Nov. 15, 2008

Obedience to God’s Call

Read the Bible through:
AM – Ezekiel 23-24 : PM – Heb. 10

Separated by God
Acts 13:1-5

2 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

A general surgeon relinquished his commission with the Public Health Service for three years so that he could tithe his surgical career in a mission hospital. A retired married couple did indoor house painting jobs to finance their participation in a medical mission trip to Africa. A construction worker used his three-week vacation time to help build three churches in another country. A dentist took his staff with him to repair teeth in a third world country. An orthodontist has committed a block of his time each year to give continued care to straightening the teeth and improving the smile of people in another land.

This year thousands of American Christians have felt called by God to join hands with career missionaries all over the world to minister to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in the name of Christ.

God is still in the business of setting apart dedicated Christians from church congregations for special assignments. Is He calling you?

Lord, help me understand exactly what You are calling me to do with my life.

Nov. 14, 2008

Good News for All Cultures

Read the Bible through:
AM – Ezekiel 21-22 : PM – Heb. 9

Of God’s Grace
Acts 11:25-26

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Rev. Adeldiran was the pastor of the oldest and largest Baptist Church in Ogbomosho. When Alice, a newly appointed missionary was introduced to him, he bowed graciously, looked her squarely in the eyes and asked, “Are you a Christian?” She was surprised by the question, but Alice replied meekly, “Yes sir, I am.”

Baba Adediran responded, “If you are a Christian, you will love the people.” He knew that neither the Nigerian Christians nor Christian missionaries always acted in loving ways. He was just reminding her of a Christian’s first priority – to love one another.

Christians do not have a good name in all areas of the world today, partly due to preconceived ideas and prejudice. However, we need to ask ourselves if some of this is due to the fact that we do not always act in loving ways.

Lord, help me honor you always by acting in loving ways.

Nov. 13, 2008

Good News for All Cultures

Read the Bible through:
AM – Ezekiel 19-20 : PM – Heb. 8

Of God’s Grace
Acts 11:22-24

23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

My Baptist friend was completely confused when he attended services at my grand-mother’s Pentecostal church with me. Everyone prayed at once, some danced in the isles when the music played; and they stood, knelt, and sat at unpredictable times. The church service lasted two hours and we sang songs from shaped note hymn books.

Let me ask you a question. What did Barnabas see in the worship service at Antioch? The service was in Greek. Barnabas understood this language, but it was not his mother’s tongue. Did he see open faces filled with joy because of their hope in Christ? Did he see excited people who knew they had received the gift of eternal life through Jesus?

Barnabas saw something that convinced him he was seeing the grace of God. He saw evidence that indicated to him this was not simply a human phenomenon, but was something God was doing in peoples’ lives.

Lord, fill my heart and the hearts of my fellow church members with so much faith and joy that a visitor may see the grace of God in my church.

Nov.12, 2008

Good News for All Cultures

Read the Bible through:
AM – Ezekiel 17-18 : PM – Heb. 7

Of God’s Saving Power
Acts 11:19-21

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

The Lord has allowed me to observe international mission efforts from the mid- 1970’s until the present. There was a time when most Christian converts came from either educational institutions or hospitals. These converts established indigenous churches in large cities, small towns, and villages. Gradually, the young people who grew up in these churches began to replace the overseas missionaries in local schools and hospitals.

Today, we are living in a time of transition for international missions. The missionaries of today have a more difficult job than those who went into the field 20 years ago. They face greater challenges to the faith. They serve in more dangerous locations. They take their families into very different cultural situations so that they can identify with the people whom they serve. And, truly, the Lord’s hand is with them; and a great number of people are believing in the Lord and being saved daily.

Lord, please bless Your missionaries around the world. Keep them safe and glorify the name of Your Son, Jesus, through them.

Nov.11, 2008

Good News for All Cultures

Read the Bible through:
AM – Ezekiel 15-16 : PM – Heb. 6

Who Believe
Acts 8:36-40

37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

Because of the dry season, the creeks and rivers had dried up to unconnected shallow pools of water. The congregation at King River Baptist Church stood in the shade of a towering tropical forest, and Keith Edwards, a medical missionary, squatted on the fallen trunk of a large Iroko tree that stretched out over the water. The ordained missionary preacher who was baptizing the converts did not know their language, so it was his job to translate the baptismal formula as he gave it in English.

Keith did not think any crocodiles had been seen in this area of the river. Still, he kept a wary eye on the water and the banks as 12 candidates entered the river for baptism.

Yes, that baptism was quite different from any we have seen here in the United States, but one thing was exactly the same. Like the eunuch, each new convert said: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Lord, I rejoice in the eternal life I received when I believed in Jesus

Nov.10, 2008

Good News for All Cultures

Read the Bible through:
AM – Ezekiel 13-14 : PM – Heb. 5

Who Seek The Lord
Acts 8:32-35

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

While sitting in a hotel lobby I overheard two young people discussing the Jews.

One said, very confidently, that the Jews were special people because God had chosen them. The other agreed and said that at first he thought it meant God had special blessings for the Jews; but he confessed, it was confusing to see how they had suffered through the years.

What an opportunity to witness! Here were two people who were seeking to understand what God meant to happen when He chose the Jews. It was an open door to the gospel – an opportunity to help them see that God chose the Jews not to be pampered, but to be servants; not to take possession of the world, but to bless the world.

Lord, help me to see opportunities to witness for Christ in the world around me

Nov. 9, 2008

Good News for All Cultures

Read the Bible through:
AM – Ezekiel 11-12 : PM – Heb. 4

Who Desire Help
Acts 8:26-31

31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.”

Notice in the devotional passage that Philip had not yet reached the place to which he thought he was going at the angels command. He was still on the way when he met the Ethiopian eunuch. How did Philip know the eunuch was the man to whom he was being sent? This man was ready for the gospel. This African eunuch, so different from Philip in color, culture, and economic standing, wanted help.

This past week did you encounter unbelievers who were ready for the gospel and wanted help? How did you respond?

Lord, give me discernment so that I might know the hearts and desires of the people around me.