Reaching Out in Your Community

Scripture: "Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare." Jeremiah 29:7

 
"Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God." Hebrews 13:16

Recently, my church has started encouraging our congregation to get involved in local community service. Many people already serve inside the church -- as teachers, cleaners, musicians, and more. But by going outside the church walls, we show God’s tangible love and care to many who have never seen it. 

It can be as simple as picking up trash in a neighborhood, or as involved as starting a mentoring program for at-risk children at the local elementary school. 

Also, you may find organizations near you that you can work with or pray for. Here are some kinds of groups that God might call you to serve with.

Rescue Mission

Jesus' brother posed the question, "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" (James 2:15-16). Rescue missions help provide for the basic needs of people who are homeless or impoverished. Right now, you can pray for these organizations that follow the Lord's example of caring for the poor. Ask the Lord if He is calling you to serve, donate to, or otherwise partner with a rescue mission.

Women's Shelter or Crisis Pregnancy Center

James gave further instruction: "Pure and genuine religion means caring for orphans and widows in their distress" (James 1:27). And the Apostle Paul told his disciple, Timothy, "Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her" (I Timothy 5:2-3). Ask the Lord if He is calling you to help protect the most vulnerable in your community -- abused women, or the unborn.

Financial Ministry

Some ministries share the Gospel through loans for small business start-ups, according to this principle in Psalms: "[the godly] are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly" (Psalm 112:4-5). These ministries lend money for people to start small businesses, while teaching the borrowers about the Lord and how to grow in their faith. Successful small businessmen and women are able to provide for their families and build up their communities, repay their loans, and expand the ministry by lending money to other entrepreneurs. Ask the Lord if He is calling you to bless your community by working with this kind of ministry.

Living and Teaching

Scripture: "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you." Matthew 28:19-20

A modern proverb states, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." However, for followers of Jesus, a lot of the "doing" is teaching. The Lord has directed His people to share His message of love with the world.

Right Living

While leading others in their faith, we must keep an eye on our own lives, making sure that we are living what we are teaching. Jesus said, "Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye" (Matthew 7:3-5). You will harm your disciples if you display a lifestyle of saying one thing while doing another. "Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did" (I John 2:6).

Bible-based Teaching

The Apostle Paul wrote to his disciple, Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right" (II Timothy 3:16). To properly lead another in godly growth, our foundation must be God's Word. "Those who obey God’s Word truly show how completely they love Him" (I John 2:5).

Follow Up Faithfully

When you commit to helping a new believer, don't give up on them. Many of the books of the New Testament exist because God didn't let His Apostles abandon the churches they'd planted throughout the region. 

Instead, they wrote to them and visited them to ensure that they learned and obeyed God's Word. St. Paul called his fellow Christians in Philippi "...my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it" (Philippians 1:5). The Apostles' follow-up contributed to the amazing growth of the Early Church, and when you help a new believer, you are walking in the Apostles’ footsteps.

Remembering What Christ Did: Communion

Scripture: "On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and said, 'This is My body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.' In the same way, He took the cup of wine after supper, saying, 'This cup is the New Covenant between God and His people — an agreement confirmed with My blood. Do this to remember Me as often as you drink it.' For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until He comes again." I Corinthians 11:23-26

What is your favorite fruit or sweet treat? Can you think of it, imagine its flavor? Why do you like that treat, and what happy memories do you associate with it?

God Made Your Mind

The Bible records God, our Creator saying, "I am the Lord, Who made all things" (Isaiah 44:24). He created our minds to work in certain ways. He made your brain so it could build connections and form memories. For instance, if you think about your favorite treat from childhood, you can probably recall a happy experience associated with it.

Jesus Created a Significant Memory

Jesus was building in His Disciples' hearts a similar connection during the Passover meal. Rather than a happy memory, it was a hopeful one. It says "He broke [the bread] in pieces and gave it to the Disciples, saying, 'Take this and eat it, for this is My body'" (Matthew 26:26). He called the wine His blood "poured out as a sacrifice" (Matthew 26:28). He was telling them that His earthly body was going to be destroyed. At the same time, he created a way for His followers throughout history to remind themselves of the sacrifice He made for us. He instructed them to take the meal "to remember Me" (Luke 22:19).

Keep Your Spiritual Focus

After the Resurrection, the followers of Jesus obeyed His instructions, "devot[ing] themselves ... to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper)" (Acts 2:42). This helped them recall that Jesus died for them, so they wouldn't have to pay the price for their own sins. In the same way today, as we take Communion, we associate the bread and the wine with Christ's sacrifice. Our memories are once again stirred to recall our joy in Salvation, and also sorrow over our sins that made the Saviour's agony necessary.

Life in the Body of Christ

Scripture: “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another . . .” Hebrews 4:25

Last week we learned about being part of Christ’s Body, the Church. We also talked about how important it is for every believer to be part of a local body of believers., a “little c” church. 

These days, you can “attend” church online. You can sing songs, hear great preaching, and even give money. But you would miss your chance to make a difference in the lives of other believers. That’s why Hebrews 4:25 says, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another . . .” You AND your disciples need to physically “show up” at church or in a fellowship group.

The New Testament is full of instructions on relating to one another. In fact, 56 passages include the phrase “one another” or “each other.”* Here’s just a few:

• Love one another – 15 separate times in the New Testament we are commanded to love each other (John 13:34-35, Romans 13:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:9 to name a few). When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment, He told us there are two: To love God with all our hearts, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). He said that all the commands of Scripture were summed up in these.

