Barnabas was weary. Tired. Exhausted. A pebble that had lodged in-between his heel and sandal had caused an aching gash in his foot. He just wanted to lie down and get some sleep.
But first he had to do what the church in Jerusalem had sent him to do.
Determine if the occurrences in Antioch were "Godly."
Thankfully, he was almost to the church.
Turning the corner, he spied a man. The man started waving, and jogged to meet him. "Are you Barnabas?"
"I am."
"Good. Come see for yourself." The man spoke with a slightly condemning tone. Clearly, he didn't approve. He all but dragged Barnabas down the street, stopping every few feet and waving him to come faster. Finally the man stopped in front of a door, and threw it open. He let Barnabas step inside first to see.
But Barnabas didn't see. What exactly was the problem?
"Well," the angry man said. "What are you going to do about this?"
"About what? Barnabas didn't see a problem. They had just interrupted a teaching. After everyone glanced at them, they turned back to the speaker, completely riveted. The teacher wasn't saying anything blasphemous either.
The man hissed as he motioned towards the group. "Those people are not Jews!"
Upon closer inspection Barnabas could see that, no, they weren't Jews. Barnabas also noticed the speaker was teaching solely in Greek, probably so everyone present could understand. As Barnabas watched the scene, a smile broke out across his lips. It was happening. God's will was happening.
A hand waved in front of his face. The distraught man stood looking indignant. "Aren't you going to do something about this?"
He clapped the other man on the shoulder. "No, friend. God is. This is all God."
Based on Acts 11:23
"Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord." Acts 11:19-24
So many people were fighting this new revelation from God. Gentiles as Christians? Gentiles also saved by God's grace? They had ignored the times that Jesus had interacted, healed, and saved people other then the Jews. They didn't want to see the good, full plan that God had in store for the world.
Then some awesome dudes went and preached the Gospel to people who weren't Jews. "Hellenist," as defined by my Bible, were Greek-speaking, non-Jews. They got saved. And when Barnabas got to Antioch and saw all the awesome stuff God was doing, his first response was NOT to question if it was really God's will.
He was glad.
In that moment, he saw God's awesome plan to save the world. He saw people who had no hope, no life, no chance, being given everything. He saw the fullness of God's grace and mercy, and he was glad.
I just wonder, what side I would have been on back then...and I don't know. There are so many factors, that there's no way for me to know. I'm just grateful that I have the benefit of learning from that time and those people. But none of that matters if I can't learn to see God's big picture, and rejoice in it. Like Barnabas.
So the question is, are we fighting God's will, or are we rejoicing in it?
V. Joy Palmer
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
"Surprise Attacks"
Isn't it amazing? Even when it is a surprise attack that comes against you, God is there with the strength needed!
For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness,
For by You I can run against a troop, And by my God I can leap over a wall,
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
For who is God except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:28-32
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Stumbling Block
So, the stiff shoulder was the way to go?
Barnabas was a little confused. Wasn't Peter talking to that Gentile man earlier? Yeah, he was. They had been talking and laughing. Peter shared a story about Jesus that had the entire gathering riveted. Now Peter wouldn't even look at the man. Actually, he wouldn't look at any of the Gentiles... Not since the men James sent had arrived...
The Jews in the group had picked up on Peter's actions, and swiftly the crowd had been split down the middle. The entire atmosphere of the gathering had changed. Whereas before it had been like a celebration, now it was strained. Jews only talked with other Jews. Gentiles looked longingly towards them. Or their expressions were filled with a cold anger so strong that Barnabas could feel the breeze.
Uncertainty flooded his heart. What was he supposed to do? He had nothing against the Gentiles. In fact, he and Paul had been ministering to them. He even called some of them friends.
But Peter was one of the twelve disciples. He had been in Jesus' close circle for three years. If he was acting like this, wasn't it the right thing to do?
Barnabas got up slowly, and walked across the room. It felt like all eyes were on him. His footsteps seemed to echo as he took his side, and settled at the same table as Peter - far away from the Gentiles.
