He Believed

June 21

(Acts 13:12 NIV) "When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."

(Galatians 3:5-9 NIV) "Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? {6} Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." {7} Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. {8} The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." {9} So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."

When God opened the proconsul’s eyes to see the works of the Lord, he was amazed at Paul’s teaching, and he believed. “He believed!” -- two of the most beautiful words in Scripture. Paul was bold in his proclamation and it opened the way for the proconsul to believe. This is still our calling today -- to open the way for people to believe God. We are called to witness to God’s glory in our worship, our giving, our testimony, our love, our prayers, and our service. When we live this way on a daily basis, a way is opened up for people to believe. Those with eyes to see, come to faith and see Jesus. We can partner with the Lord. Does your life’s witness open the way for people to come to Jesus, or does it close the door in their faces? Strive to live in a way that blesses others and opens the way to God. Pray that you get to hear those two most beautiful words: “He (or she) believed.” -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Name Change

June 20

(Acts 13:9 NIV) “Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said…”

(Acts 13:13 NIV) “From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.”

(Philippians 2:4-7 NIV) “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. {5} Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

In Acts 13:9, a name change occurs. From now on, we no longer read of Saul. He has become Paul. We have seen this before in Scripture, and it usually has significance. In those days, names had meaning that often reflected the personality of the one bearing the name. Saul was born a Jew and given a Hebrew name by his parents -- a name with kingly roots. But his father was a Roman citizen, and he was also given the Latin name, Paul, or Paulus, which means “small”. In the years when he identified as the Pharisee of Pharisees, Saul seemed like an appropriate name. But now his identity had changed -- he was now the Apostle to the Gentiles. The man who had wanted to be everything, now made himself nothing, just as his Lord and Savior had done. Saul had been transformed from “kingly” to “small”. He was now and forevermore, the servant Paul. Let Jesus change your name. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Blinded By Darkness

June 19

(Acts 13:9-11 NIV) ““But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. {9} Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, {10} "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? {11} Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.””

(John 3:18-21 NIV) “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. {19} This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. {20} Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. {21} But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

(Matthew 15:14 NIV) “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Not only are there prophets and teachers in the church, there are also false prophets and teachers. Elymas was one of those false teachers. He was a sorcerer who tried to turn the proconsul away from believing in Christ. But Paul would have none of it, and confronted the powers of darkness. He silenced Elymas by calling down blindness upon him. The voice of darkness was silenced by being blinded. The mouth seldom boasts of what the eyes cannot see. False prophets operate in the spirit of darkness, and turn people away from the light of Jesus. They emit an aura of wisdom, but they are blind guides who end up groping and stumbling in the darkness. Do not join them in their blindness. Confront them when you find them. They will put up a fight, but never forget, the Spirit of the Lord is stronger. No sorcery can defeat the power of God. Take the fight to them. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Intelligent Man

June 18

(Acts 13:6-7 NIV) "They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, {7} who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God."

(1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NIV) ““For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. {19} For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." {20} Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? {21} For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. {22} Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, {23} but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.””

After sailing to the island of Cyprus, Saul and Barnabas preached in the city of Salamis. Then they traveled to Paphos where they met a sorcerer and a seeker. The sorcerer was a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus Elymas. The seeker’s name was Sergius Paulus. He was a proconsul, which means he was a man of power. Luke describes him as an intelligent man who invited Saul and Barnabas to his house because he wanted to hear the word of God. Truly intelligent people still want to hear the word of God. Christianity is often derided as a religion for the gullible and the unsophisticated, but the opposite is really true. Intelligence and seeking God go together. One could even say that the essence of true intelligence is seeking God. The traditional Christmas time phrase, “Wise Men Still Seek Him”, is an intelligent statement year round. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Training the Next Generation

June 17

(Acts 13:5b NIV) “John was with them as their helper.”

(Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV) "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. {7} Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

(Judges 2:10 NIV) "After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel."

