Daily Devotion Guide

Transcription

1 Daily Devotion Guide Week 33: August Life Together Series Five-Year Devotion Guide (Year 1)

2 Week 33 August I. Invocation and Adoration: 1. Invocation Prayer O God, graciously comfort and tend all who are imprisoned, hungry and thirsty, naked, and miserable; also all widows, orphans, sick and sorrowing. In brief, give us our daily bread, so that Christ may abide in us and we in Him forever, and that with Him we may worthily bear the name of Christian. In Jesus name. Amen. (Martin Luther, ) 2. Adoration through Psalm 33 (We ll use this Psalm, not for today s Bible reading, but for the sake of focusing our thoughts on God) Read slowly this passage at least three times and gather a different thought about God s character or deeds and translate in a prayer of adoration. II. Confession Pause now and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you your sins and ask for forgiveness. III. Thanksgiving List, one by one, things for which you should give thanks.

3 IV. Scriptural Reflection: Today we shall continue the reading of the Book of Acts. Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below each day: August 12 Acts 10: 1-16 The significance of the conversion of this gentile household is reflected in the space given by Luke in giving such details to the event. Its significance is also reflected in this being used by Peter as a test case in the debate in the Jerusalem council in chapter 15. Caesarea was primarily a gentile city and Cornelius would have learned to worship God in the local synagogue. (1) Cornelius was obviously a proselyte of Judaism and he adopted the practices of the pious Jews as well. Which of those practices did he get commendation from the angel and why? (2) Why did God use such a miraculous way to point him to salvation through Jesus Christ? (3) What might be the thing that you admire most about Cornelius? (4) How might you approach someone who is genuinely seeking God except that he or she is not worshipping the true God of the Bible? (5) How did God prepare Peter to see this important vision? (6) Note the contents of the vision and dialogue: a. Was Peter right to refuse to kill and eat those unclean animals in the first place? Why? (See Ezekiel 4:14) b. Since these things were definitely defined as impure or unclean (see Leviticus 11), why then the voice from heaven said, Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. How has God made these things clean? What does it mean? What makes something clean or unclean? (See Mark 7:14-19)

4 (7) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it in your life? August 13 Acts 10: (1) Why did the Spirit order Peter to go with them? Why would he be reluctant to do so without the Spirit s command? (2) Up to this point, as Luke has been reporting, the gospel was primarily shared in the Jewish territories and to primarily people of Jewish heritage. It was still very much a Jewish gospel in the minds of the believers and their focus was still the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). If you were Peter, what might you be thinking upon hearing the story of the three men about Cornelius? Now that he had to go and share the gospel with a 100% gentile (which he had no prior experience before), what might his struggle be? (3) How did Cornelius take hold of this opportunity to hear the message from this messenger of God? (4) Upon seeing the gathering at Cornelius house, how did Peter interpret his prior vision? (5) The OT in fact has no law prohibiting Jews to associate with Gentiles, why then Peter took it as law? (6) Can you think of similar taboos among Christians which are in fact not supported by Scriptures? (7) What is the main message to you today? August 14 Acts 10: (1) If you were Peter, trying to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ to people who had already believed in a god, or even the God of the Bible but not Jesus Christ, list five main or key points that you would definitely address. (2) Obviously Peter s sermon would have been much longer (and in typical Oriental fashion who knows how many hours it might have been), and Luke is giving a summary of the main

5 points being preached. Can you point out the main points being summarized here: a. Vv : b. Vv : c. Vv : d. Vv : e. Vv : (3) What can we learn from these key points as we try to share the gospel with others? (4) Why would the Holy Spirit descend upon the hearers even before Peter could finish his sermon? And why were Peter and his companions (all circumcised Jews) astonished? Astonished at what? (5) These people were baptized after they had received the Holy Spirit. What does it tell you (a) about the role of baptism, and (b) what is the key to being really saved? (6) What impact did this experience have on the understanding of God s plan of salvation as far as Peter and the first Jewish church were concerned? (7) What is the main message to you today? August 15 Acts 11: 1-18 (1) If you were the apostles and believers in Judea who heard of this tremendous news of the conversion of the whole household of gentiles, what would your first reaction be? What was their reaction? Why did they challenge Peter (remember that they were not challenging people like Philip, but Peter, their chief and leader)? In what way may we be similar to them? (2) Now Luke is retelling the story through the mouth of Peter. What were Peter s emphases and interpretation of the event? (Can you sense that Peter was trying to tell them that he was just as surprised and reluctant?)

