Fulfilling Our Duty

November 15

(Acts 22:30 NIV) “The next day, since the commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.”

(Acts 23:1 NIV) ““Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.””

(Romans 15:15-17 NIV) “I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me {16} to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. {17} Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.”

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV) “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. {14} For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

On what could have easily been the last day of his life, Paul looked the religious stuffed shirts of his day in the eye, and told them his conscience was clear. He had fulfilled his priestly duty to God. He had been called by God to proclaim the gospel and that’s what he was doing. He had answered God’s call with zeal and would make no apologies for it. Could you say that today? Could you look a hostile crowd (or any crowd) in the eye and say, “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience.”? Could you look Jesus in the eye and say that? If not, why not? What is holding you back? What is preventing you from fulfilling your duty to God? Maybe it’s time to clean house. Perhaps serving Jesus should become a higher priority on your schedule. He certainly didn’t die on the cross to play second fiddle. Fulfill your duty to the Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

No More Chains

November 14

(Acts 22:29 NIV) “Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.”

(Luke 4:18 NIV) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,”

(Psalms 116:16 NIV) “O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.”

(Galatians 5:1 NIV) “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

In most nations, citizens have rights that non-citizens do not have. The Roman commander knew that he was not allowed to put a Roman citizen in chains without good cause. Citizens have rights. We who are citizens of the Kingdom also do not belong in chains. Jesus came to set us free, but many Christians remain in bondage. Their chains are not visible, but they are real. They are in bondage to regret, bitterness, anxiety, abuse, addiction, envy, un-forgiveness, and many other maladies. If you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom and still in chains, it is not some-thing God has willed. You may not have chosen your particular chains in the beginning, but you do have a choice about remaining in them. Do you want to be free? Jesus came to proclaim freedom for the prisoners! Cry out to Him, and when the chains fall off, do not return to them again. A citizen does not belong in chains. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Becoming a Citizen

November 13

(Act 22:28 NIV) ““Then the commander said, "I had to pay a big price for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied.””

(Ephesians 2:13-20 NIV) "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. {14} For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, {15} by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, {16} and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. {17} He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. {18} For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. {19} Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, {20} built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."

Many of us were born citizens of our nation. We didn’t have to do anything. Perhaps that is why so many take their freedoms and privileges for granted. But for many, a citizen is something you must become. There are classes to take and oaths to swear. They must renounce all other allegiances, and swear to support, defend, and serve the nation. It works that way with God’s Kingdom. We aren’t born citizens, nor can we buy our citizenship. Someone else already bought it for us. His name is Jesus, and we are called to covenant with Him, renouncing all other allegiances, and promising our support and service. Many Christians neglect this today. We desire the privileges of citizenship, but reject the loyalty and the service. This produces a weak and self-serving church. God is looking for some people who will transfer their loyalty and become citizens of His Kingdom. Can He count on you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Transferred Loyalty

November 12

(Acts 22:26-27 NIV) ““When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "This man is a Roman citizen." {27} The commander went to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I am," he answered.””

(Philippians 3:18-20 NIV) “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. {19} Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. {20} But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”

A naturalized citizen has transferred their loyalty from one nation to another. In the past, the USA was a “melting pot”. People came from all over and melted together as citizens of one nation. Today, citizenship has been cheapened, and the nation is more like a “salad bowl” than a melting pot. Individualism reigns supreme. Assimilation is no longer necessary. Allegiance is no longer required, and loyalty has diminished. The same thing has happened in much of the church. We invite people to come join us, but “come as you are” has morphed into “remain as you are”. No change is required. No melting is necessary -- that would require heat, and we want to be seen as “cool”. Our Jesus offers a lot and demands very little. But this is not the Jesus or the church of Scripture. Citizenship in God’s Kingdom has requirements, discipleship is costly, and Christ commands a non-negotiable transfer of loyalty. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day