Based on Galatians 2:12-13
"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, 'If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?'" Galatians 2:11-4
When I read this, I think about stumbling blocks. Despite good or bad intentions, or being swept away by peer pressure, Peter was a stumbling block to those around him. The Jews respected Peter, so when they saw him acting hypocritically towards the Gentiles, they did as well. Even Barnabas, a minister to the Gentiles, took the "talk to the hand" route! And it was because of Peter's actions.
There's a situation that I'm going through were someone is acting quite poorly, and it's become a real stumbling block to me. In the midst of all my grumbling and heartache, I had this horrible, horrible thought.
What am I doing/screwing up that is a stumbling block to those who are watching me? (Not to mention all the things I've screwed up in the past.)
"But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak."
1 Corinthians 8:9
It is so easy for our actions to trip up someone who is looking to us to be the light. More then ever, we need to weigh our actions on the What Would Jesus Do scale. People are watching and learning from us. The questions is, are they learning the things of God, or how to be snooty and hypocritical?
V. Joy Palmer
Barnabas was a little confused. Wasn't Peter talking to that Gentile man earlier? Yeah, he was. They had been talking and laughing. Peter shared a story about Jesus that had the entire gathering riveted. Now Peter wouldn't even look at the man. Actually, he wouldn't look at any of the Gentiles... Not since the men James sent had arrived...
The Jews in the group had picked up on Peter's actions, and swiftly the crowd had been split down the middle. The entire atmosphere of the gathering had changed. Whereas before it had been like a celebration, now it was strained. Jews only talked with other Jews. Gentiles looked longingly towards them. Or their expressions were filled with a cold anger so strong that Barnabas could feel the breeze.
Uncertainty flooded his heart. What was he supposed to do? He had nothing against the Gentiles. In fact, he and Paul had been ministering to them. He even called some of them friends.
But Peter was one of the twelve disciples. He had been in Jesus' close circle for three years. If he was acting like this, wasn't it the right thing to do?
Barnabas got up slowly, and walked across the room. It felt like all eyes were on him. His footsteps seemed to echo as he took his side, and settled at the same table as Peter - far away from the Gentiles.
Based on Galatians 2:12-13
"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, 'If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?'" Galatians 2:11-4
When I read this, I think about stumbling blocks. Despite good or bad intentions, or being swept away by peer pressure, Peter was a stumbling block to those around him. The Jews respected Peter, so when they saw him acting hypocritically towards the Gentiles, they did as well. Even Barnabas, a minister to the Gentiles, took the "talk to the hand" route! And it was because of Peter's actions.
There's a situation that I'm going through were someone is acting quite poorly, and it's become a real stumbling block to me. In the midst of all my grumbling and heartache, I had this horrible, horrible thought.
What am I doing/screwing up that is a stumbling block to those who are watching me? (Not to mention all the things I've screwed up in the past.)
"But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak."
1 Corinthians 8:9
It is so easy for our actions to trip up someone who is looking to us to be the light. More then ever, we need to weigh our actions on the What Would Jesus Do scale. People are watching and learning from us. The questions is, are they learning the things of God, or how to be snooty and hypocritical?
V. Joy Palmer
"The Keys"
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon BarJonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:17-19
Lord, that we too would be blessed in our knowledge and understanding of who You are! Lord, that we would walk in such a way that we would, like Peter, reveal the understanding that You and the Holy Spirit impart to us who are called by Your name, to all those around us. And Lord, help us to know that You have truely given us the keys to the kingdom as well as the authority to use them as we bind and loose on earth and in heaven.
Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen Matthew 28:18-20
Lord, I ask that we would never 'lose or misplace' the keys of the kingdom of heaven but, rather, Lord, that we would be continually be about the Father's business. Lord, let Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven!
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Christian Peer Pressure
His blood was starting to boil. It was like someone had lit a fire inside of him, and any second now, he would start spewing.