• Serve one another – Galatians 5:13 tells us to “serve one another humbly in love.” Jesus was our example, saying in Matthew 20:28, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This world is filled with people who care only about themselves. When we put others first and serve each other with pure motives, the world takes notice, and God is glorified. 

• Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16) – In music, harmony means not doing the same thing as everyone else, but playing or singing something different that blends with others, increasing the beauty and power of the song. On the other hand, just one person playing the wrong note can make the whole group sound terrible! 

In the same way, when we are in conflict with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, or worse, spreading that conflict to others, the whole body is “out of tune.” It stops functioning as it should. Ask the Lord through His Holy Spirit to use you to build unity instead of conflict.

The Body of Christ

Scripture: Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. – 1 Corinthians 12:12

In God’s word, the Apostle Paul describes the church not as an Organization, but an Organism – the “Body of Christ.” He goes on in this passage to explain what this means in practical terms:

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. (1 Corinthians 12:15-16)

Each member of Christ’s body plays a different yet important role, and is a critical part of the whole.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” (1 Corinthians 12:21)

None of us should consider others (or ourselves) to be less important than another. Different does not mean better or worse. The one part that IS supreme is the Head, which is Jesus Christ Himself.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)

If someone steps on your toe, you don’t say, “The toe hurts.” You say, “MY toe hurts.” When you look in the mirror and see pimples, you don’t say, “The face is breaking out,” but “MY face is breaking out.” In the same way, when your brother or sister in Christ is suffering physical or emotional pain, you don’t say, “That’s not my problem.” You go to that person and see how you can help. And if you can’t change the situation, it may be enough just to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

There are two distinct, but equally important, meanings of Christ’s body, the church. One includes every believer in the world, and is commonly called The Church. When you became a Christ-follower, you became part of The Church. But at the same time, every believer is called to become part of a local body or church. It’s in that context that all these relationships happen, and it’s where personal ministry takes place. Next week we will look more closely at relationships in the Body of Christ and what they mean in daily life.

The Power of Prayer

Scripture: "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16

Prayer is just lovingly, reverently talking to God. Have you ever heard of the A.C.T.S. of prayer? Each letter stands for one kind of prayer. It is not the only or "right" prayer model, but it can help remind us of some of the basic things to cover when we approach our Heavenly Father in prayer:

A = Adoration (praise)
C = Confession (of sins)
T = Thanksgiving (being grateful to God)
S = Supplication (requests)

Adoration and Praise

Our Creator God is wonderful, and He deserves our praise! That’s why it’s good to start by praising Him. It also gives us a right perspective -- God’s greatness and power compared to our smallness. Jesus began The Lord's Prayer by acknowledging God's fatherly love, goodness, and rule over the earth: "Our Father in heaven, may Your Name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10).

Confession of Sins

"Everyone has sinned, [and] we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23). "Your sins have cut you off from God" (Isaiah 59:2), but we want to be close to Him! If we confess our sins to the Lord, "He is faithful and just to forgive us" (I John 1:9). Holding onto our sins builds a barrier between us and God. Confessing and repenting of them breaks down that wall.

Thanksgiving and Gratitude

How has God blessed you? How has He shown His love for you? Of course, we are thankful for His blessings. But we can even be grateful for problems and hardships, because He can use those to bring us closer to Himself. The Bible tells us to "be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (I Thessalonians 5:18).

Supplication and Requests

Jesus taught that we can ask for what we need, and to be persistent in asking: "keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). We can trust that "if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (I John 5:14).

The Gospels record Jesus turning to the Father in prayer time after time, day after day. We are to follow His example and "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17).

The Power of the Bible

Scripture: Jesus told him, "The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the Lord your God.'" Matthew 4:7 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.'" Matthew 4:10

In the Beginning

God has made an amazing universe. We read that "the Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. ... When He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command" (Psalm 33:6, 9). In His account of the Good News, Jesus' friend John declared, "In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone" (John 1:1-4). Jesus was no ordinary man, but actually took part in creating the universe.

Power of the Word

God's people had been told long ago about the power of His Word: "'It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it'" (Isaiah 55:11). Because of that power, God knows all about everything He has made: "the Word of God is alive and powerful. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all Creation is hidden from God. And He is the one to Whom we are accountable" (Hebrews 4:12-13).

Trust in the Word

The Apostle Paul taught the young pastor Timothy the importance of being grounded in Scripture: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right" (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, we rejoice in knowing that "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, the decrees of the Lord are trustworthy. The laws of the Lord are true; they are more desirable than gold" (Psalm 19).

Teach Them

Scripture: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 

Do you have children? If so, you might know that the Bible instructs us to "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Taking a new Christian on a path of discipleship can be compared to teaching or training a child. Jesus said, "Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it" (Mark 10:14-15).

Faith Like a Child

Jesus taught, "unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3). He said, "anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me" (Matthew 18:5); your service to a new believer is an act of service to the Lord! But we must be careful to teach only what is in God’s Word. Jesus warned that it would be better to die than to "cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin" (Matthew 18:6).

Gift from the Lord

God loves and highly values every person. His Word tells us that "children are a gift from the Lord" (Psalm 127:3). Your disciple, believing in God with faith like a child's, is also a valuable person to the Lord. Like a child, they can turn to you to gain knowledge of the Lord. If you teach your disciple the ways of the Lord while he or she is "young" in faith, they may be more likely to follow the Lord all their life. Be encouraged: "Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, 'You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings'" (John 8:31).

