Lessons from the Journey

Acts 5:27-42

Gamaliel, gets little recognition in Christian history folk lore however he may have played a role in the coming salvations among the Jewish priests recorded in Acts 6:7.  Here was a man with some truth but not the complete truth and challenged those wanting to kill the apostles to observe them and to consider their message to see if they were from God.  As referenced earlier in 6:7 Luke states that there were a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.  In other words they found the whole truth!  

As those desiring to help others find this true salvation in Jesus Christ we need to consider who the peacemaker is in the group and allow time for them to observe us and see that in fact we are from God.  And it cannot be overlooked that it was because of persecution that the apostles were provided audience with all of the Jewish leaders.  In many cases persecution creates proximity to those whom we would never get close to in any other way!  Embrace the suffering and look for the Gamaliel's that God may use to bring good from your pain...

Lessons from the Journey

Here is a sneak peak inside a conversation at the 3:5 team meeting at my home tonight.  One of the guys mentioned an extremely difficult situation a friend of his was experiencing... 

"How big is your God?" Is God big enough for the trials/tragedy you are leading your people through?  This is important because the size of your God determines the level of hope you have to offer someone in the midst of their tragedy."  

When circumstances defy logic, and intellect is irrelevant, hope is what we have to offer and it is secure!

Lessons from the Journey

"Don't squeeze the Charmin?"  I say squeeze the heck out of it!  When pressure is applied... one's true colors come out.  Where it is natural to wish against pain; it is unavoidable.  See,trials are brilliantly disguised as opportunities to display the legitimacy of our relationships with God.  

"...you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ". (1 Peter 1:6-7) 

To me this has an interesting connection to Jesus' challenge to His followers to love their enemies because even the pagans love those who like them.  Whether it is by loving our enemies or by enduring hardships God receives glory when we have the right approach.  An alternative view is seeing that our trials are bigger than simply surviving them but rather while standing in the dark of a trial the light at the end of the tunnel is what we chase, God's glory!

Lessons from the Journey

It has been well said that everyone is either going into a storm, enduring a storm, or coming out of one!  One of the common, normal responses during a storm of life is to ask "why is this  happening".  Where as this is certainly a permissible question it is not necessarily helpful because, to be honest, there will never be a satisfactory enough answer.  See, life is full of opportunities beautifully disguised as a challenges and if we view them this way we can become stronger regardless as to size of the storm.  

So, in order to not only survive but rather thrive in life's most painful trials I suggest asking another question, "What can I learn from this?" Through some of my own personal storms I have found that one by product of these hard times is that I can gain trust.  Here is how I express some of the benefits of TRUST and some verses from the Bible that can provide a deeper understanding:

• Teachability--Isaiah 64:1-8
• Reliance--James 4:6-8
• Understanding--Proverbs 3:5-6
• Stamina--James 1:2-4
• Thankfulness--Job 1:1-22