“A Record of Sins”

April 21, 2024

April 21, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 5, Psalm 130-131, Acts 14

What kinds of things do you keep a record of? Do you track your exercise, your diet, your time spent on some particular activity? I recently started helping my father to catalog and inventory his model train collection that he has built up over the last few decades. Keeping a record is a good thing most of the time. There are some times when we would prefer not to keep a record. 1 Corinthians 13:5 says the Love “does not keep a record of wrongs.” We do not want people to remember our past mistakes and we shouldn’t keep a record of their mistakes either. Here in Psalm 130 we find this encouragement, “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared” vv. 3-4. We can be glad most of all that God does not keep a record of our sins. When he forgives us, he loses the record or deletes it from his tally. We should take note do practice the same thing when it comes to our forgiveness of others.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Do not Add… Do not Subtract”

April 20, 2024

April 20, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 4, Psalm 128-129, Acts 13

What are some things you have changed over time? Maybe a favorite recipe, a hobby, an exercise or workout routine? Some times change is good. It can freshen up things in our lives that cane become rote memory and we begin to neglect or put the focus on something like we did in the past. The Word of God however is something that we cannot change. It is perfect already and doesn’t need any corrections, additions, or deletions. In Deuteronomy 4 Moses tells the Israelites, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you” v. 2.  Our culture is always tempting us to change our beliefs to agree with the world and that standard. When it comes down to it, we can only have one source of authority. It will either be the Bible or it will be the world.  I once heard an apologist say, “Either the Bible informs your view of the culture or your view of culture informs your view of the Bible.” There are only two options.

What else do you see in these chapters? What passage, verse, or theme stands out to you most?
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Posted by John Weldon

“The Builder”

April 19, 2024

April 19, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 3, Psalm 126-127, Acts 12

What are some projects you have put yourself into over the years? Were they successful or not? Did they last or quickly become something of the past? Psalm 127:1 says,

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”

As humans we have our limitations, but God does not have any. We may have many plans and things we want to accomplish in life, but this verse tells us that unless God is in the plans they will be in vain. They will not last or be successful if the Lord is not in them. We need to see the Lord and make sure we are following His will in life and not our own. This starts will knowing God’s Word and working on our relationship with God on a regular basis.

What else do you see in these chapters? What verse stands out to you most?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Criticize or Participate”

April 18, 2024

April 18, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 2, Psalm 124-125, Acts 11

Have you ever been criticized for something you have done even when it was the right thing to do? In Acts 11 we find a story about some Christians who criticized Peter for doing what God called him to do in Acts 10. Think about this again. Peter had gone to the home of Cornelius a Gentile centurion shared the good news with them and many of his family and friends believed and were saved. “Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days” vv.46-47. In the next paragraph we find out that some of the Jewish believers became critical rather than rejoicing about the Gentiles who became believers. “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them’” vv. 2-3. These Jewish Christians had their minds on the wrong thing. It was not on the main thing, that many got saved, only that Peter had eaten with Gentiles. Peter explained himself and these Jews corrected their attitudes. They had much to learn, and it started from Peter.

A little later in the same chapter the church gets their chance to redeem themselves and they nail it! “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus” vv. 19-20. Now there mission endeavors to the Greek in Antioch. The message of the gospel was spreading more and more. This time, instead of complaining the church decided to help out and be a part of the work of God. “News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” vv. 22-23. The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to help the new believers and to encourage them.

We have the same choice today. We can either complain or criticize things that we might not like but where God is moving, and people are being saved or we can choose to be a part of the movement and come along side others and help them by participating in the work too. It’s your choice.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, verses, or themes stick out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“When a Plan Comes Together”

April 17, 2024

April 17, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 1, Psalm 122-123, Acts 10

In my early years I spent just about every Friday night watching my favorite show, the A-Team. The four members of the A-Team would be out to help someone in need, and you could garuntee by the end of the program they were going to create something to rescue and save the day. The lead role of Col. Hannibal Smith had a tag line he would say when the plan worked out. “I love it when a plan comes together!” Cue the music and then the show was off.

As I read Acts 10 I find myself wondering if God might have said the same thing when it was all said and done. Infinitely more complex and knowledgeable God pieced together a plan to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. A Gentile Roman Centurion named Cornelius was visited by an angel. “One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter” vv.3-5. At the same time God had also given Peter a vision of a sheet with animals on it and then commanded Peter to kill and eat them.  “’Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean’” v. 14. Three times God told him the same thing. Just about then the men from Cornlius house arrive and ask for Peter to come with them. God confirms it and tells Peter to go with the men. On arrival at Cornelius’s house the rest of the story is made known to Peter. Then Peter understands the plan. “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” vv. 34-35. God had to show Peter though a vision of food that the Gentiles were also clean and ready to receive the gospel from Peter. All these working parts came together to complete the mission and save the Gentiles that Cornelius had gathered at his home.

