Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — December 2007
Acts 7 -- Each Of Us In His Plan
What is YOUR part?
In a way, I'm jealous of Stephen -- not so much for his security in Christ, for I know that I am His as well, but more so for the fact that he could readily turn loose of everyone he loved to defend Christ. He showed in such a logical and eloquent way how his accusers had committed this sin multiple times and had always gotten away with it. They were practiced at rejecting Messiahs.
He knew he was pushing them to the brink, and that once they'd reached it, they'd last out at him and his life would be over. He must have seen it as his "for such a time as this" moment.
Perhaps mine was substantially less dramatic and dangerous. I must remember that each of us has a different role which God in His wisdom has allotted to him. Stephen's amounted to one of God's final please to the Jewish people before turning to the Gentiles. Mine happened to be on a more personal level, involving two Ukrainian kids.
Father, I thank You for the role You have so honored me with -- being a father to two young boys who, with all they endured in their childhood, deserved a break. That You for loving them enough to desire to put them in a family. Your love and grace are amazing, and I thank You for choosing me for the part I've been given. I am richly blessed by having obeyed, and I pray that You will continue to show me Your will for my life.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 8 -- God's Incredible Timing
He does it just for you!
I was intrigued today by "divine appointments", reading of Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch. It "just so happened" that Philip arrived alongside the caravan at the exact moment that the Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53:7-8. Apparently the Ethiopian must have been a proselyte Jew, since he'd traveled from his home country to Jerusalem to worship. But as a eunuch, he would have been forbidden from entering the Temple. He had therefore probably been denied many opportunities to learn about the Scriptures by the very church tasked by God with teaching it!
The verse he was reading was a prophecy about Christ. Philip arrived just in time to hear those words coming out of his mouth, and said, "Do you understand what you just read?" Admitting that he did not, the Ethiopian invited Philip to accompany him and soon he became a believer.
The best way to notice God's timing has always (for me) been to roll the clock back to see what led to the convergence. As our "film" goes into reverse, we'd see the two "separating" and watch as the Ethiopian sets his scroll down at some point. Even knowing God's omniscience, it's still amazing to think that He could prod someone to pick up a scroll and begin reading, taking into account the individual's reading speed and even his potential to become distracted (and even the length of those distractions) to have the "chance" meeting occur at just the right moment. The odds are phenomenal!
But as our "film" rolls back even farther, it's incredible to see God's sovereign hand at work even as the Ethiopian was deciding when to leave Jerusalem, not to mention his timing for leaving Ethiopia originally!
It's one thing to be able to direct events in the near-term and quite another indeed to impact choices and timings over days, months, and even years.
I first saw this as I mulled over how God had brought me to Ukraine to find Josh. I'd had delays and roadblocks, and even one initial trip to Ukraine just to get me appointment back that had been cancelled. On that trip, speaking to the director of the National Adoption Center, I had told her of my belief in God, my work in youth ministry, and my firm belief that God had led me to Ukraine to find my son. She agreed to schedule an appointment near the end of March, so that I would need to come back to Ukraine rather than selecting a son right then. The date was just over 2 months away. As it turned out, the very day we left America on that second trip was the day that Josh's files were finalized for foreign adoption. Prior to that time, even if I had met him, I could not have adopted him.
The facts were similar with Joseph. Twenty months of waiting to go to Ukraine, including an evil person's stalling my homestudy for weeks without my knowledge -- all directed by God to get me to Ukraine just 2 weeks after Joseph became available for foreign adoption. God's guiding hand had even kept these "hot new files" from being selected by anyone else before I could get there!
Father, Your timing shows Your sovereignty, not only in the lives of believers, but in the way You can direct even nonbelievers' lives to accomplish Your purposes. Thank You for helping me to firm up my faith by reviewing events that You put together just for ME!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 10 -- Playing Games At The Foot Of The Cross
we do it more often than we know
Peter's vision of the sheet being lowered down from heaven three times reminded me of someone with a long pole with a string attached to the end, bobbing the pole up and down so that a child could grab at and almost reach a treat on the end of the string.