The Power of a Friend

Scripture: The Lord now chose 72 other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places He planned to visit. Luke 10:1

"I also tell you this: if two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you." Matthew 18:19

 

Next to Jesus, the Apostle Paul is the most prominent character in the New Testament. His story is told in the book of Acts, and his instructional letters (epistles) to his spiritual children make up about half the New Testament books. Being an educated Jewish man and a Roman citizen, Paul had many privileges, including freedom to travel. This enabled him to spread the Gospel across the Roman Empire, preaching and teaching to establish new churches everywhere.

Did He Do It Alone?

Of course, Paul was accompanied and guided by the Holy Spirit. But was that his only support? No! He traveled and worked with different partners and friends throughout his ministry.

First, one day while Christian prophets and teachers in Antioch "were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.' So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way" (Acts 13:2-3). As a team, Paul and Barnabas effectively shared the Gospel and established several churches.

As Paul began his second missionary journey, his team included Timothy, a young disciple whose mother was a Jewish Believer. "They went from town to town, instructing the Believers to follow the decisions made by the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day" (Acts 16:4-5).

Silas was yet another ministry companion, and suffered imprisonment with Paul. Through this trial, the Lord used Paul and Silas to lead others, including the jailer, to salvation. And when Paul and Silas rejoined their team, "they met with the Believers and encouraged them once more" (Acts 16:40).

Are You Alone?

Saint Paul was one of the most gifted evangelists ever. Time after time, God provided him with "faithful helpers who served with [him] in the Lord’s work" (Colossians 4:7). If the Lord allowed Paul to rely on partners, you can be sure it can be good for you! Ask the Lord to send someone to join you in the ministry He has for you.

Spiritual Exercise a Must

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Cor. 16: 13. 

An elevated standard is presented before the youth, and God is inviting them to come into real service for Him. True- hearted young men who delight to be learners in the school of Christ, can do a great work for the Master, if they will only give heed to the command of the Captain as it sounds down along the lines to our time, "Quit you like men, be strong." 

Strength comes by exercise. All who put to use the ability which God has given them will have increased ability to devote to His service. Those who do nothing in the cause of God will fail to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. A man who would lie down and refuse to exercise his limbs would soon lose all power to use them. Thus the Christian who will not exercise his God- given powers not only fails to grow up into Christ, but he loses the strength which he already has; he becomes a spiritual paralytic. It is those who, with love for God and their fellow men, are striving to help others that become established, strengthened, settled, in the truth. The true Christian works for God, not from impulse, but from principle; not for a day or a month, but during the entire period of life. 

This world is not a parade ground, but a battlefield. All are called to endure hardness, as good soldiers. They are to be strong and quit themselves like men. . . . The true test of character is found in the willingness to bear burdens, to take the hard place, to do the work that needs to be done, though it bring no earthly recognition or reward. 

O that each one would place a proper estimate upon the capabilities that have been given him of God! Through Christ you may climb the ladder of progress, and bring every power under the control of Jesus. . . . In your own strength you can do nothing; but in the grace of Jesus Christ, you can employ your powers in such a way as to bring the greatest good to your own soul, and the greatest blessing to the souls of others. Lay hold of Jesus, and you will diligently work the works of Christ, and will finally receive the eternal reward.

Leading Someone to Christ

Scripture: "But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

I used to feel like a failure when someone I shared the gospel with said “no” to Jesus. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and evangelism became a tension-filled obligation, rather than the joyful privilege it is meant to be.

By God’s grace, this all changed when I attended a retreat on evangelism. The teacher explained to us that a person's path to salvation could take many steps. Maybe first, he said, they will learn about God's existence and Creation. Perhaps later, they hear about God's love. Still later, they find out how God sent Jesus to show us the Father’s heart, to die for our sins, and offer us eternal life. 

Even after someone hears the Gospel, it might take more Christian influence to help them believe and embrace it. Each interaction you have with a non-believer can make an impact, and help them on their journey to accepting Christ.

Desiring Salvation

The Bible assures us that "everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved" (Joel 2:32). When you love someone, you want to help them find God's salvation. God Himself loves humanity so much that He "wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).

Working Together

Our teacher urged us not to lose heart over those who did not come to faith right away. Instead of seeing people simply as saved or unsaved, he told us to visualize a person’s spiritual journey on a scale from 1 to 10. Just introducing someone to the idea of God, you might help move them from "1" to "2." Another believer might help them the next few steps, and you might have a chance to influence them again, so they can eventually get to "10," coming to a saving faith. After all, all Christians should share God's love, and He has given us different strengths to do so: "the human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Pray over the Message

The Apostle Paul instructed, "pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored" (2 Thessalonians 3:1). When you help someone understand God's loving plan, remember to pray that His Word will have an impact on them. Continue to gently encourage them to accept Jesus as their Savior. Pray that you will "make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response" (Colossians 4:5-6) for those to whom you present the Gospel. 

Finally, remember that you witness with your life as well as your words. Each time you trust God in the midst of trials, or respond with Spirit-filled love to those who hurt you, you encourage non-believers to become Christ-followers as well.

As Jesus Grew

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Luke 2: 40. 

The Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, became a babe in Bethlehem, and for a time represented the helpless infant in its mother's care. In childhood He spoke and acted as a child, honoring His parents, and carrying out their wishes in helpful ways. But from the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing in grace and in a knowledge of truth. 
 