How have you been a part of God’s plan and seen God working together with others to accomplish the mission? What else do you see here in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“A Chosen Instrument”

April 16, 2024

April 16, 2024

Read Numbers 36, Psalm 120-121, Acts 9

When I was in the sixth grade I wanted to play a musical instrument. All the cool people played in the band so naturally the dork in myself went straight for the orchestra! In the initial meeting with the strings teacher she suggested I play the violin because of my hand size but I really wanted to play the cello after hearing and seeing it played in a demo. I picked the cello and started my career as an amateur musician.  I stuck with it, decided to major in music education on the cello and then I ended up following a call into ministry as a pastor! Did you ever play any instruments or pick something in school to do or be a part of?

In Acts 9 we have a little different version of a chosen instrument. God chose Saul or Paul to be his chosen instrument for a much more important task. God appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, on his way to persecute more Christians. God had blinded him and asked another believer named Ananias to go speak to him and restore his sight. A Fearful Ananias objected, but God doubled down. “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” vv. 15-16.

We might not be called to do and experience the things that the Apostle Paul did, but God has chosen each of us to serve Him in a particular way. It might be in a full-time ministry position or it might be as a faithful volunteer that serves in a ministry at church or for the Lord. What has God chosen you to do for Him? Are you fighting back against a call on your life or are you humbly agreeing with God and serving to the best of your ability.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you most?
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Posted by John Weldon

“When people misunderstand you”

April 15, 2024

April 15, 2024

Read Numbers 35, Psalm 119:121-176, Acts 7-8

When did you had a time when people misunderstood you? Was it a language issue or maybe they did not have all the information they needed? Maybe they even misunderstood your motives. In Acts 7 as Stephen is giving his brief Old Testament survey before the High Priest and other religious leaders, he makes mention of the life of Moses and what Moses tried to do to help his own people in Egypt. “Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not” v. 25. Moses was trying to do something good and helpful, but his own people did not see it. When you take a position of leadership in any area of life you will always run the risk of being misunderstood or having people disagree with you or a decision that you made. This is the burden of leadership. You may not get the opportunity to explain yourself or your actions. The best thing that we can do is make godly decisions and stick with them even if everyone is not on the same page.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, verses, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Counted Worthy”

April 14, 2024

April 14, 2024

Read Numbers 34, Psalm 119:81-120, Acts 5-6

When’s the last time you rejoiced over something? Getting a good grade in school, getting a promotion at work, or maybe you celebrated something with your family like a birthday or anniversary? Whatever it was that you rejoiced over, I bet it was something good. In Acts 5: 41 we find the disciples rejoicing over something that most people would not rejoice over. “His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” The disciples took a beating, they were flogged and questioned and ordered not to continue talking about their faith and testimony in Jesus. They rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of their Savior. Jesus reminded them of this suffering before He returned to Heaven. He told them they would have trouble in this life, but to take courage, because Jesus had overcome the world.  Let this be a reminder for all of us, that when we face persecution from the world for our faith that we too can rejoice and be a part of good company like the disciples and Jesus himself who have faced persecution.

What else do you see in these chapters? What stands out to you most?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Boldness”

April 13, 2024

April 13, 2024

Read Numbers 33, Psalm 119:41-80, Acts 3-4

What would you do if you had a little more boldness? Would you do something crazy like sky dive or ride a motorcycle for the first time? Maybe you would take more chances in business or in life? One of the traits we see in the book of Acts is the boldness of the disciples as they are impowered by the Holy Spirit to share the good news of the resurrection. What made them have this boldness? I believe it came from their experience of seeing the resurrected Jesus and the power from the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 4 is an example of this boldness. The Jewish leaders had Peter and John rounded up and began to question them “’By what power or what name did you do this?’ 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed’” vv. 7b-10. The Holy Spirit is probably the most forgotten and minimized part of the trinity, at least in my experience. But equally as much God as the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is vital for God’s work in our lives. Peter’s boldness was not just a softball tossed at him to easily hit a homerun, Peter and John were standing before the most powerful people in Israel who had the power to jail or shut them up. Acts 4:12 is probably the most exclusive statement in the New Testament about how we attain salvation. “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” v. 12. Peter was clear, it was not the law that saved, it was Jesus. The response from the religious leaders tells it all. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” v. 13. The good news is that you don’t have to be trained or educated or have money or status to be bold. It can come from the Holy Spirit and from our personal experience of witnessing the power of God in our lives.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“God’s Word from A to T”

April 12, 2024

April 12, 2024

Read Numbers 32, Psalm 119:1-40, Acts 1-2

What acrostics do you know and remember that help you remember something important? Maybe it’s the order of operations in math, (Please My Dear Aunt Sally) or the word ACTS that teaches us the different parts of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is 176 verses long. It is an anonymous psalm that is in the acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet (22 characters) from Aleph to Taw. Each letter has 8 verses and the entire psalm centers around the Word of God. You cannot tell it English, but in Hebrew each of the corresponding stanzas start with the Hebrew letter.

“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord” v. 1. The unknown author uses many different words for the Scripture from precepts, decrees, statues, laws, and commands.  What are some of the reasons you are thankful for God Word in your life? What are some of the benefits it has brought to your life?

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

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