2 Peter 3:17-18

No matter how far away from God you have drifted, you’re always welcome back. That’s the lesson from Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son–the foolish boy who followed a pleasure-filled path to ruin before returning to his father and finding redemption (Luke 15:11-32). Perhaps ruin has not yet come to you, but you know that your heart has grown cool to the things of God. Whatever your drifting story, make this the day that you point yourself back to the Lord.

As with any sin, the first motion toward getting back on course is to acknowledge that you have slipped away from the Lord. Then you confess and repent, which is like turning your boat in the opposite direction and paddling toward God with all your strength. If you’re wondering exactly how to do that, I suggest a strategy I use every morning. Before I step out of bed, I give myself to God by acknowledging, I surrender my entire life to You for this day. When something comes up that runs counter to His plan and I consider pursuing it, the Holy Spirit reminds me that I am not my own. Only God’s way will do for me.

Every day we choose whether to row or drift. As for me, I choose to vigorously pursue God.

Peter gives a warning to be on guard against attitudes and ideologies that would carry you away from truth (2 Peter 3:17). Instead, choose to paddle your lifeboat toward the Lord by meditating on Scripture, praying, and living obediently. Practicing the spiritual disciplines keeps a heart warm toward God.

 

 The emergence of the Church, the emergence of followers even after Christ’s death, despite intense opposition and even brutal persecution, is an enigma. Or, in the words of professor C.F.D. Moule of Cambridge University, it “rips a great hole in history, a hole of the size and shape of the Resurrection.” The book of Acts offers the first glimpses of that great hole. 

 In it, we find a high priest filled with rage. Jesus was no longer among them, but the disciples continued to fill Jerusalem with his teaching. The high priest had strictly charged the apostles not to teach of Jesus, yet they continued preaching to the crowds and healing the sick, and multitudes were professing belief in Christ. So the high priest had them all arrested, and setting them before the council, he questioned them harshly. Peter answered exactly as he preached: “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus… exalting him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”(1)

 At his words, the council was enraged, and some wanted to kill them.  But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up to speak, first instructing that the apostles be led out of the room.  And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.” 

 Gamaliel’s words introduce a logic often overlooked; he reminded them that this had happened before. He reminded them to look at history. “Before these days, Theudas rose up,” he countered, “claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men even joined him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.” And after Theudas, Gamaliel warned, there were similar stories. “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”(2)

 Though the growth of the Church alone is not enough to conclude the veracity of Christ’s resurrection, it is evidence that would be irresponsible to ignore. The apostles were aware that the message of the Cross is foolishness. They made choices to continue preaching despite the orders of the high priest and the often-severe persecution they faced. They changed social and religious practices that had been followed for centuries. They refused to give in; they would not be overthrown.    

 The birth and rapid rise of Christ’s followers after the offensive death of their leader fails to make sense outside of the explanation the Church itself offers: they were witnesses of these altogether unfathomable events. The message they were teaching was true. Christ was raised and death was stopped, while the disciples looked on. They were witnesses of God’s power, and they went to their deaths proclaiming it, choosing to obey God rather than man. 

 Christ left in history a hole the size and shape of the Resurrection. With what explanation will you attempt to fill it? 

 Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

 (1) Acts 5:29-32.
(2) Acts 5:38, 39.

 Morning “The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory.” / Deuteronomy 5:24

 God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any

aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be

manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has

ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own

powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear,

then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to

be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into

straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and

weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth

to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see

but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of

self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the

revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know

but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,”

these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of

bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah,

because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led

by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s

greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of

knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of

the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you

might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left

to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved,

but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the

outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you.

 

Evening “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench.” / Matthew 12:20

 What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth

in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let

but the foot of man brush against it, and it is bruised and broken; every wind

that flits across the river moves it to and fro. You can conceive of nothing

more frail or brittle, or whose existence is more in jeopardy, than a bruised

reed. Then look at the smoking flax–what is it? It has a spark within it, it

is true, but it is almost smothered; an infant’s breath might blow it out;

nothing has a more precarious existence than its flame. Weak things are here

described, yet Jesus says of them, “The smoking flax I will not quench; the

bruised reed I will not break.” Some of God’s children are made strong to do

mighty works for him; God has his Samsons here and there who can pull up

Gaza’s gates, and carry them to the top of the hill; he has a few mighties who

are lion-like men, but the majority of his people are a timid, trembling race.

They are like starlings, frightened at every passer by; a little fearful

flock. If temptation comes, they are taken like birds in a snare; if trial

threatens, they are ready to faint; their frail skiff is tossed up and down by

every wave, they are drifted along like a sea bird on the crest of the

billows–weak things, without strength, without wisdom, without foresight.

Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they have this promise

made specially to them. Herein is grace and graciousness! Herein is love and

lovingkindness! How it opens to us the compassion of Jesus–so gentle, tender,

considerate! We need never shrink back from his touch. We need never fear a

harsh word from him; though he might well chide us for our weakness, he

rebuketh not. Bruised reeds shall have no blows from him, and the smoking flax

no damping frowns.

They [locusts] do not jostle one another; each marches in his path.   Joel 2:8 

 Locusts always keep their rank, and although their number is legion, they do not crowd upon each other, so as to throw their columns into confusion. This remarkable fact in natural history shows how thoroughly the Lord has infused the spirit of order into His universe, since the smallest animate creatures are as much controlled by it as are the rolling spheres or the angelic throng. It would be wise for believers to be ruled by the same influence in all their spiritual life.

In their Christian graces no one virtue should usurp the sphere of another or feed off the rest for its own support. Affection must not smother honesty, courage must not elbow weakness out of the field, modesty must not jostle energy, and patience must not slaughter resolution. So also with our duties. One must not interfere with another; public usefulness must not injure private piety; church work must not push family worship into a corner. It is wrong to offer God one duty stained with the blood of another. Each thing is beautiful in its season, but not otherwise.

The same rule applies to our personal position. We must take care to know our place, take it, and keep to it. We must minister as the Spirit has given us ability, and not intrude upon our fellow servant’s domain. Our Lord Jesus taught us not to covet the high places, but to be willing to be the least among our brothers and sisters. Let us say no to an envious, ambitious spirit; let us feel the force of the Master’s command and do as He bids us, keeping in step with the rest of the company. Tonight let us see whether we are keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, and let our prayer be that in all the churches of the Lord Jesus peace and order may prevail.

Family Reading Plan  Jeremiah 14 Matthew 28