Parents and teachers should aim so to cultivate the tendencies of the youth that at each stage of life they may represent the beauty appropriate to that period, unfolding naturally, as do the plants in the garden. 

As a child Jesus manifested a peculiar loveliness of disposition. His willing hands were ever ready to serve others. He manifested a patience that nothing could disturb, and a truthfulness that would never sacrifice integrity. In principle firm as a rock, His life revealed the grace of unselfish courtesy.

With deep earnestness the mother of Jesus watched the unfolding of His powers, and beheld the impress of perfection upon His character. With delight she sought to encourage that bright, receptive mind. Through the Holy Spirit she received wisdom to co- operate with the heavenly agencies in the development of this child, who could claim only God as His Father. . . . From her lips and from the scrolls of the prophets, He learned of heavenly things. The very words which He Himself had spoken to Moses for Israel He was now taught at His mother's knee. . . . And spread out before Him was the great library of God's created works. He who had made all things studied the lessons which His own hand had written in earth and sea and sky. . . . Heavenly beings were His attendants, and the culture of holy thoughts and communings was His. From the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing in spiritual grace and knowledge of truth.

Every child may gain knowledge as Jesus did. As we try to become acquainted with our heavenly Father through His Word, angels will draw near, our minds will be strengthened, our characters will be elevated and refined. We shall become more like our Saviour.

Multiplied Blessings

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1: 2, 3. 

In the first chapter of the second epistle of Peter you will find the promise that grace and peace will be multiplied unto you, if you will "add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity" (2 Peter 1: 5- 7). These virtues are wonderful treasures. . . . 

Shall we not strive to use to the very best of our ability the little time that is left in this life, adding grace to grace, power to power, making it manifest that we have a source of power in the heavens above? Christ says: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28: 18). What is this power given to Him for? For us. He desires us to realize that He has returned to heaven as our Elder Brother and that the measureless power given Him has been placed at our disposal. . . . 

We are to represent Christ in all that we say and do. We are to live His life. The principles by which He was guided are to shape our course of action toward those with whom we are associated. When we are securely anchored in Christ, we have a power that no human being can take from us. 

The unstudied, unconscious influence of a holy life is the most convincing sermon that can be given in favor of Christianity. Argument, even when unanswerable, may provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a power that it is impossible wholly to resist. 

Through His Son, God has revealed the excellency to which man is capable of attaining. And before the world God is developing us as living witnesses of what man may become through the grace of Christ. . . . 

What an honor He confers upon us, in urging us to be holy in our sphere, as the Father is holy in His sphere. And through His power we are able to do this; for He declares, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28: 18). This unlimited power it is your privilege and mine to claim.

Are You Wrong?

Scripture: “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Has peer pressure ever gotten the best of you -- have you done something you know is wrong, just because you think your friends wanted you to do it? God's Word says that He loves when His people "listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight" (Exodus 15:26), rather than behaving in an unrighteous way. Part of behaving righteously is trying to be aware of when we hurt someone or treat them unjustly. Once we realize we have done something wrong, we need to repent and ask forgiveness.

Example of Wrong

We should follow God's command to "honor your father and mother" (Deuteronomy 5:16). He instructed His people "to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). God's Word tells stories of His people: when they did what was right, God blessed them; when they did what was wrong, God corrected them.

Today, Christians can rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance; the Apostle Paul instructed, "let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves" (Galatians 5:16).

Repent and Ask Forgiveness

Since I was rude to my mother, I needed to apologize and seek forgiveness from her and from God. His Word reminds us that "if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9).

When we have gained forgiveness, we should remember to ask God to help us so that we do not give in to the temptation to sin again. God's Word tell us, "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away" (Acts 3:19).

Keep Praying!

Scripture: "“These were [the Lord's] instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields." (Luke 10:2 ).

Sometimes, it seems there is too much to pray for, and not enough people praying. As of this writing, tremendous upheaval and civil war are occurring in at least three countries the Middle East. Governments in the West are spying on each other and bullying their own people. Other people around the world are disagreeing over their differences, while those in power persecute those with minority views or looks. How can God work with all this? Does He care about you and the people you are praying for amidst all this turmoil?

God Does Care

Scripture tells us, "This is real love — not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10). His love extends not just to His people, but to all people; "God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish" (John 3:16).

God Hates Evil

Scripture makes it clear that God despises when we humans hurt one another. "The Lord hates ... haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family" (Proverbs 6:16-19). Instead, He says, "I the Lord love justice" (Isaiah 61:8).

God Wants Us to Pray

Although it might feel like we're praying against an unending tide of evil, Jesus told His followers "that they should always pray and never give up" (Luke 18:1). The Apostle Paul reminded us to "pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere" (Ephesians 6:18). We can trust that God will rule over everything -- from great events around the world, to the hearts of the people you love: "we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Keep Showing God's Love!

Scripture: "I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself. In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:1-3).

Do you know about The Ten Commandments? They were given to the Hebrew people by God. Their purpose was to teach people how to love and honor God, and how to live happily with one another. The Fifth Commandment instructs God's people to "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12).