Peter finally manages to grab hold of the truth God was dangling before him -- that He was doing a new thing. Salvation would be available to all people, not just to the Jews.
When Peter was given the command to kill and eat any of the animals he saw, unclean as well as clean, he replied, "NO, LORD!" Those two words don't go together, and I think he must have been quite unsettled to have to use them in that way. Peter soon saw that it wasn't a game. He later said, "But God has shown me that I should not call any PERSON 'unholy' ..."
"Any" would mean anyone, even nonbelievers. God calls us to respect those to whom He offers His Son's sacrifice. We'd do well to remember that.
As I read my commentary, it was amazing how many times differences of theological beliefs showed up regarding passages in this chapter. My sidebar, by Max Lucado, bemoaned the fact that we spend many pulpit hours discussing issues of doctrine that aren't worth discussing, claiming that we are right and someone else is wrong.
He likened such actions to the scene at the foot of the cross where soldiers, totally oblivious to the fact that the Son of God was dying, threw dice for His clothing. And I particularly liked two short statements:
"So close to the timbers, yet so far from the blood....
So close to the cross, but so far from the Christ."
Father, help me not to major on the minor things as I teach. Keep me ever mindful that so many people have never connected the meanings of Messiah and Lord. I'd gone so long in my Christian life before the difference was explained to me, and I don't want others to wait that long. Yes, Jesus' title of "My Savior" is wonderful. But we must never forget that He is also "Boss Of My Life".
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 9 -- Three Days Of Silence
God seemed to focus me today on verse 9, which occurred right after Saul had encountered Christ on the road to Damascus: "For three days, Saul could not see and did not eat or drink."I think many people simply see that as his natural
God seemed to focus me today on verse 9, which occurred right after Saul had encountered Christ on the road to Damascus: "For three days, Saul could not see and did not eat or drink."
I think many people simply see that as his natural reaction to sudden blindness -- that he was distraught and had lost his appetite as a result. But Saul had just encountered Someone he was sure was dead -- Someone who Saul thought was a danger to his religion. And in this encounter, he was told unequivocally how wrong he was. That had to be unsettling for someone as zealous as Saul. It is devastating for a man to find out that everything he has based his life upon is totally in error!
Jesus' words to him had ended with, "Someone in the city will tell you what to do." Saul was then led by the hand into Damascus. With no sight whatsoever, "The only direction he could look was inside himself, and he didn't like what he saw," my sidebar says. I can just hear his thoughts: "Is this what my life was supposed to be about? I was fighting for God, only to have Him tell me that I've been struggling against everything He's purposed to do! What will God do to me for that? I've been living life upside-down?? HOW???"
Three days of misery. Three days of wondering if this was payback for what he'd done. Three days of begging forgiveness and accepting his Savior. During those days, the pride drained out and humility poured in. He probably repeated, "I was so wrong" until he was sick of hearing it. And the faces of each person, now like himself, whom he had killed or arrested probably haunted him.
And then hearing those grace-filled words from Ananias, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus sent me ... so that you can see again." How his heart must have leapt and his eyes must have wept. "After all I've done, I deserved blindness. But the Lord was gracious, giving me not only my physical sight back, but opening my spiritual eyes as well!" He could not help but be changed by all of this.
Father, I remember so very well how far I had gotten from You, how arrogant I was about what I'd led myself to believe, and how very wrong I was. Like Paul probably asked, I remembering inquiring, "Why me?" when You showed me grace. Such incredibly love, so undeserved. "Thank You" will never be enough!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 11 -- What to Do When God's "Doin' A New Thang"
Some Jews had mistakenly believed that salvation through Christ was only for them. So when Peter returned to Jerusalem, he received a tongue-lashing from a group of believing Jews for some of his actions: "You went into the homes of
Some Jews had mistakenly believed that salvation through Christ was only for them. So when Peter returned to Jerusalem, he received a tongue-lashing from a group of believing Jews for some of his actions: "You went into the homes of people who are not circumcised and ate with them!"
Peter defended his actions by recounting his vision and the immediate arrival of Cornelius' men, along with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
My commentary noted what should be the litmus test when we face opposition from others who challenge our ministries to someone: "Since God had worked in so many definite and yet distinct ways, to resist or oppose would obviously have been to oppose the Lord."
