, and I do not pray enough!

But God is merciful. Countless times I’ve learned that ‘failing to pray’ is an easily corrected problem…just start!

Acts 2.46 - Both Big and Small Meetings

Today some Christians argue that one ‘size’ of gathering is superior. The early church did not have this debate. Luke records large gatherings. “…they stayed continually at the temple, praising God” (Luke 24.53). And, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (Acts 2.46). We also see their house meetings: “They all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1.14). “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2.46). They were sustained by both continuous praise in the Temple AND constant prayer in their homes. With only small meetings we miss the connectedness to the whole family of faith. With only large meetings we miss the intimacy of personal involvement and accountability. The first church had a healthy balance of big gatherings for worship AND small meetings in their homes.