Hospitality

May 8

(Acts 9:43 NIV) "Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon."

(Romans 12:13 NIV) "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

(Romans 16:23 NIV) "Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings."

(1 Peter 4:8-9 NIV) "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. {9} Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."

It would be easy to skip over Acts 9:43 as an insignificant addition to a miraculous story of healing and resurrection. But it’s an important detail. It highlights the hospitality of a common working man named Simon. He was a tanner, and probably good at his trade, but he is not immortalized for excelling at his craft. He is known because he hosted Peter for “some time”. The early apostles depended on hospitality wherever they traveled. The gospel was not a money-making business, and they had no “travel benefits”. It is safe to say that the gospel would not have prospered like it did in those early days had there not been people willing to host those who were fearlessly preaching. Common everyday people, most of them nameless, helped propel the name of Jesus onto the world stage, by sacrificing to practice hospitality. Take a moment today and thank God for their work. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Giving the Miracle a Voice

May 7

(Acts 9:41-42 NIV) “Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. {42} This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:19 NIV) “Do not quench the Spirit.”

(Psalm 96:3 NIV) “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”

Miracles were not meant to be kept secret. They are granted to glorify God. For that reason, at some point we should give the miracle a voice. When someone repents and turns to Christ, spiritually they have been raised from the dead. The best thing we can do for them after that is to lead them to tell someone. We present them to others alive. Peter did this with Dorcas. He took her out in public and presented her alive to the people. Peter gave the miracle a voice. Jesus does miracles today. Some of those miracles are reading this page right now. Give those miracles a voice. It’s sad that so many of God’s miracles never see the light of day because they are never declared. Thus, they fail to accomplish God’s purpose of glorifying his Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit is quenched by human reluctance. Proclaim the victory. Souls are at stake. Give the miracle a voice. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Hand’s On Ministry

May 6

(Acts 9:41a NIV) “He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.”

(Mark 8:22-25 NIV) ““They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. {23} He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" {24} He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." {25} Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.””

(Luke 13:10-13 NIV) ““On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, {11} and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. {12} When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." {13} Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.””

Praying and speaking words of life are important, but one more thing is often called for in ministry. At some point we are all called to take another’s hand and help them to their feet. If our ministry is indeed a ministry of Christ, it will often become a “hands on” ministry. We are called to intercede in prayer, to speak the words of life, and sometimes to become the hands of Jesus here on Earth. We embrace that grieving parent. We cuddle that child who is in pain. We reach down and offer a hand to those who have fallen. We lay our hands on the sick and ask for their healing. We hold the hands of those who walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We are called to be the healing, holding, and helping hands of Jesus in a world filled with desperate, destitute, and dying people. Never underestimate the power of a touch from Jesus. Reach out and use your hands for God’s glory. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Speaking Words of Life

May 5

(Acts 9:40b NIV) “Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.”

(Luke 7:11-16 NIV) ““Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. {12} As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. {13} When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." {14} Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" {15} The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. {16} They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people.””

(John 6:63-68 NIV) ““The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. {64} Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. {65} He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." {66} From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. {67} "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. {68} Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.””

When Peter confronted death in the house where Tabitha’s body had been placed, he prayed first. But then he spoke words of life to her, telling her to rise up. Prayer should come first, but at some point we are called to speak words of life into those around us. Words of life can be as simple as telling the story of what Jesus has done for you. They can be spoken when we ask another if we can pray for them. They can be shared when we explain the gospel to someone and ask if they would like to receive Jesus. Prayer is a great calling and should never be forsaken, but speaking words of life is of equal importance. One should not replace the other -- they work in tandem. When we fail to speak the words of life, we deny our full calling, and foolishly attempt to defeat the enemy with one hand tied behind our back. Pray, and speak the words of life into those dying around you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day