Love for Family

What is the best way to keep showing honor to your parents, and showing love and respect for your relatives? The greatest way is by sharing the love of God with them and others. This love includes being "patient and kind" (1 Corinthians 13:4) toward them, and sharing God's Good News of eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Honor for Parents

Sometimes, children can help their parents find the path to eternal life with Jesus. If your parents don’t know Jesus as their Savior, don't be discouraged if they don't turn to Him at first. Jesus knew that His message could "set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother" (Matthew 10:35). Even so, keep showing God's love with respect for your elders: "obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do" (Ephesians 6:1). And do not despair, for God promised "I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Instruction for Children

What if you are a parent who wants to keep sharing the Gospel with your children? The Apostle Paul taught, "do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord" (Colossians 1:10). Showing God's love to them sometimes means parents should be selfless because "love does not demand it’s own way" (1 Corinthians 13:5). But God's Word lets us know that if we "train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

Syria and WMD

The world is once again focused on the Middle East. And once again, it's Syria.

This time, the Syrian government is accused of using chemical weapons in an attack on the rebels. Reports indicate that hundreds, mostly civilians, were recently killed and injured in a WMD attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta.

It is undeniable that a chemical weapons attack occurred. It is undeniable that hundreds are dead and hundreds are injured. It is undeniable that this is a cruel atrocity worthy of international scorn and, many think, punishment.

However, do not believe that it is undeniable that the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad committed the atrocity. He is certainly capable of it and the Syrians have the resources to do it. What's lacking is the motive.

In the last few weeks, things have been going Assad's way. His government seems to be gaining ground against the rebel coalition. The world's attention has been diverted from Syria's civil war to Egypt's civil struggle.

Why, when he is at least holding his own, if not starting to win, would he choose now to perpetrate the one act -- the use of chemical or biological weapons against his own people -- that would return the world's attention to Syria and guarantee its wrath would be poured upon him? It just doesn't make sense.

And when you take into account the fact that the Syrian rebel opposition is now dominated by al-Qaeda -- an organization that also has absolutely no qualms about using chemical weapons to further its goals -- it's enough to give any rational person reason to pause. The nagging truth is that the rebels are the party in this conflict that stands to gain most from a chemical attack blamed on the Syrian government. That's because it will almost surely provoke some sort of Western intervention in the civil war that may tip the balance in favor of al-Qaeda and their opposition allies.

President Obama and British Prime Minister Cameron have been working to secure a United Nations-approved military intervention in the conflict. However, on Thursday the British parliament conducted a preliminary vote and decided to say, "No, thank you" to the UK's involvement in an armed response.

We're now waiting to see what the Obama administration will choose to do and if it will go it alone or seek Congressional approval. Suffice it to say there's plenty of skepticism to go around. U.S. law seems to require the President to consult the Congress before committing our military forces to a conflict that does not threaten us directly. However, he chose to participate in the Libyan intervention without Congressional approval and he's suffered no repercussions from that decision.

One thing, however, is that any sort of international military intervention in Syria will certainly put Israel -- who has intentionally stayed on the sidelines and kept its mouth shut -- at great risk. We all know that Assad has threatened to attack Israel if outside powers attempt to intervene in the civil war. Now, a leading military figure in Iran has threatened to destroy Israel if the West meddles in Syria.

So we need to earnestly pray for the peace and safety of Israel as well as pray for God to grant our leaders wisdom in dealing with this delicate situation. We agree that the world community cannot let gas attacks go unanswered, but we must be careful to get the facts right before we act. And we must be careful not to act in a way that strengthens the hand of al-Qaeda.

Preparing for Heaven

Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the son of man also confess before the angels of God. Luke 12: 8. 

The thought that God can take a poor, sinful, sorrowful human being, and so transform him by grace that he may become an heir of God and joint heir with Jesus, is almost too great for our comprehension. . . . Christ takes upon Him the sins of the transgressor, and imputes to him His righteousness, and by His transforming grace makes him capable of associating with angels and communing with God. 

The refining influence of the grace of God changes the natural disposition of man. Heaven would not be desirable to the carnal- minded; their natural, unsanctified hearts would feel no attraction toward that pure and holy place, and if it were possible for them to enter, they would find there nothing congenial. The propensities that control the natural heart must be subdued by the grace of Christ before fallen man is fitted to enter heaven and enjoy the society of the pure, holy angels. When man dies to sin and is quickened to new life in Christ, divine love fills his heart; his understanding is sanctified; he drinks from an inexhaustible fountain of joy and knowledge, and the light of an eternal day shines upon his path, for with him continually is the Light of life. 

God desires that heaven's plan shall be carried out, and heaven's divine order and harmony prevail, in every family, in every church, in every institution. Did this love leaven society, we should see the outworking of noble principles in Christian refinement and courtesy, and in Christian charity toward the purchase of the blood of Christ. Spiritual transformation would be seen in all our families, in our institutions, in our churches. When this transformation takes place, these agencies will become instrumentalities by which God will impart heaven's light to the world and thus, through divine discipline and training, fit men and women for the society of heaven. 

Jesus has gone to prepare mansions for those who are preparing themselves through His love and grace, for the abodes of bliss.

Witness with Joy & Caring

Scripture: "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." (1 Peter 2:12).

An older woman was in the hospital, recovering from an accident. Her nurse noticed that her family came to visit every day, and that all of them, including the patient, were full of joy, in spite of her condition. 

One day, one of these visitors gathered the group for prayer, and asked the nurse to join them as well.

No one had ever offered to pray with the nurse, and, having no religious beliefs, she felt very awkward. Yet, she felt compelled to stay, and she closed her eyes with the others.

