Sunday, September 30, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Beautiful Beggar
Do you remember the story where Peter and John met the disabled beggar at the Beautiful Gate? (see Acts 3). It was a choice place to beg. High traffic. Lots of people hoping to look good before God. A choice place indeed.
But something else happened at the Beautiful Gate. Most scholars believe, that this is the place where parents brought their children to be dedicated. Can you imagine the contrast between these beautiful babies with so much life potential and the beggars whose lives had been reduced to begging for a few coins? I sometimes look at a lost soul roaming the downtown streets and think, “They were somebody’s baby once.” Did the beggars at the gate ever looked at the those infants and wonder how things could have gone so terribly wrong for them?
But then God did a miracle. All he had hoped for was a coin or two, but suddenly, through his encounter with Peter and John, the disabled man was, "walking, and jumping, and praising God." And then he was in the courts! And finally clinging the apostles!
All the potential that God had intended for his life was finally starting to materialize. He went from begging to praising; from sitting to jumping, from hoping for spare change, to living for God’s glory.
Come to think of it, his story is ours. In Christ, we are all beautiful beggars.
But something else happened at the Beautiful Gate. Most scholars believe, that this is the place where parents brought their children to be dedicated. Can you imagine the contrast between these beautiful babies with so much life potential and the beggars whose lives had been reduced to begging for a few coins? I sometimes look at a lost soul roaming the downtown streets and think, “They were somebody’s baby once.” Did the beggars at the gate ever looked at the those infants and wonder how things could have gone so terribly wrong for them?
But then God did a miracle. All he had hoped for was a coin or two, but suddenly, through his encounter with Peter and John, the disabled man was, "walking, and jumping, and praising God." And then he was in the courts! And finally clinging the apostles!
All the potential that God had intended for his life was finally starting to materialize. He went from begging to praising; from sitting to jumping, from hoping for spare change, to living for God’s glory.
Come to think of it, his story is ours. In Christ, we are all beautiful beggars.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
15 minutes
Do you know what can happen in 15 minutes?· Light can travel 167 million miles
· A monarch butterfly can travel one mile
· Spammers can send 419 million emails
· The record holder in jalapeño eating once ate 167 pickled jalapeños
· You can save 15% or more on auto insurance …
OR…
YOU can spend 15 minutes at the feet of Jesus, before his Word – moments that can set the tone for your thoughts and emotions for the rest of the day.
Emotional health is a soul postured at the feet of Jesus.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Why is it taking so long for Jesus' Return?
At least part of the answer is that God measures time differently than we do. He stands above it, and to Him, there’s little difference between a thousand years and a single day. So far, it’s been 2000 years, which for God, is like a weekend.
But there’s another reason why Jesus deliberately waits. Each day He waits is another day for us to get ready.
Even in the first century, as time went on, the apostles were challenged about the apparent delay in Jesus’ return. Peter explained it this way: But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
And the word repentance means change. Jesus’ patience means another day that He can work in me and through me.
His delay is deliberate.
But there’s another reason why Jesus deliberately waits. Each day He waits is another day for us to get ready.
Even in the first century, as time went on, the apostles were challenged about the apparent delay in Jesus’ return. Peter explained it this way: But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
And the word repentance means change. Jesus’ patience means another day that He can work in me and through me.
His delay is deliberate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)