Eating with Sinners

May 23

(Acts 11:1-3 NIV) "The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. {2} 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."

(Mark 2:15-17 NIV) ""While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. {16} When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" {17} On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.""

Peter experienced a great spiritual breakthrough at the house of Cornelius. God had opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles. But when Peter got home, he faced the scrutiny of the religious community because he had gone to the home of “sinners” and ate with them. Instead of being thrilled that lost people had come to Christ, these nitpickers were offended that Peter went to them in the first place. Peter’s consolation was that they had said the same thing about Jesus. Jesus received the same criticism for going where the “sinners” were and ministering to them. He even once said that they were why he came into the world -- He came to save sinners. If God calls us, we should not refuse to minister to those that religionists consider “unclean”. Be certain it is the call of God and not of your flesh, but wherever God sends us, we go. We set a guard upon our hearts and we go. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Basic Gospel 101

May 22

(Acts 10:39-43 NIV) “They killed him by hanging him on a tree, {40} but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. {41} He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. {42} He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. {43} All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

(Luke 24:44-48 NIV) ““He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." {45} Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. {46} He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, {47} and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. {48} You are witnesses of these things.””

The gospel is an amazing gift from God, and we are commanded to share it. It’s not complicated, and its presentation does not have to be perfect. The Holy Spirit does the calling, the persuading, and the saving. Our part is witnessing to its reality in our lives and declaring it. God created us to be in relationship with Him, but we have all sinned and gone our own way. Knowing we were lost, God came to Earth in Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. He was crucified. He died and was buried, but God raised Him from the dead and many saw Him. Christ’s death paid the penalty for our sin. His resurrection proved that God accepted His payment. Everyone who believes and accepts His grace and mercy can receive forgiveness of sins through his name and be saved. Jesus is alive, and we are saved through our relationship with Him. Do you believe this? It’s a yes or no answer. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Commanded to Preach and Testify

May 21

(Acts 10:42-43 NIV) "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. {43} All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.""

(2 Timothy 1:8-12 NIV) "So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, {9} who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, {10} but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. {11} And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. {12} That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."

(2 Timothy 4:2-5 NIV) "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. {3} For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. {4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. {5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

The reason Peter risked going to the house of Cornelius is that he had been commanded to preach and testify. He had been commanded to speak about the Lord Jesus. He was obedient to the command. The command has not changed. It is a command for all time, to all disciples. Just before Christ ascended, He commanded His disciples to preach and to testify. The command extends out in time to those who follow Him today. We are His disciples, and that makes us His witnesses and preachers. We have been commanded to testify to His grace and mercy. We have been commanded to preach the gospel of Christ’s love -- to speak of His death on the cross for our sin, and of His resurrection. It is a message of eternal hope with Jesus as Lord and Savior, but of eternal judgment without Him. The gospel is for everyone, and the command to preach and testify is for all disciples. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

Chosen Witnesses

May 20

(Acts 10:36-41 NIV) “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. {37} You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- {38} how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. {39} "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, {40} but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. {41} He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.”

(Acts 1:8 NIV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(Acts 2:32 NIV) “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”

Peter thought of himself as a chosen witness. He knew the truth about Jesus, and he was called to share it with others. We who believe today also have a witness, and we have the same calling as Peter to share it. You are a chosen witness. Is that how you see yourself? Part of our witness is the truth about Jesus. Every Christian should know the simple gospel and how to share it. It is unchanging and eternal, but is adaptable to any situation or culture. The other part of our witness is what we have seen, and what Jesus has done in our life. We all have a story of some kind. This part of our story grows and changes. It’s different this year than last year. There is someone who needs to hear your story and witness. As we said yesterday, the gospel is for everyone, and so is the story God has given you. You are His chosen witness! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day