The man started by praising the God they were talking to, then requested healing for the patient. He prayed in simple, everyday language, like a child sharing his needs with a loving father. She became so immersed in the atmosphere that she almost missed it when he paused. She looked up and realized that he was asking her name. He shut his eyes to continue the prayer, asking God to bless and guide her! As the prayer came to an end, she was overcome with emotion as she realized that this stranger cared for her!

Through her tears, she explained that she knew something was missing from her life -- was prayer the secret to their joy? They explained that it wasn't the prayer, but Whom they prayed to, that brought them joy. And it wasn't secret or mysterious; they willingly told her how she could come to know God through His Son, Jesus Christ. The man who had prayed gave her his contact information so she could learn more. It turned out he was not a family member, but the pastor of their church.

The family rejoiced with the nurse as she placed her faith in Jesus. Their joyful, loving attitudes had made a huge impression on her, and now she too knew the source of their peace and joy.

Do people turn to God because of how they see you living?

Egypt on the edge again

Much of the world's attention has been riveted on Egypt the past few weeks. First, millions of Egyptians rose up to protest the direction the government of Mohamed Morsi was headed -- directly toward Sharia law and the establishment of an Islamic state. Not to mention the fact that his one-year-old incompetent presidency had also allowed the bottom to drop out of Egypt's economy with no reasonable hope of recovery.

Then, the military stepped in. Many thought Egypt's armed forces, long the stabilizing force in the country, had been neutered by Morsi's removal of senior officers loyal to Hosni Mubarak and their replacement with Islamic loyalist officers. Led by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, though, it removed Morsi from office and has since arrested almost all of the senior political and spiritual leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Enraged by the turn of events, pro-Morsi, pro-Brotherhood, and pro-Sharia protesters have staged massive rallies that have been violently disrupted by the military. More than a thousand have died in the confrontations. In the chaos, Muslim mobs have torched scores of Christian churches and businesses throughout Egypt. Many Coptic Christians have been injured and several have died.

The notorious Muslim Brotherhood is one of the world's premier terrorist organizations and the sire of other groups such as Al-Qaeda and Hamas. It was the organization that benefited most from Mubarak's overthrow in 2011. Though long outlawed by the government, it was the best-organized political group at the time of the first elections in the post-Mubarak era. Even though the Brotherhood initially promised not to field a presidential candidate, it reneged and did so, and won. So not only did the Muslim Brotherhood -- which was responsible for the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981 -- hold the presidency of Egypt, it controlled the parliament as well.

This military "non-coup" (the U.S. declines to acknowledge it as a coup for legal reasons) has presented a problem for the administration of Barack Obama. He chose to help push Mubarak out of office in February, 2011, in favor of the only viable alternative at the time -- the Muslim Brotherhood. Various administration officials insisted that the Brotherhood was not politically strong enough to take over Egypt. When it did, they denied that the Brotherhood was a dangerous organization, despite its history of terrorism and mayhem. They also tried to deny the Brotherhood's Islamic connection. Remember when James Clapper, Obama's National Intelligence Director, called the Brotherhood "largely secular?" Even the western media gagged on that one!

So now the U.S. strategy is to find "moderate" Muslim Brotherhood members that it can force the Egyptian military to bring back into the government. Apparently, the administration doesn't realize that in Islam, "moderate" equates to "hypocrite." And the Koran insists that devout Muslims "Strive against the disbelievers (that's all non-Muslims) and the hypocrites (that's "moderate" Muslims). Be harsh with them!" (Quran 9:73)

Either the administration doesn't get it -- which is frightening -- or they do get it and don't care -- which is even more frightening!

Speaking of frightening, the level of paranoia across the Middle East is frightening. (However, it's nothing compared to the insane paranoia produced by "political correctness" in America today, which goes beyond frightening to terrifying. But that's been my focus the last few weeks and I'll not revisit it here.) Turkish officials recently detained a bird and accused it of spying for Israel. Seriously.

Villagers found a kestrel -- which is a type of falcon -- with a Tel Aviv University tag attached (no doubt for tracking the bird's migration). Turkish officials identified the bird as an Israeli spy. As funny as that sounds, it's not so unusual. The Times of Israel reports that Israel previously has been accused of using bee-eaters and eagles as spies. An Egyptian official once insisted that "Israel-controlled sharks could be involved in a number of attacks on tourists in the Red Sea."

By the way, x-rays revealed that the kestrel carried no surveillance equipment. Apparently, the charges were dropped and it was eventually released into the wild.

However, it all goes to illustrate the heightened state of uneasiness felt across the world these days. Even though throughout his campaign in 2012, President Obama insisted that he had al-Qaeda "on the run," we seem to be the ones doing the running. From massive university campuses evacuated because of telephoned bomb threats to 19 American embassies and consulates closed across the Middle East because of threatening "chatter," the terrorists seem to be getting exactly what they want: a population on edge and the world's only superpower in retreat -- without a shot being fired.

Not surprisingly, the mainstream media here in the U.S. largely chose to ignore three recent major prison breaks in the Middle East. In Pakistan, Libya, and Iraq, almost 2,000 extremely dangerous imprisoned terrorists escaped. Al-Qaeda apparently stopped running long enough to promise that more prison breakouts are coming and Interpol agrees. In fact, the international police organization has issued an official alert to the entire world.

In Israel, the first 26 of more than 100 prisoners are also on the loose now. This wasn't a breakout, however. It was what I would describe as an "extorted release." You see, the United States is once again pressuring Israel to engage in the laughable facade it chooses to call the "Israeli-Palestinian peace talks."

