The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. “Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.” (Acts 6:2-3, CSB) So many restaurants I go into these days have a “Help Wanted” sign in the window. It seems there is a shortage of servers in most places. These signs remind me of the events described in Acts 6. There may not have…
Have you ever been falsely accused of something? It happens. The motive behind such an action may be done out of spite, envy, or the desire to make themselves look better. It hurts when your good name and reputation are unjustly attacked. Those false accusations may cause you to suffer severe consequences—job loss, damaged relationships, serious legal issue, or more. Numerous ones in the Bible suffered from unjust accusations and endured many things because of them. Many of their stories are familiar to us. Joseph refused the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife, so she falsely accused him of attempted rape. He not only lost his position, but he was also thrown in prison (Genesis 39). Because of jealousy, Korah and others accused Moses of exalting himself above the congregation. They challenged his leadership (Numbers 16). Because of his excellent spirit and abilities, Daniel advanced to the number one position under King Darius. Out of jealousy, other presidents and princes schemed against him. Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den (Daniel 6). James 1:2 tells us to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” I think most would agree that it’s difficult to be joyful when…
“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9, NKJV) Recently, I heard a minister relate the very familiar story of the feeding of the 5,000—with a twist. He told the story from an angle that I had not considered. His remarks were directed to those who feel that what they are doing for God is insignificant, of little importance. Have you ever felt that way? I have. The feeding of the 5,000 is an oft told happening during the ministry of Jesus. The story is found in each of the Gospels (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6). The cast of characters includes the Lord, His disciples, a young boy (no name or age given), and a massive crowd of people. The boy had brought his lunch with him, which apparently others had not. Even if it was a hearty portion, the five small loaves and two small fish weren’t that much food considering the great need. There is one important, but unmentioned, person in this story. I believe that although unrecognized, she was an integral part of the miracle that happened that…
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, NKJV) When I moved into a new (to me) home several years ago, I invested in changing all the lightbulbs in the house over to LED lights. Although they cost more than other types of bulbs, I thought it was worth the investment. Good lighting is important—something that we quickly appreciate when a power outage leaves us sitting in the dark. I once lived in an area that seemed to have an unusual number of outages. I quickly learned to keep flashlights, candles, and even an…
“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. (Mark 5:19-20, ESV). These are the words Jesus spoke to the man we recognize by the name Legion. The Lord had delivered him from demons, setting him free from a life of bondage and torment. Later, the man followed Jesus back to the ship and asked if he could stay with Him. Instead of granting the man’s request, the Lord instructed him to go back home. Was the Lord unfair in refusing the man’s request? After all, he only wanted to be with the One who had done so much for him. But no. Jesus knew that the man’s greatest power was in his testimony. Only the man himself could effectively tell others about what God had done in his life. They could see the transformation with their own eyes. John 4 tells of a time when Jesus chose to travel through Samaria, a route most Jews avoided. As He sat resting by the well…
“Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush” Life has a funny way of catching us off guard, usually at the most inconvenient times. Have you ever noticed that God can work that way as well? Moses probably thought that chapter of his life was over, after all, forty years had passed. But that is usually when God is up to something.. in the silent, quiet, “everything is going well” seasons of life. When I read this portion of scripture this thought instantly came to my mind, God can call you at any time in your life. You may believe that the time for ministry or something new is long gone, but that may not be true. If you have breath in your lungs today, God has a purpose for you. Open yourself up to something new and exciting. Instead of just dipping your toes in the water, dive in. His will is perfect and His plan for your life is beyond what you could ever dream. It’s never too late to advance the kingdom of God!