When Saul and Barnabas set off on their first missionary journey, they took a young man by the name of John Mark with them as an intern. Their ministry team was intergenerational. Saul later did the same thing with Timothy. He was always training up someone younger. We should also be training up the next generation, and whether we know it or not, we already are. We all have a John Mark of some kind watching us -- a teen, or a child, or a grandchild. As they follow you around today and observe your walk, will they be inspired to follow Jesus? Who will be serving the Lord in the next generation because you modeled faith for them and made a difference in their lives? Someone has said that the church is always only one generation away from extinction. Do your part to prevent that from happening. Make disciples in the generations that follow in your footsteps. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Proclamation

June 16

(Acts 13:4-5 NIV) "The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. {5} When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues."

(Colossians 1:25-29 NIV) "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- {26} the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. {27} To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. {28} We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. {29} To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me."

(1 John 1:1-3 NIV) "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. {2} The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. {3} We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."

(John 12:32 NIV) "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.""

When Saul and Barnabas arrived at Salamis, their mission’s purpose immediately became clear. They had come to proclaim the word of God. They preached the good news of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for the salvation of all who would repent and believe. As individuals and churches, we may use various methods to share the love of Jesus, and point people to the Lord… feeding programs, big events, great music, or children’s programs. We find ways to love people and give glory to God, but our highest calling is to share the gospel -- to proclaim the word of God. If we fail at this, we have failed our mission. Whatever it takes, we must proclaim it. We tell people about Jesus. We don’t save people -- only Jesus does that. But we lift Him up, because if we lift Him up, He will draw people unto himself. That’s our calling. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Called, Affirmed, Sent Out

June 15

(Acts 13:3 NIV) "So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

(Luke 9:1-2 NIV) "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, {2} and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick."

(John 17:13-18 NIV) "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. {14} I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. {15} My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. {16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. {17} Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. {18} As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."

There is a sense in which all who follow Jesus are “sent”. The call to “go and make disciples” in Matthew 28, and the call “be my witnesses” in Acts 1, are standing orders for all who believe that Jesus is Lord. All Christians have been “sent” in some way, to someone, somewhere. But the Holy Spirit led the church in Antioch to bless Saul and Barnabas for a special mission. They were sent out as traveling evangelists and church planters. They were called, affirmed and sent out by a local church just like yours and mine. God’s blessing came through the church where they were serving. Today, we have too many “lone rangers” who see gifts in themselves and call themselves. They seek counsel from no one, and have little, if any accountability. But the pattern set by the early church is for those who feel a call to seek the counsel and blessing of their church. That’s still a good plan. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Set Apart and Called

June 14

(Acts 13:2 NIV) "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

(Romans 1:1-4 NIV) "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- {2} the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures {3} regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, {4} and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."

Saul and Barnabas were “set apart” and “called” by God. Is this still important? Many churches today look for a leader with a higher education, rather than a leader with a higher calling. Too many see ministry as a profession rather than a calling. To be truly effective for God’s Kingdom, a call is essential. Without a calling, we may become good employees of a church, but seldom excel as great servants of Jesus Christ. Without a calling, we are doomed to being duty- bound workers rather than Spirit-filled laborers. Without a calling, we will lack the stamina and zeal necessary to complete the difficult missions set before us. Barnabas and Saul would need that sense of calling to carry them through lonely nights when they’d been rejected, beaten, and jailed for disturbing the peace. Being called and set apart would keep them going when others were giving up. It still works that way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Gifted Prophets and Teachers

June 13

(Acts 13:1 NIV)  "In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.”

(Romans 12:4-8 NIV) "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, {5} so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. {6} We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. {7} If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; {8} if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

The church at Antioch was blessed with gifted prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas and Saul. The Holy Spirit had gifted them to preach the word and teach the great truths of Jesus. These gifts of the Spirit helped them grow the church in Antioch, and qualified them to be the first formally commissioned missionaries. The church at Antioch eventually sent Saul and Barnabas out to evangelize and plant churches in other places. Those with prophetic gifting speak the truth of God boldly into their cultures, even when that truth is difficult. Prophetic teaching is not always positive. It disturbs our peace, and calls us to change. But prophets preach and teach God’s word regardless of the consequences. You too have been given a gift to use for Christ’s glory -- perhaps even more than one. Discover it, and use it to grow God’s Kingdom. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Labeled a Quitter

June 12

(Acts 12:25 NIV) "When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark."