It's been three years since the sides actually sat down to discuss the "two-state solution." Since John Kerry became Secretary of State earlier this year, he has obsessed over reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Of course, Israel has been willing to resume the talks at any time, and has often publicly stated as much. The Palestinians, however, have been the reluctant participants.

Relenting under the Secretary's pressure, the Palestinian Authority demanded that Israel release 104 Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons before it will even come to the table.

Also relenting under the Secretary's pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the release.

So now the Palestinians and the Israelis have met twice. The first time to discuss the size and shape of the table. The second time, presumably, to start talking about the issues.

Folks, a dark force menaces the world today and the nations don't know how to handle it. As Christians, we look at these bewildering events and understand that there are powerful supernatural forces at work. The ancient prophets described these days with astonishing accuracy. But God would not have us be afraid. In fact, through his prophet Isaiah He comforted us: "Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness." (Isaiah 4:10)

It's time to build up and begin to exercise our "combat faith" by standing firm on the immutable promises of God. He will then help you to enter His peace and rest in the midst of the most violent storms.

The Wonder of Praying

Scripture: "So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding." (Colossians 1:9).

Every now and then, a person in the news will capture my attention. When this happens, I try to pray for them. People pay attention to celebrities; they have a lot of power to influence others -- for good or for evil. I pray that those famous people will come to know the Lord and respect His ways, so they themselves can receive God's blessing, and because of their influence, share it with others.

Please the Lord

I sometimes think about what it would be like to be a celebrity who influences others. The truth is, we don't need to be famous to affect others. When the Apostle Paul prayed for his friends in Colossi, he hoped that "the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better” (Colossians 1:10). Living humble, Spirit-filled lives, we can trust God that others will notice and, we hope, follow the example God lets us provide.

Endure and Be Patient

When you pray for your friends and family, and strive to live a godly life before them, some will accept God's salvation, but others will not. This can be frustrating, but St. Paul continued in his prayer, "that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father” (Colossians 1:11-12a). You might not see the results of your prayers, but God knows your efforts; and your influence is valuable to those around you.

Share the Inheritance

God has given us an amazing gift, one that cannot run out nor be "used up." We are blessed to be able to share His love and the message of His salvation. St. Paul wrote, "He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light" (Colossians 1:12b). When it comes down to it, one of the best ways to influence people is to love God, live for Him, and help lead others to His eternal life.

Your Friends and Family are Special to God

Scripture: "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9).

A friend of mine just told me about a television show she likes. She said, "When I find something really good, I get excited, and I want to tell my friends about it." What about you? is there anything you think is really wonderful, which you want to tell people about?

Amazing Things

One day, in the course of His travels, Jesus stopped at a well in a Samaritan village. He met a woman there and told her amazing things, revealing, "I AM the Messiah!" (John 4:26). She was so excited that she "left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone" (John 4:28). Have you ever learned something so amazing that you can’t wait to tell everyone about it?

His Message

On the morning of Jesus' resurrection, His followers found His tomb empty, but "they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead" (John 20:9). Mary Magdalene stayed behind, weeping. But Jesus appeared to her, proving His triumph over death. He instructed her to tell the others about the miracle, and she obeyed: "Mary Magdalene found the Disciples and told them, 'I have seen the Lord!' Then she gave them His message" (John 20:18). When the Lord instructs you to share His words, how do you respond?

Good News

When the Samaritan woman told her people about Jesus, "many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because [of what] the woman had said" (John 4:39). But when Mary Magdalene "told [the Disciples] that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they didn’t believe her" (Mark 16:11) until He appeared to them Himself.

Jesus told His followers, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone" (Mark 16:15). Today, His followers carry on with the task. As in Jesus’ day, some will believe; but other times, even our dearest friends or family members will refuse God’s truth. When the Lord asks you to tell others the Good News, will you run to do it, like the Samaritan woman and Mary Magdalene?

Ever- Widening Influence

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned. Titus 2: 7, 8. 

The life of Christ was an ever- widening, shoreless influence, an influence that bound Him to God and to the whole human family. Through Christ, God has invested man with an influence that makes it impossible for him to live to himself. Individually we are connected with our fellow men, a part of God's great whole, and we stand under mutual obligations. No man can be independent of his fellow men; for the well- being of each affects others. It is God's purpose that each shall feel himself necessary to others' welfare, and seek to promote their happiness. . . . 

By the atmosphere surrounding us, every person with whom we come in contact is consciously or unconsciously affected. . . . 

Our words, our acts, our dress, our deportment, even the expression of the countenance, has an influence. . . . If by our example we aid others in the development of good principles, we give them power to do good. In their turn they exert the same influence upon others, and they upon still others. Thus by our unconscious influence thousands may be blessed. . .

Character is power. The silent witness of a true, unselfish, godly life carries an almost irresistible influence. By revealing in our own life the character of Christ we co- operate with Him in the work of saving souls. It is only by revealing in our life His character that we can co- operate with Him. And the wider the sphere of our influence, the more good we may do. When those who profess to serve God follow Christ's example, practicing the principles of the law in their daily life; when every act bears witness that they love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, then will the church have power to move the world. 

But never should it be forgotten that influence is no less a power of evil. To lose one's own soul is a terrible thing; but to cause the loss of other souls is still more terrible. . . . It is only through the grace of God that we can make a right use of this endowment.

Perfection Now?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt. 5: 48. 