6 (3) The response of these believers was, So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life. What is your reaction to this statement? What then was their understanding of God s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ before this statement? (4) Is there an important lesson to learn for Christians of all ages from this incident? (5) What is the main message today, and how should you act on it? August 16 Acts 11: (1) Luke is now picking up the story he began at the beginning of chapter 8, and he skillfully and purposely links the following events with the previous report by Peter. Can you see what the linkage is? (2) Note that Luke is using this section of the gospel being received beyond Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria to help us see the progression of the Great Commission back in 1:8, and to show us that the gospel has reached beyond the first three regions. It has now begun its reach into the ends of the earth. Why did the church at Jerusalem need to send Barnabas to Antioch (note the word, evidence in v. 23)? Do you think they understood the Great Commission well? (3) Luke now highlights two significant figures who would take up the baton to reach the Gentile world. They were Barnabas and Saul. Spend a moment in reflecting on who the two were and see why they, of all people, were chosen for this important task. How special were they? (4) How special was the Antioch church? Why were the disciples called by non-believers Christians (meaning the people of Christ) first at Antioch and not at Jerusalem? How different did the church at Antioch look to outsiders from the church at Jerusalem?

7 (5) What did the people mean when they called the disciples at Antioch Christians? What do people mean when they call you a Christian today? (6) How did the Gentile churches respond to the famine in Jerusalem? Who were in charge of the collection? (Note that part of the background of II Corinthians was the eager response of the church in this matter, but cooled off for a year. See II Cor. 8:10-11) (7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply to your life? August 17 Acts 12: 1-23 After a time of peace (9:31), the Jerusalem church was facing new persecution, not from the Jews directly but from the political ruler. We have no idea why Herod began arresting believers, but we do know that his action was further fanned by his desire to please the Jews. In his effort to please the Jews, he delayed the trial (and likely execution) of Peter by respecting the Jewish Passover. (1) If you were part of the first believers of Jerusalem, how would you greet this new wave of persecution, especially the news of Peter s arrest? How did the church actually greet Peter s imprisonment? (2) As far as we know, Peter would be killed in the hands of the Roman Emperor Nero some years later. Why did God choose to rescue him at this time and in such a miraculous fashion? What would this mean to (a) Peter, (b) the Jerusalem believers, and (c) to Herod (who was really a governor, but given the title of King by the Emperor)? (3) The famous Bible scholar, William Barclay, claimed that In this story we do not necessarily see a miracle, (Barclay, Acts, 95). How will you refute his claim? (4) From this incident, what do you know of John Mark, this young man who would later join the mission trip of Paul and

8 Barnabas, only to leave them prematurely? (See Acts 12:25 and 13:13) (5) What were the people doing when Peter knocked on the door? Why did they not believe it was Peter? What does it say about our attitude of prayers? (6) What might be the messages here by Luke in tying the story of Herod s death with his persecution of the church? (7) Can you think of any parallels today with modern men usurping God s glory? (8) What is the main message to you today? August 18 Acts 12: 24 13:5 Now Luke turns his focus back to the churches away from the Jewish territories. (1) Antioch was known to be a multi-ethnic city with distinct districts of occupation according to ethnicity. Yet Luke highlights the names of the leaders of the church which clearly denote different ethnicities (Latin, African, and Jewish). What does it tell you about this church in Antioch and how powerful did it speak to the nature of church to the segregated secular society of Antioch? (2) Saul had previously been set apart by his calling in chapter 9. What is the significance of him and Barnabas being sent by the church of Antioch? Should their individual calling not be enough for them to begin their missionary work? What message is here for us concerning the sending of missionaries? (3) The way the Holy Spirit chose to speak is also important. What kind of a church might be most fit to be used by God to do His mission work? (4) Why did the Holy Spirit choose to send two together to the mission field?

9 (5) From the above, what can we learn from the church of Antioch in how we should do mission today? (6) Repetition is an important literary tool for emphasis. Can you highlight words or terms that are being repeated in this segment by Luke? What are the emphases? (7) What is the main message to you today?

10 V. Meditative Reflection August 12 Caring for the Poor Christians who are living in the West are so used to rely on the state to take care of the poor and to solve the problem of poverty that we seldom realize that it is neither the biblical model nor the teaching of the Bible. Throughout the scriptures, it is people, ordinary people who are instructed to take care of their neighbors. The state was never blamed in this respect. Not that the kings and the rulers should not take the lead in caring for the people, but the biblical assumption has been that, as the people of God, we do not look to others to take care of the poor, but we should look after our own neighbors. And so we find the Law of Moses urges the individuals: (b)ut during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. (Exodus 23:11) Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:10) If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. (Leviticus 25:35) There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:11) These are just a few of the many instructions concerning our responsibility to care for the poor ourselves.