The gathering had turned into a party, more or less. People were talking and laughing. Sharing stories and eating their fill. It would have been a perfect evening, tainted by nothing if it wasn't for Peter.
Paul didn't want to cause a scene, but he was getting fed up. Peter was blatantly ignoring a man who had been sharing a story with him. He had been talking with everyone until the men James had sent had arrived.
Now it was like a line had been drawn down the middle of the room. Jews on one side. Gentiles on the other. Any who dared cross the line were ignored.
What was going on with Peter?
A connection formed in Paul's mind. This hadn't started until the men James had sent arrived...
He bit back a sneer. Was that it? Was Peter ashamed for James' Jewish men to see him fraternizing with Gentiles? Well, that was not okay. God loved those people, too. Peter, above all people, new that! There was no way he was just going to let Peter treat his brothers and sisters in Christ like that.
Paul marched over Peter's table, and cleared his throat so loud that almost everyone in the room stopped talking. Paul didn't care though. This was wrong, and somebody needed to call Peter on it.
Based on Galatians 2:11-12
"But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party." Galatians 2:11-12
You know, it's not just kids, teenagers, or young adults that suffer from peer pressure. It's full grown, church going, leadership wielding adults that face peer pressure, too. And lots of times, they give into peer pressure, too.
Yeah, they do.
Look at Peter. He had no hatred for the Gentiles. He genuinely cared for them. In fact, God opened up the ministry for the Gentiles through Peter! He was the first one arguing on their behalf.
But so many Christians didn't understand God's plan (the plan to save people like you and me), and they strongly, vehemently opposed the Gentiles. Some even demanded that the Gentiles start following the laws of Moses. One day, Peter gave in. His friend James sent some people to Peter, and Peter separated himself from the Gentiles, possibly in order to prevent strife among them.
Paul was right. Peter was in the wrong. For one moment, he let the opinions of what others thought about the people who ate the "wrong" kind of meat mean more the God's opinion of them. Maybe it was with good intentions...maybe he was just trying to prevent a blowout, but regardless, peer pressure was the deciding factor that day.
It can happen with any of us. It can happen no matter how old you are. It can happen to the most Godly, experienced Christian out there. When we stop focusing on God's opinions, and we start favoring man's flawed opinions, we fall into Christian peer pressure.
And Paul's right. It's wrong. Always, always, always, place God's opinion first.
V. Joy Palmer
The gathering had turned into a party, more or less. People were talking and laughing. Sharing stories and eating their fill. It would have been a perfect evening, tainted by nothing if it wasn't for Peter.
Paul didn't want to cause a scene, but he was getting fed up. Peter was blatantly ignoring a man who had been sharing a story with him. He had been talking with everyone until the men James had sent had arrived.
Now it was like a line had been drawn down the middle of the room. Jews on one side. Gentiles on the other. Any who dared cross the line were ignored.
What was going on with Peter?
A connection formed in Paul's mind. This hadn't started until the men James had sent arrived...
He bit back a sneer. Was that it? Was Peter ashamed for James' Jewish men to see him fraternizing with Gentiles? Well, that was not okay. God loved those people, too. Peter, above all people, new that! There was no way he was just going to let Peter treat his brothers and sisters in Christ like that.
Paul marched over Peter's table, and cleared his throat so loud that almost everyone in the room stopped talking. Paul didn't care though. This was wrong, and somebody needed to call Peter on it.
Based on Galatians 2:11-12
"But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party." Galatians 2:11-12
You know, it's not just kids, teenagers, or young adults that suffer from peer pressure. It's full grown, church going, leadership wielding adults that face peer pressure, too. And lots of times, they give into peer pressure, too.
Yeah, they do.
Look at Peter. He had no hatred for the Gentiles. He genuinely cared for them. In fact, God opened up the ministry for the Gentiles through Peter! He was the first one arguing on their behalf.
But so many Christians didn't understand God's plan (the plan to save people like you and me), and they strongly, vehemently opposed the Gentiles. Some even demanded that the Gentiles start following the laws of Moses. One day, Peter gave in. His friend James sent some people to Peter, and Peter separated himself from the Gentiles, possibly in order to prevent strife among them.