When God gave His Son to the world, He made it possible for men and women to be perfect by the use of every capability of their beings to the glory of God. In Christ He gave to them the riches of His grace, and a knowledge of His will. As they would empty themselves of self, and learn to walk in humility, leaning on God for guidance, men would be enabled to fulfill God's high purpose for them. 

Perfection of character is based upon that which Christ is to us. If we have constant dependence on the merits of our Saviour, and walk in His footsteps, we shall be like Him, pure and undefiled. 

Our Saviour does not require impossibilities of any soul. He expects nothing of His disciples that He is not willing to give them grace and strength to perform. He would not call upon them to be perfect if He had not at His command every perfection of grace to bestow on the ones upon whom He would confer so high and holy a privilege. . . . 

Our work is to strive to attain in our sphere of action the perfection that Christ in His life on the earth attained in every phase of character. He is our example. In all things we are to strive to honor God in character. . . . We are to be wholly dependent on the power that He has promised to give us. 

Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was. 

Our Saviour is a Saviour for the perfection of the whole man. He is not the God of part of the being only. The grace of Christ works to the disciplining of the whole human fabric. He made all. He has redeemed all. He has made the mind, the strength, the body as well as the soul, partaker of the divine nature, and all is His purchased possession. He must be served with the whole mind, heart, soul, and strength. Then the Lord will be glorified in His saints in even the common, temporal things with which they are connected. "Holiness unto the Lord" will be in the inscription placed upon them.

Reveals God's Character

The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Ex. 34: 6. 

All the light of the past, all the light which shines in the present and reaches forth into the future, as revealed in the Word of God, is for every soul who will receive it. The glory of this light, which is the very glory of the character of Christ, is to be manifested in the individual Christian, in the family, in the church, in the ministry of the Word, and in every institution established by God's people. All these the Lord designs shall be symbols of what can be done for the world. They are to be types of the saving power of the truths of the gospel. . . . 

By beholding the goodness, the mercy, the justice, and the love of God revealed in the church, the world is to have a representation of His character. . . . 

In order to manifest the character of God . . . we must become personally acquainted with God. If we have fellowship with God, we are His ministers, though we may never preach to a congregation. We are workers together with God in presenting the perfection of His character in humanity. 

God has enjoined the duty upon His human agents to communicate the character of God, testifying to His grace, His wisdom, and His benevolence, by manifesting His refined, tender, merciful love. . . . 

Our work is to restore the moral image of God in man through the abundant grace given us of God by Jesus Christ. . . . Oh, how much we need to know Jesus and our heavenly Father that we may represent Him in character! 

The soul that is transformed by the grace of Christ will admire His divine character. . . . The less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour. A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in power. The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the Word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character, and the more fully we shall reflect His image.

We Work with the Holy Spirit

Scripture: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements." - The Apostles and Elders in (Acts 15:28). "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." (Galatians 5:25).

Jesus promised His Holy Spirit during His earthly ministry. After He died and then rose from the dead, He appeared to His friends, Disciples, and "more than 500 of his followers at one time" (1 Corinthians 15:6). He instructed, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised... In just a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5).

The Working

The Spirit of God began working miracles through these simple people. Peter, who had been so frightened by the events surrounding the death of Jesus that he denied ever having known and been friends with Jesus, was suddenly bold enough to address a large crowd. He told them, "God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now He is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as He had promised, gave Him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today" (Acts 2:32-33).

Because of the powerful witness, "those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day — about 3,000 in all" (Acts 2:41). Three-thousand new Believers of Jesus in one day -- what a testament to the power of the Spirit!

The Leading

God's provision of the Spirit was not just for those first followers. When someone accepts God's gift of forgiveness of sin and salvation through Jesus Christ, they "will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit aids us in turning our lives toward God: "those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit... letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).

As Jesus's followers, we are instructed to take God's message of forgiveness and salvation "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Like the Apostles, we are not expected to do God's work by ourselves. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit "will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). So we know we can depend on the Lord to lead us in His work.

Are You Angry with God?

Scripture: "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28).

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there so much injustice in the world?

Life Is Unfair

Sin in our world makes it difficult to understand the world as God wants it to be. Bad things happen to "good people," and "good people" sometimes let - or even make - bad things happen. "Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23). It is so easy to want to sin. Why is life not easier? You might wonder, Why would God make a world where horrible things can happen? You might even be furious with Him. But injustice exists because of sin; God created people "for [His] glory" (Isaiah 43:10).

God Is Just

The Lord said, "I love justice" (Isaiah 61:8), but He hates sin. We cannot hope to understand Him nor our place in the world if we cannot understand that He is righteous, holy, and loving. Bad things happen; however "God does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent" (2 Peter 3:9). The Creator's "purpose was for the nations to seek after God" (Acts 17:27). After sin entered the world, He revealed part of His plan, teaching us to obey: "[The Law] was given alongside the promise to show people their sins" (Galatians 3:19). People could not be justified by the Law alone, but by faith: the Law "protected us until we could be made right with God through faith" (Galatians 3:24).

Trust in Him, Not the World

God sent us Jesus to restore the balance between justice and love. The unfair death of righteous Jesus Christ paid the penalty for the sins of us unrighteous people. "God will also count us as righteous if we believe in Him, the One Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead" (Romans 4:24). That is why we trust in the Lord as our Saviour -- He paid the price; we accept that gift in faith. The world tells us that we should be angry with a Creator Who allows bad things to happen, but God gave everything (in the death of His Son, Jesus) to show us His love and justice.