11 How much is God pleased with someone who cares for the poor is clearly shown in the words of the angel who spoke to Cornelius, the Italian centurion, Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. (Acts 10:4) This is the reason given by the angel for God taking the initiation to lead Peter to him and show him the way to salvation through Jesus Christ. We do understand that good works will never earn us salvation, but faith in Christ alone. But being a person saved by grace in Jesus Christ does not take away our basic responsibility as people made in the image of God to care for those who are less fortunate but have also been made in His image. August 13 Mixing Law with Traditions There is no doubt that Peter is the most important figure of the early Christian church. He took the lead in appointing someone to fill the vacancy left among the Twelve (Acts 1), he took the lead in preaching the first public sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2), and he continued to take public leadership before the priests and the Pharisees. As a result, he was the target of persecution and arrest. This was perhaps the reason why he was chosen to publicly convert the first Gentile and his household (the Ethiopian Eunuch was converted in the remote desert, not witnessed by any other Jews or Jewish Christians other than Philip himself). Therefore, it is even more alarming to hear this leader of the early church say, it is against the law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. (Acts 10:28) One cannot help but ask Peter, Where does it say so in the law? Of course, it is not in the Law of Moses, but rather, a

12 human tradition only. But after hundreds, if not more than a thousand years of mixing human traditions with the Law, the Jews, including Peter, could not tell them apart. They were brought up to take their human traditions to be as sacred as the Law, and from boyhood, Peter knew nothing apart from what he heard and what he saw being lived out among the devout Jews. To do anything otherwise was simply unthinkable for the Jews, including Peter. Therefore, even a special vision of unclean animals could not totally take away the scale of human tradition and racial bias, it took the undisputable manifestation of the Holy Spirit to convince Peter to eventually acknowledge Can anyone keep these people (i.e. Gentiles) from being baptized with water? (Acts 10:47) Many biblical scholars label this experience of Peter as his second conversion. I wonder if you and I need a second conversion as well when it comes to the differentiation of human traditions from the very teachings of the Bible as we seek to be faithful in serving the Lord in our local church! August 14 Baptism Some of you who come from a more liturgical tradition will no doubt be used to equating baptism almost as the necessarily rite of passage to salvation. Such an emphasis on baptism is important in that baptism is a direct instruction from our Lord (Matthew 28:19) and a very clear directive given by the Apostle Peter to the first converts at Pentecost: Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. (Acts 2:38) And, in the Book of Acts, it is clear that this was what every single new believer did, right after their repentance. To the early church, it was inconceivable to lead someone to Christ without baptizing him or her.

13 However, it is equally clear that salvation is only through faith and not of work (Ephesians 2:8). Whether it is circumcision or baptism, it is an outward action. One really can be baptized without truly believing in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is ultimately faith in Christ that leads us into salvation. What has been witnessed by Peter and those circumcised believers at the conversion of Cornelius and his household clearly affirms this truth. The Holy Spirit came upon these Gentiles, even before an altar call could be extended by Peter, because as they heard of the good news of Jesus Christ, they already responded in belief within their hearts. It was their faith that enabled them to receive the new life in Christ. And, in this case, their faith was affirmed by baptism which was still significant as an outward sign of their inward reality, but not as a rite of passage into eternal life. August 15 Frivolous Argument The conversion of the household and friends of Cornelius was indeed great news throughout the region, because it was convincing proof that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. (Acts 11:1) One would automatically presume that the immediate response of these Jewish disciples would be one of joy. After all, this is what the Great Commission is all about the spreading of the gospel till the ends of the earth. However, when Peter returned to Jerusalem, we read that the circumcised believers criticized him and said, You went into the house of the uncircumcised men and ate with them. (11:3)

14 In other words, they could not argue with the fact that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles (10: 45), but they took issue with Peter with the way with which the gospel was shared. Worse, they continued with their Pharisaic mentality which cared little about people, even their eternal destiny. They were nothing but sounding gongs and clanging cymbals, because they were totally void of love! Instead of rejoicing with the Holy Spirit over the repentance of sinners, they were furious that Peter somehow violated the purity of their beliefs. Unfortunately, such Pharisaic mentality continues to raise its ugly head in many Christian communities. More than once, I have seen people, and sometime droves of people come to Christ in evangelistic rallies. But many Christians, instead of rejoicing over the work of the Holy Spirit and the tremendous miracle of souls being saved, chose to take issue with how the evangelistic meetings were conducted. Some disliked the secular venue, some criticized the music and some took issue with the style of the presentation of the gospel message. Yes, if the gospel message is distorted, no sins are mentioned, no repentance is demanded or, no invitation to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is offered, I would criticize too. But if the gospel message is clearly presented, we should greatly rejoice over the repentance of sinners as Jesus has taught us in the three parables in Luke 15. Otherwise, we will not only be guilty of the sin of these circumcised believers of Jerusalem, but we will also grieve the heart of our Father like the older brother of the prodigal son. August 16 Who are Christians to the World? It was indeed a great surprise that believers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. Why not in Jerusalem where they would have the greatest number of believers and the greatest concentration of apostles, and thus apostolic authority?

