by George | Dec 31, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Paul Finished Well
“Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”
Acts 28:30-31
Who are you no more likely to follow, the one who tells you what to do, but doesn’t do it himself, OR someone who tells you what to do, and does it himself?
I think we would all pick the latter. We like people who “walk the walk” and don’t have much regard for someone who merely “talks the talk.”
Paul “practiced what he preached.”
He instructed early believers how to run this Christian race. It’s not a sprint, it’s a long distance race.
Paul finished the race well, but it didn’t happen by accident. He ran well, and showed us how to run well. Running well has several requirements.
- It requires discipline.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
I Corinthians 9:24-27
- It requires focus. You have to keep looking ahead, not behind.
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
- It requires a strong finish. Good long-distance runners make a final “kick” or sprint in the end of the race. At the end of his race, Paul wasn’t jogging. He was sprinting. He kept teaching and preaching with confidence until the end. “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” Acts 28:30-31 .
If we keep those principles in mind, one day we will be likely to say what Paul said at the end of his race:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
II Timothy 4:7
Finish well!
by George | Dec 27, 2020 | Community News
Putting It Off
“Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.”
Acts 24:25-27
I have a dentist appointment coming up. I put it off as long as I could. They mentioned a possible root canal…
We all tend to put things off. There are some things we dread doing. Also , sometimes we put off making important decisions.
Paul was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. In this passage, he is making his defense before Felix.
The Roman historian Tacitus described Felix as “cruel, licentious, and base.”
Paul is making his defense and talking about “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come.”
Felix was starting to squirm. The conviction in Felix’s soul was so overwhelming, he ordered Paul to stop talking and said that he would hear him again at a more “convenient” time. He put off an important decision…
Felix also had an ulterior motive in leaving Paul Imprisoned. He was hoping for a bribe from him. So, he called on Paul and heard him from time to time.
But, the Bible doesn’t record that Felix ever heeded Paul’s words and possibly never became a follower of Jesus.
Got questions.org says:
“Upon his loss of the governorship, Felix was summoned to Rome where certain of his former Jewish subjects accused him of cruelty and corruption. Felix was found guilty but was spared the death penalty.”
It is thought he died of tuberculosis some time later.
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life is uncertain and every day is precious.
So, let’s work on some of the things we are putting off, including life changing decisions! God stands ready to help and guide us if we ask.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5
by George | Dec 25, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Christ Really Came!
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
It’s Christmas time again. Somehow those words don’t excite us this year. 2020 has been a rough year.
The late Tom Petty seemed to echo our sentiments in “Christmas All Over Again.”
“Well it’s Christmas time again
Decorations pearl hung by the fire
Everybody’s singing
All the bells are ringing out
And it’s Christmas all over again, yeah again.”
The next refrain seems relevant for the 2020 social distancing thing:
“Long distance relatives
Haven’t seen them in a long, long time
Yeah, I kind of missed them
I just don’t want to kiss them, no
And it’s Christmas all over again, yeah again.”
In spite of our feelings, and the inevitable stress and hurriedness of the holiday season… One central truth remains:
Christ, the Son of God, really did come to this Earth!
Read today’s verse again, this time with feeling.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
If we could hear John say these words, we would hear an exuberance in his voice! John not only states that Jesus came, he also stated that He dwelt among us. He lived here, and became like us, only without sin.
John said “…we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John saw Christ’s glory!
What about us? We’ve read this verse so many times that the significance of it has diminished for us.
Let’s try to keep out the distractions of the season for a moment. Read over the verse slowly and carefully as though we have never read these words before… Read it several times… Meditate on it…
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”
Christ really came!
Merry CHRISTmas!!!
