Tag: Hearts
Witness to His resurrection
Scripture reading for May 6: Acts 1
“”. . .So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when He was taken up from us–one of these men must become with us a witness to His resurrection.” And they put forth two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, Who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place. And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:21-26
After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the remaining eleven disciples, now called ‘apostles’, decided to pick a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus and took his own life. They set the qualification that the person must be a man who had accompanied them from Jesus’ baptism by John (Luke 3:21-22) until his ascension to heaven in the clouds. (Acts 1:9) This person was to be a witness of Christ’s resurrection. They put forth two possible candidates and then prayed over them, asking God to reveal His choice. They cast lots believing that God would answer. (Proverbs 16:33) The lot fell to Matthias, who was then added to their number.
The world would look upon this process of casting lots as having to do with luck. There would be an equal chance that either person could be selected. But in God’s economy, He controls each person being placed in authority. As these apostles prayed, God alone knows the hearts of all men. His purposes and plans will be accomplished. He determined that Matthias would replace Judas, just as Jesus had chosen Judas, knowing that he would betray Him.
Have you learned to seek God when a change of jobs, relationships, or direction confronts you? How do you view the selection of leadership in our culture today? Has God selected you to be a witness of Jesus’ resurrection?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for placing each person exactly where You want them in leadership in Your church. Help me to act in faith and seek You when leadership changes come into my life and church family. Thank You for selecting me to be a witness of Jesus’ resurrection and sending me out. Amen.
Prepare to meet your God!
Scripture reading for September 12: Amos 3-5
Amos, a country preacher, used plain language that cuts to the chase! This is a good trait, but sometimes lacks tact in the eyes of those who are more refined! I imagine that Amos offended many among God’s people! For instance, in Amos 4:1 he called the women of Samaria “cows”. These women were likened to the well-fed cattle of Bashan, a farming area east of the Sea of Galilee. These women were demanding drinks from their husbands and were oppressing the poor and needy while they enjoyed an abundance. Amos promised them that God’s punishment was on the way.
Amos told the people to go up to Bethel and sin. God had tried to correct them and get their attention, but to no avail! They would not return to God with humble and contrite hearts! (Amos 4:6, 9, 11) God had sent famines, plagues, war and trouble to wake them up but they failed to respond. The final call was for them to prepare to meet their God! (Amos 4:12) Amos then took up a funeral lament for Israel as if she had died and met God! (Amos 5:1-3)
Amos told them to seek the Lord and live! They needed to honor God Who made the stars, Who speaks to the waters of the sea and pours them out on the land! (Amos 5:8-9) They were to seek good and not evil and they would live. Standing for what the Lord is for prepares us to meet God. (Amos 5:14-15)
Amos reproved God’s people again for saying that they longed for the day of the Lord! He told them that it would be a day of darkness, not light for them! (Amos 5:18) It would be like a man fleeing from a lion, only to meet a bear. These people were going through the motions and God hated their songs, festivals, feasts and offerings! Their hearts were not right! He wanted justice and righteousness that resulted from His people living by faith in the fear of the Lord! (Amos 5:24)
As we listen to this farmer/preacher, we hear truth spoken in plain language. The times he lived in were a lot like ours. Are we seeking the Lord with our hearts, and not just words and ritual? Do we hate evil and love good! Are we working in our day and time for justice and help for the poor. The day of the Lord is near! We must be prepared to meet our God!
“. . . prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” Amos 4:12b
Rejoicing in a “Heart” Cure!
Scripture reading for August 22nd: Jeremiah 14-17
Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
God told Jeremiah and His people that their problem was a heart problem. Man’s heart is deceitful and cannot be cured through human effort. But God, alone, searches man’s heart and examines all his thoughts. He will one day judge mankind for the deeds that come from man’s wicked and deceitful heart. But God also loves mankind and has provided the cure for the deceitful heart! Praise His Name!
Rejoicing in God’s Cure: Hearts are made pure by faith in Christ! “God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we or our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Acts 15:8-11)