(Acts 13:13 NIV) "From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem."

(Acts 15:36-40 NIV) "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." {37} Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, {38} but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. {39} They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, {40} but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord."

(Colossians 4:10 NIV) "My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)"

(2 Timothy 4:11 NIV) "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry."

John Mark had some ups and downs in his ministry. He eventually wrote the Gospel of Mark, but not before he was labeled a “quitter” and caused a deep disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. They took Mark on a missionary journey, but he left the team and went back home. When Barnabas wanted to take Mark on a subsequent trip, Paul said no. He saw Mark as unreliable. They disagreed so strongly that they parted ways. But later in Paul’s letters, we see that Mark once again became a trusted companion. Most of us go through times in our faith when we fail to follow through or complete our mission. All of Christ’s disciples failed Him at some point. But with Jesus, failure is never final -- the “quitter” label need not stick forever. Our God is a God of second chances. Accept His offer of grace and get back in the game. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

God’s Sovereignty - Our Free Will

June 11

(Acts 12:24 NIV) “But the word of God continued to increase and spread.”

(Isaiah 49:22 NIV) ““This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.””

(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.””

God is sovereign, and all the Herods, Hitlers, and Ayatollahs of this world will never stop the steady march of the gospel through time. It will continue to “increase and spread” in the best of times, and in the worst of times. Today, you are either a miracle of God, or a miracle in waiting. We are carried to Christ on the shoulders of those who give their lives to glorify God. That mother or grandmother who prayed helped beckon you. That friend or neighbor who shared Jesus and invited you to church lifted the banner. But although God is sovereign, in this lifetime we have choices. God allows us to choose Him or reject Him. We have free will. Salvation is in Christ, repentance, and resting in faith, but many will have none of it. God is sovereign, but lets us choose. What will you choose? Will you be among those who have none of it, or among those who trust in the Lord? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Eaten By Worms

June 10

(Acts 12:18-23 NIV) ““In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. {19} After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. {20} He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. {21} On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. {22} They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." {23} Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.””

(Acts 14:8-18 NIV) ““In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. {9} He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed {10} and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. {11} When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" {12} Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. {13} The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. {14} But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: {15} "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. {16} In the past, he let all nations go their own way. {17} Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." {18} Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.””

The main difference between the disciples and Herod was who they sought to glorify with their lives. The disciples sought to glorify God. Herod sought to glorify himself. But God’s patience with Herod finally ran out. When the people praised Herod as a god, instead of correcting them, he accepted it and soaked it up. For his sin, he was struck down and “eaten by worms”. Herod thought of himself as a god, and it cost him his life. It still costs us our lives when we think of ourselves as gods. We mock God when we serve ourselves rather than the Lord -- when we are absorbed with self-glorification rather than glorifying Christ. We walk with Herod when we advance ourselves rather than advancing the gospel. We worship ourselves when we rationalize our sin and excuse behavior that is offensive to the God of Heaven. This is the basic flaw of humanity. Never fail to give glory to God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Doubting God’s Miracles

June 9

(Acts 12:11-16 NIV) “Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating. {12}  When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. {13} Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. {14} When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" {15} "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel." {16} But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.”

(Matthew 14:25-31 NIV) ““During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. {26} When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. {27} But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." {28} "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." {29} "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. {30} But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" {31} Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?””

The church was praying for Peter’s deliverance, but when God answered their prayers, they doubted and were astonished that he showed up at their door. They were surprised by God’s miracle. We should never doubt God’s ability to do miracles. Our God can provide astonishing answers to prayer. However, we must be careful how we define the word “miracle”. Things don’t have to go our way for miracles to occur. They can happen, even when we don’t get what we want. We must abandon our self-centered approach to the miraculous. Miracles often go far beyond the limited scope of our personal benefit. An examination of Scripture will show that God’s miracles do not always include our personal well-being, or the well-being of those we love. Never doubt the ability of God to do miracles! Just be sure you don’t define “miracle” so narrowly that God cannot succeed. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

God’s Intervention

June 8

(Acts 12:6-11 NIV) “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. {7} Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. {8} Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. {9} Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. {10} They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. {11} Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."