15 Ray Bakke insightfully explains to us that Antioch, with its large population (over 500,000), was a multi-ethnic city segregated into Greek, Syrian, Jewish, Latin and Africa sectors. But as the gospel was preached, people of different ethnic backgrounds began to cross the interior walls of the city to hear the gospel and join the church. As a result, both the Antioch church and its leadership team increasingly match the ethnicity, class and culture of the city. In the meantime, the church in Jerusalem remained a church largely made up of one ethnicity, class and culture that of the Jews. People who heard the gospel understood that the gospel is a gospel of reconciliation between men and God, and of breaking down the barrier of ethnicity, class and culture. While the Jerusalem church preached such a gospel, the Antioch fleshed out its essence. I wonder if we are able to flesh out the same gospel message to the world today! August 17 A Mighty Fortress is Our God When we reach Acts 11, the early Christians have now understood that persecution and sufferings are very much part of following Jesus. In fact, from now on, persecution would come beyond the hands of the Jews, but from the government. The increasing severity of persecution and the boldness of these early disciples remind me of the tremendous pressure faced by Martin Luther and the courage he mustered. Today, I invite you to reflect on the lyrics of his famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God:

16 1. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal. 2. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth, his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle. 3. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him. 4. That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours, thru him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill; God's truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever.

17 August 18 Accountability From time to time I hear servants of God say, I am only accountable to God. Often, it is said in the midst of conflicts between the pastor and lay leaders. I have come across enough church conflicts that I find it foolish to take sides, unless there is blatant moral or basic doctrinal error, but such is rarely the case. There are times I simply shake my heads at power-hungry lay leaders, but there are also times I grieve at the arrogance of God-ordained pastors. Therefore, it is really refreshing to read about how Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the church in Antioch to embark on their missionary journey. You see, if ever there is one pastor who is totally justified to say that I am only accountable to God, it would be the Apostle Paul. No one led him to Christ, only Christ Himself. And, he received his call to be the apostle to the Gentiles directly from the Lord Himself. Therefore, all he had to do was to embark on his missionary journey beyond Judea and Samaria without the help, support or commissioning of anyone. And yet, he did not do that. He waited as he ministered among the people of Antioch, until the Holy Spirit told the congregation in Antioch to set him and Barnabas apart. They church responded to the charge of the Holy Spirit with further praying and fasting, and then they laid their hands on the two missionaries and sent them off. (Acts 13: 1-3) Then, at the end of their missionary journey, they sailed back to Antioch where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them (Acts 14: 26-27) What an example of humility!

18 Paul really could go one his own to answer the sacred call he received directly from the Lord. But he chose to wait and then submitted to the church of Antioch, receiving their commissioning and support. Then, when the work was completed, he had the humility to report back to the church. Why would he do that? Paul understood that the work of mission is the work of the entire church. He was going on behalf of God s people. He also understood that he could not do it alone, he needed the blessing and support of God s people. He also understood that this is always God s way of holding us accountable, and that is, by holding us accountable through His people, the church. Yes, by submitting to the church, the work would necessarily be slowed down. And in times of disagreement, it is a pain to bear with those who may not understand that heart of God (as well as we think we do). But, the submission to and involvement of the church is so important for both the church and ourselves. It is only through their involvement that the church can grow in their passion for the Great Commission and for the lost (and to produce the successors of our baton), and it is only through their support their prayers and their holding us accountable that we could be faithful and be able to complete the ministry that we have been charged with. If the Apostle Paul needed the church of Antioch in the completion of his God-given vision, how much more do we need our church and our brothers and sisters!

19 VI. A Time for Silence You have meditated much with your intellectual faculty today. Now have a moment of silence (the length is up to you, 5 or even 30 minutes), and ask God quietly, Lord, is there any important message from you today that I might have missed? Show me, your servant is listening? VII. Supplication Use the following chart to cover people and ministries that you want to remember before the Lord, apart from praying for yourself: Sunday Your family Other people Church Ministries Other Ministries City & World Others Monday Tuesday Wed. Thursday Friday Saturday VII. Benediction Lord, come near and bless us when we wake, Ere through the world our way we take; Till in the ocean of Thy love We lose ourselves in heaven above. Amen. (John Keble, )