In verse 17, Peter faced them with this question: "Since God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I stop the work of God?" Once aced with such logic, they could only agree.
Our tendency as humans is to believe that we are right and everything that deviates from our belief is wrong. But when God starts doing a new thing, all bets are out the window. We must never be guilty of trying to hem in God. When He does begin to move in a new direction, our answer should only be, "Yes, Lord!"
Father, I know change is hard for many people. I pray that You will provide each of us with the flexibility to follow You in whatever You are doing in our church. Help each of us to look forward to new blessings from You and to not dread what might be just around the next corner, for You bless us for our faithfulness.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 12 -- Unbelieving Believers
Peter wound up in jail after Herod Agrippa murdered James. Herod intended to kill Peter next, since James' death had so pleased the Jews. But he didn't want to lose their goodwill by killing him during a religious holiday. A band of believers
Peter wound up in jail after Herod Agrippa murdered James. Herod intended to kill Peter next, since James' death had so pleased the Jews. But he didn't want to lose their goodwill by killing him during a religious holiday. A band of believers was holding an all-night prayer meeting, asking God earnestly and fervently to save Peter's life. What no man could do, the prayers of God's people accomplished. Peter watched as handcuffs fell off, guards slept soundly, and prison doors opened by themselves. He found himself on the street a block away from the prison before he knew it. Knowing he was being prayed for, he headed to the house of Mary, John Mark's mother, where he knew he'd find them on their knees. He was kept waiting at the outer gate when the servant girl, overjoyed at hearing his voice, ran into the house to tell the others before opening the gate. Their response was not what we would expect: "You're CRAZY!" My commentary's notes on their reaction hit home: "These believers have often been chided for their unbelieving prayers; they were actually SURPRISED when their prayers were ANSWERED. But any such criticism is probably influenced by our own nervous self-consciousness. Instead of chiding others, we should be greatly COMFORTED that God ANSWERS such FAITHLESS PRAYERS. We all tend to be unbelieving believers." Father, help me, in my prayers, not to be an unbelieving believer praying a faithless prayer. Help me to always expect You to hear and answer my prayers. Most importantly, help me to pray for things You have already willed, so that my will is aligned with Yours. Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 13 -- What It Takes To Do God's Will
Yesterday I was talking with four 4th grade boys, trying to help them to understand how we integrate our religious beliefs into our everyday lives. I realized that they think in concrete ideas and not abstract ones. So when I asked them t
Yesterday I was talking with four 4th grade boys, trying to help them to understand how we integrate our religious beliefs into our everyday lives. I realized that they think in concrete ideas and not abstract ones. So when I asked them to name some of their religious beliefs, "not stealing" came up first. It was easy to come up with a concrete example -- shoplifting from a convenience store. Then I asked them to move into a different setting -- a camp-out. They made that transition, working up a good example. Then I mentioned being a distraction while someone was teaching, and asked how that could be considered stealing. I could see the Light beginning to dawn on them.
We worked through the same process for other beliefs, and I told them that the Christian life was not just about avoiding hell. Instead, God wants us to incorporate His ideals in every area of our daily lives.
Perhaps that's why God seemed to point me to verse 22 this morning: "God made David their king. God said about him: 'I have found in David son of Jesse the king of man I WANT. He will do all I WANT him to do.' " The lesson for the boys had been summarized in a few words.
Father, Your will for me is just that -- to do ALL You want me to do. I want to be the kind of man You want -- and nothing less. Please continue to remove from me those things that do not honor or please You. Help me to do Your will.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 14 -- Throwing Out The Worthless Things
After Paul healed a crippled man in Lystra, the locals began to focus on Paul rather than on God. Something he said to them jumped off the page at me this morning: "Turn AWAY FROM these WORTHLESS things and turn TO the living GOD.&qu
After Paul healed a crippled man in Lystra, the locals began to focus on Paul rather than on God. Something he said to them jumped off the page at me this morning: "Turn AWAY FROM these WORTHLESS things and turn TO the living GOD."