(Job 1:18-22 NIV) ““While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, {19} when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" {20} At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship {21} and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." {22} In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.””

God is sovereign, and sometimes chooses to interject Himself into human history. James was killed by Herod, but Peter was spared by an angelic visitation. We may question God’s fairness and sit in judgment of Him, but we do not view history from eternity. Why do we make deliverance from physical death the measuring stick of God’s power and love? Is personal survival really the only definition of God’s mercy? Is life here on earth really better than eternity in heaven? When we say at funerals, “They’re in a better place”… do we not really mean it? Perhaps James, not Peter, received the greater miracle here. When God intervenes and we survive, we should praise Him -- and when God doesn’t appear to come through, we should praise Him. God is sovereign, and we who believe are blessed, whether the angel comes to save us, or to take us home. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Earnest Prayer

June 7

(Acts12:5 NIV) “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

(Psalm 107:28-30 NIV) "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. {29} He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. {30} They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven."

(James 5:16 NIV) "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

If one takes enough Scripture out of context, they can come up with a guaranteed formula for achieving answered prayer. Prayer is often taught as if it were a matter of pushing the right buttons; after which God is obligated to grant our requests. This is a distorted picture of prayer. There is no guaranteed formula, but God does point to earnestness as a factor in powerful prayer. The church was praying earnestly for Peter, and God sent an angel to set him free. Does that mean that the church was less earnest in their prayers for James? No! God answers prayer in His way, in His time, and for His glory. We pray because God tells us to pray, and we want to be obedient. We pray because it makes a difference. There are too many great personal testimonies that point to the power of prayer for us to ignore. Never underestimate the power of earnest prayer. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

No Guarantee of Safety

June 6

(Acts 12:1-4 NIV) “It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. {2} He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. {3} When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. {4} After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.”

(Luke 14:25-33 NIV) ““Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: {26} "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. {27} And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. {28} "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? {29} For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, {30} saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' {31} "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? {32} If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. {33} In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.””

(Luke 21:10-19 NIV) ““Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. {11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. {12} "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. {13} This will result in your being witnesses to them. {14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. {15} For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. {16} You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. {17} All men will hate you because of me. {18} But not a hair of your head will perish. {19} By standing firm you will gain life.””

Righteousness is no guarantee of safety. James was arrested and quickly executed by Herod for his faith. Peter appeared headed for the same fate. The disciples had no guarantee of safety. Thousands of believers in the book of Acts shared the gospel at the risk of their lives. Obedience, not personal safety, was the primary concern of the disciples. When Jesus said you must lay down your life for the gospel, He meant it. Today, many Christians want a guarantee of safety before they step out in faith. Forget about our lives, we are reluctant to sacrifice even our popularity. We must abandon the false teaching that our prosperity and popularity are God’s number one concern. Lost souls are His chief concern. He gave the life of his Son for them. Do we really think our lives are more important than that?  Being a disciple has no guarantee of safety. Be a disciple anyway. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Christian = Generous

June 5

(Acts 11:27-30 NIV) "During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. {28} One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) {29} The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. {30} This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul."

(2 Corinthians 8:1-7 NIV) "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. {2} Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. {3} For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, {4} they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. {5} And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. {6} So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. {7} But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us --see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

(2 Corinthians 9:12-15 NIV) "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. {13} Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. {14} And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. {15} Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"

The believers in Antioch, derisively labeled as “Christians” because of their faith in a risen Lord, demonstrated what it means to follow Jesus. They not only supported one another in times of need, they modeled generous giving, sending money to help people they didn’t even know. This is what happens when self-preservation ceases to be our goal in life. It happens when we get outside ourselves -- our wants and our needs. It happens when we see that what we have is a gift from God, given to us to share with others. It happens when we have faith that God will take care of us even when we give our stuff away. These people were not wealthy by the world’s standards, but they were rich in grace and mercy, and they became a legend in their own time. They earned the name “Christian” -- a curse word that eventually evolved into a badge of honor. Are you growing into the name? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Teachable Disciples

June 4

(Acts 11:25-26 NIV) "Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, {26} and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."