Paul was right. Peter was in the wrong. For one moment, he let the opinions of what others thought about the people who ate the "wrong" kind of meat mean more the God's opinion of them. Maybe it was with good intentions...maybe he was just trying to prevent a blowout, but regardless, peer pressure was the deciding factor that day.
It can happen with any of us. It can happen no matter how old you are. It can happen to the most Godly, experienced Christian out there. When we stop focusing on God's opinions, and we start favoring man's flawed opinions, we fall into Christian peer pressure.
And Paul's right. It's wrong. Always, always, always, place God's opinion first.
V. Joy Palmer
"Living A Faith Filled Life ... Get It Done"
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to Faith. Hebrews 11:7
I love Noah. He perfectly exemplifies what faith in God looks like because of his choices. He chooses to heed the words of God over what he sees with his eyes and what He knows with his mind. God says, "Make yourself an ark ....with three decks ....I Myself will bring the floodwaters on the earth to destroy all flesh .... But I will establish My covenant with you; and You shall go into the ark--you, your sons, your wife, and Your sons' wives with you. And .......of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be..." Genesis 6:14-21 As God fills Noah in on His plan Noah makes the choice to heed all His words and act on them. They became the substance that motivated all his choices. His choice to heed God's divine warning became the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of the things not seen both literally and figuratively. Rain, floodwaters, Arks, destroying all flesh? All new concepts ...things not know, and not seen in the earth before, But because God spoke ... Noah believed and acted accordingly.
Because of Noah 's faith in God above all else he "saved his household and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." And the thing is, you and I have the same choice to make as we walk out a life of faith and become heirs of that same righteousness. We too must choose to live according to the Almighty's words because we too have been divinely warned of things to come. We too have the same choice to make that Noah did. Will we make the words He speaks the substance of all our actions as we place all our hope in Him, the Maker of heaven and earth, and ... all that is to come.
Thus Noah did, according to all that God commander him, so he did. Genesis 6:22 Because of his faith in God, Noah got the job done! Faith in God makes the impossible happen! Even building arks and saving a lost and during world.
I love Noah. He perfectly exemplifies what faith in God looks like because of his choices. He chooses to heed the words of God over what he sees with his eyes and what He knows with his mind. God says, "Make yourself an ark ....with three decks ....I Myself will bring the floodwaters on the earth to destroy all flesh .... But I will establish My covenant with you; and You shall go into the ark--you, your sons, your wife, and Your sons' wives with you. And .......of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be..." Genesis 6:14-21 As God fills Noah in on His plan Noah makes the choice to heed all His words and act on them. They became the substance that motivated all his choices. His choice to heed God's divine warning became the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of the things not seen both literally and figuratively. Rain, floodwaters, Arks, destroying all flesh? All new concepts ...things not know, and not seen in the earth before, But because God spoke ... Noah believed and acted accordingly.
Because of Noah 's faith in God above all else he "saved his household and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." And the thing is, you and I have the same choice to make as we walk out a life of faith and become heirs of that same righteousness. We too must choose to live according to the Almighty's words because we too have been divinely warned of things to come. We too have the same choice to make that Noah did. Will we make the words He speaks the substance of all our actions as we place all our hope in Him, the Maker of heaven and earth, and ... all that is to come.
Thus Noah did, according to all that God commander him, so he did. Genesis 6:22 Because of his faith in God, Noah got the job done! Faith in God makes the impossible happen! Even building arks and saving a lost and during world.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
"He Went Forth For Me"
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls--
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like driver's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Lord, I read a verse today that made me want to declare to both You and the world at large "Yet will I rejoice in You!" No matter what Lord, I will give You, the God of my salvation, all my praise!
"You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed. Habakkuk 3:13
Thank you, Lord, for going forth and bringing me my salvation!
God Bless!!!
Staff of Snack Time Devotions
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)