My parents are just now going through the process of moving back into their house following major reconstruction necessitated by the August flood. With their house now looking fresh, new, and updated, many of their accessories look old and outdated. My sister and I are doing our best to tactfully suggest that these items should be discarded. That process can be difficult for them, for they too are having to "turn away" from years of history. The familiarity of these items is perhaps a comfort to them in a house that they must now get used to.
I'm afraid that same comfort and history may be what makes it so difficult for us to give up besetting sins in our lives. We often do not see the worthlessness of our old habits and actions until they are put up alongside the new life Christ has given us. I believe that we, too, often need an outsider to show us the worthlessness of the things we are holding onto. Otherwise, in our self-deception, we may be like the Ukrainian orphan I know who was so afraid of giving up the familiar for the new that he almost passed up an offer of adoption from a person I know. What a tragedy that would have been!
Father, I know that I too still hold on to things that I should have let go of long ago. I understand the current comfort they offer, and because it is here and now, they can cause me to miss out on vastly greater future benefits You may have in store for me. Reveal to me anything that is worthless in my life and help me to turn to You for Your absolute best instead.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 15 -- Defining Grace
I remember trying to get a handle on grace, even in my thirties. It's a word that no one really attempted to define -- they simply used it.My sidebar today, by Chuck Swindoll, did a great job. Surprisingly, it says that there appears
I remember trying to get a handle on grace, even in my thirties. It's a word that no one really attempted to define -- they simply used it.
My sidebar today, by Chuck Swindoll, did a great job. Surprisingly, it says that there appears to be no one-statement definition of it anywhere in the Bible. Jesus never used the word -- he lived it. It goes back to an old Hebrew term meaning "to bend down or to stoop". It eventually came to include the idea of "condescending favor". Donald Barnhouse had said, "Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace."
It's extending favor or kindness to one who doesn't deserve it and can never earn it, I read. "One more thing should be emphasized about grace: It is absolutely free. You will never be asked to pay it back. You couldn't even if you tried .... Grace comes to us free and clear, no strings attached. We should not even try to repay it; to do so is insulting."
A short definition that has meant a lot to me is: "Mercy is not getting what you deserve; grace is getting what you don't deserve."
Father, thank You for reminding me of how You stooped down to give an undeserving world Your love through Your Son, and for reminding me that to even try to repay it is an insult to You. We are so undeserving of that kind of love. Thank You for giving it through Your Son.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 16 -- God's GPS
Listening as Paul and Silas tell how God guided them, I was reminded of what I learned in Experiencing God about how we hear from God -- through prayer, the church, Christians, Scriptures, and circumstances. My commentary added direct communica
Listening as Paul and Silas tell how God guided them, I was reminded of what I learned in Experiencing God about how we hear from God -- through prayer, the church, Christians, Scriptures, and circumstances. My commentary added direct communication of divine will.
I remember teaching verse 6-8, where Paul was trying to determine where they should go after leaving Galatia. The map I had of the countries at that time showed their current position in Galatia. They'd come from the east out of Antioch, Syria. God had said "no" to them traveling north or south. There were only two countries west of Galatia: Mysia and Asia. God sort of "hemmed them in", confining their route to the border between the two countries. They could head up the river that separated them. This led them straight to Troas. That's where Paul waited and received his divine guidance to head for Macedonia. Paul and friends hopped a ship and the gospel landed for the first time in Europe when they disembarked.
Did Mysia need to hear the Gospel? Yes! And so did the country of Asia. But according to my commentary NEED in itself does NOT constitute a call. Also, they couldn't go south or north because God had forbidden it. With that hemming in, they dared not presume that God wanted them to go west, so they waited for His specific direction. "Logic alone is NOT the basis for a call" either, my commentary quoted Ryrie as saying.
Father, I pray that You will speak to me through multiple channels to reassure me about Your will. Help me not to presume through logic alone what You have in mind. Let me hear from You! And in the toughest decisions, Father, help me to remember that just because there IS a need, that doesn't necessarily mean that You are calling me to do it. I want to be where You want me to be, doing what You want me to do, when You want me to be doing it. Be my GPS, Father -- God's Positioning System.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
No comments:
Post a Comment