(Acts 18:11 NIV) "So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God."

(Mark 6:34 NIV) "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."

One of the traits that marked the early disciples and earned them the label “Christian” was their teachability. Like sponges, the believers in Antioch soaked up the teaching of Saul and Barnabas for a whole year. With diligence and determination, they sacrificed their time to learn. Today, many who identify as Christians have lost that spirit. Far too many are just “Sunday morning Christians”. They seldom read the Bible for themselves, study Scripture together, or spend time in prayer. Becoming a mature disciple does not happen automatically. There is no magic pill. It takes discipline, and requires a teachable spirit, which is a choice. One of the greatest weaknesses of the church today is the lack of teachable disciples. Apathy, busyness, indifference, and arrogance define many believers, and these attitudes hinder discipleship. Don’t be one of the unteachables. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Full of It

June 3

(Acts 11:24 NIV) “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”

(John 1:14 NIV) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

(Acts 6:8 NIV) “Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.”

(Luke 11:39 NIV) ““Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.””

You may have heard the expression, “He’s full of it.” It is not usually meant as a compliment. When Luke speaks of Barnabas being sent to Antioch, he tells us that Barnabas was a man “full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” When John speaks of Jesus, he describes the Lord as “full of grace and truth.” Stephen, the church’s first recorded martyr, is described as “a man full of grace and power.” Conversely, Jesus described the Pharisees as “full of greed and wickedness.” How would God describe you? If the Lord described you as “full of it”, what would he be talking about? What a glorious epitaph for our tombstones, if it could honestly be said of us, “He (she) was a good man (woman), full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and he (she) brought a great number of people to the Lord.” If we’re going to be described as being full of something, let’s work at making it “the Holy Spirit and faith.” -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Evidence of Grace

June 2

(Acts 11:23 NIV) "When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts."

(Acts 26:20 NIV) "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds."

(1 Corinthians 4:1-2 NIV) "So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. {2} Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

When Barnabas looked at the lives of the new Christians at Antioch, he saw evidence of God’s grace. They were becoming a reflection of Jesus. The evidence of grace is a changed life -- a life that causes others to say, “There’s something different about you. What is it?” The change starts when we believe the truth about Jesus. This lights a fire, and the grace of God begins to percolate in us. As we feed on God’s word and spend time with God in prayer, the way we live begins to change, and we begin to produce the evidence of grace. If we see salvation as just a momentary decision that supplies us with a “get out of hell free” card, this likely won’t happen. God calls us to more than just a day of salvation. He calls us to a lifetime of discipleship. As the evidence of grace grows in our lives, others will be drawn to the glow of the gospel. Is your life producing evidence of grace? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Making News for Jesus

June 1

(Acts 11:22 NIV) "News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch."

(Matthew 4:24 NIV) "News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them."

(Luke 7:15-17 NIV) "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." {17} This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country."

Good news travels slower than bad news, but it does travel. When faith is genuine, it becomes newsworthy. If we love consistently, we make news for Jesus that goes beyond the token church page in the local newspaper. If the only news we generate is soup suppers, car washes, pancake feeds, and Vacation Bible Schools, we haven’t really done much for Jesus. If the only time people know we belong to a church is when they read our obituary in the newspaper, we have failed our calling. Live a life that produces good news -- news that reaches the ears of unbelievers and skeptics. Surprise the world with love, grace, compassion, and generosity. Show your neighbors who Jesus is with your life. Use every opportunity God provides to speak of the changes Christ has brought to your life. When the church does this, the label “Christian” will become admirable again. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day