Sent Out By Force

May 29

(Acts 11:19 NIV) "Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews."

(Acts 8:1-4 NIV) "And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. {2} Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. {3} But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. {4} Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went."

It wasn’t always a mystical missionary spirit that carried the name of Jesus abroad. The seeds of the gospel were often spread by the winds of persecution. But as people fled from the death threats and the beatings, they continued to share the gospel story. What was designed to silence the message of Christ ended up amplifying it to the point that it became un-stoppable. God took what was intended for evil, and used it for good. Sometimes the pain, suffering, and persecution of this life produce the sweetest fruit for the kingdom of God. Trials and troubles often force us out of our comfort zones and into situations where our lights can shine brightly. We can be pushed into doing heroic things that we would not have ordinarily done, and taken to places where the name of Christ has not yet been spoken. Wherever life takes you, share Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Earning the Title

May 28

(Acts 11:26b NIV) “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

(Acts 26:28 NIV) ““Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?””

(1 Peter 4:16 NIV) “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

As the news about Jesus spread, more and more Gentiles came to faith. In Antioch, Jesus changed some new believers in such a profound way that their faith became legendary. They impressed folks around them so much that they earned a radical new title. People began to call them Christians. They were so different, so much like Jesus, that they were labeled with His name. A new brand name was born in Antioch. At first, the label was derogatory. It was a slur. Antagonists and persecutors used the name to stereotype and ridicule the church. They were seen as a very weird bunch and looked down upon by the intellectuals of their day. The label stuck, and over time it became something of which to be proud. The name that began as a slur became a badge of honor. It became a title to strive for -- a title earned by wholeheartedly living for Jesus. Go for the title! Live for Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Thinking Outside the Box

May 27

(Acts 11:7-12 NIV) ““Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' {8} "I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' {9} "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' {10} This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. {11} "Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. {12} The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house.””

(Isaiah 43:19 NIV) "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

God often calls us to do things that we wouldn’t ordinarily do, in ways we’ve never done it before. This is what happened to Peter. One phrase we use today to express this concept is “thinking outside the box”. In Peter’s vision, the Lord called him to think outside the box. God was doing a new thing! The church would need to greatly expand its box. Today, many churches have a box that everyone is expected to fit into, and woe to the person who thinks outside of that particular box. But many people that Jesus wants to save do not fit in the average church’s box. It must grieve the Holy Spirit that while Jesus is building a mansion in glory, His church seems to be consumed with box- making. And while God’s people strain to maintain their precious little boxes, Jesus comes along and says, “Your boxes are way too small.” In these last days, it’s time to think outside the box. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Repentance Unto Life

May 26

(Acts 11:18 NIV) “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.""

(Luke 5:32 NIV) "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.""

(2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV) "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

(Isaiah 30:15 NIV) "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

The early church soon concluded that even Gentiles had been granted the opportunity to repent and receive new life in Jesus. What does it mean to be granted repentance unto life? It is the combination of God’s sovereign grace and our free will. First, it is a grant. We do not have to pay it back. We cannot pay it back. We have been granted salvation. It is by grace we have been saved. But the grant is for an opportunity. We have been given the opportunity to choose -- to believe in faith that Jesus saves. We can receive God’s gift, or refuse it. We can repent and receive eternal life, or we can decline God’s offer and continue to live in the darkness of death. Repentance unto life means choosing to let God change our life. We abandon our old destructive behavior, and embrace new life- giving behaviors. We are born again into a new life with Christ. Have you repented unto life? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day