Think Upon These Things

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What does it look like to be a strong, solid, faithful Christian in our world today? How can we stand firm while living in a world that is getting darker daily in many ways – a society that is redefining and distorting Truth – a culture that not only promotes tolerance, but labels Christians as “haters” for believing in, and abiding by, a different standard?

Maybe the answer starts with our minds.

What goes in our minds, what goes on inside them – what we think about and how we think, directly influences our attitude and our actions.

While there are a number of passages in the Bible that talk about our minds, one that I’ve camped out in lately is Phil. 4:8-9.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about (dwell on) such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

We should note that verse 8 starts with the word “finally,” indicating that Paul has already given some instructions and encouragement to the Philippians.

• He’s told them to rejoice and not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present their requests to God.
• And then the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

That’s our immediate context for what follows in v. 8.

The fact the Philippians were encouraged to be intentional about managing their thoughts implies that believers can, and should, exercise control over their thoughts.

Friends, we think about A LOT of things each day. I have a feeling my husband groans inwardly every time he hears me say, “Babe, I’ve been thinking…” 😊

There is so much that goes on in our minds. And we need to ask ourselves if we are exercising control over what we think about – about what we let in and what we keep out – about what we allow to stay in and what we push out. And how that effects our behavior and interactions with others.

What starts the list in v. 8? Think about whatever is: TRUE

When we think about whatever is true, we can’t help but think about the one true God, the Creator and epitome of truth, and His Son, Jesus.

In John 18:37, we read about an interesting conversation between Jesus and Pilate about the notion of truth.

 ³⁷ “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate responds, “What is truth?”

In Biblical times as in present day, truth is questioned (think postmodernism) – despite being evident all around us.

• Romans 1:20 says:  ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Not only has Truth been (and continues to be) questioned but it was (and still is being) suppressed.

• Romans 1:18 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness…”

• A few verses later in Romans 1:25, we read, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”

Sounds like today’s times too, doesn’t it?

There is a battle going on for Truth. Have you heard the expression, “your truth?” The idea that truth can be subjective no longer makes it TRUTH! It makes it an OPINION. There is no “your truth.” Something is either true or it’s not.

The Enemy is trying to take what is black or white and make it grey. He’s blurring the edges of truth in order to distort it, twist it, and make it appealing for the masses.  

Truth, like light, reveals things and the Enemy doesn’t like that. Truth has a standard and he doesn’t like that either.

Going back to our text in Philippians,

• Paul isn’t instructing the Philippians to be DWELLING on all the small and trivial things of life but rather to be DWELLING on the greatest things of all, the truths about God and Christ. (Adapted from Maclaren)

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• The same can be said for us. We know we need to give some thought to the grocery list, our daily tasks at work, at home – planning our days and weeks, and our To-Do lists. But can’t we so easily get bogged down in thinking about all those things that we miss out on DWELLING on what is TRUE – Our Lord and Savior?
  • When we get bogged down in all the minutia or the list that’s longer than hours in a day, what starts to creep in? Anxiety.

• In the verses preceding this passage, we read that Paul encouraged the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

As we consider this idea of dwelling on the truth, we might be tempted to believe that we just need to work on what goes in and out of our minds and that will be enough. By doing that, we’ll be strong, solid Christians in today’s world.

• But we can’t stop there. Why? Because thinking leads to doing. You see Paul isn’t telling the Philippians to think about these things just to think about them, but to actually transform their character.

• When we, like the Philippians, dwell on whatever is true, it flows out into our actions with others – in our relationships, in our workplace, into our worship of God – and that’s exactly what is meant to happen.

• Believers are called to worship in truth:
  • John 4:24 tell us, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

• This is how we continue to look more like Jesus.

Let’s look briefly at the other things that Paul encouraged the Philippians to be dwelling on. The passage goes on to say:

“Whatever is noble or honest” – the idea here is things that are venerable or worthy of great respect. It’s a difficult word to translate but implies a seriousness. It’s not just about honest dealings with others but even one’s own character. Much like the previous one, (truth), it’s not just something that takes place in our minds, but rather, flows out into our actions and behavior.

“Whatever is right or just” – this has a sense of how believers deal with or interact with others – in a manner that is right. This one is about integrity, and it ties in seamlessly to the next word on the list which is “pure.”

So far, it seems the list of what the Philippians are to be thinking about or dwelling on, has a lot to do with the formation of and maintenance of their character.

“Whatever is pure” – in thought and in body. The idea for the Philippians here is to keep themselves undefiled and to keep themselves from the pollution of sin. The same admonishment applies to us today.

“Whatever is lovely” – for this one, I enlisted the help of Barnes Notes on the Bible. This was worthy of quoting directly.

“The word used here means properly what is dear to anyone; then what is pleasing. Here it means what is amiable – such a temper of mind that one can love it; or such as to be agreeable to others. A Christian should not be sour, crabby, or irritable in his (her) temper – for nothing almost tends so much to injure the cause of religion as a temper always chafed; a brow morose and stern; an eye that is severe and unkind, and a disposition to find fault with everything…”

In Suzie’s words, “What’s a crabby Christian going to do for the cause of Christ?”

“Whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” – I liked what Barnes Notes had to say about this one as well.

“Whatsoever things are of good report – That is, whatsoever is truly reputable in the world at large. There are actions which all people agree in commending, and which in all ages and countries are regarded as virtues. Courtesy,… kindness, respect for parents, …, and the Christian should be a pattern and an example in them all.”

Our verse says, “If there is anything excellent or praiseworthy” – essentially if there be any virtue – If there is anything truly virtuous. Paul didn’t give an exhaustive list here, so he includes anything else that had the nature of true virtue in it as something the Philippians should be careful to cultivate as well.

As believers, we should be a pattern and an example of every virtue.

The passage concludes with, “Think on these things.” In other words, let them be the object of your careful attention and study, so as to practice them. Again, it’s not just what goes on in our minds – as if it were to stop there. It’s to flow out into our actions and interactions.

And when we think on these things (and practice them), what happens?  The peace of God will follow. And that makes sense, right?

As I’ve shared before, when it comes to living out the Christian life – there are things that God does and there are things that we do.

God will give us peace. That’s what He does. We must do our part in bending our minds to that which is worthy (God Himself), whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.” That’s what we do.

When we put that into practice, just as Paul instructed the Philippians, the Bible tells us, “The God of peace will be with” us.

As we think about applying what we’ve learned, I liken it to when I first meet someone. I often don’t remember that person’s name. Do you know why? It’s because I don’t always TRY to remember.

What would happen, if we TRIED to think on whatever is true, whatever is noble, and so on? Can you imagine what some purposeful, intentional TRYING would do?

This, my friends, is one way we remain strong, solid Christians in our world today.

With this in *mind*, let us go be radiant this week.

Set My Feet Upon the Rock

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Has there ever been a time in your life or that of a loved one when you were in a really difficult situation? Maybe a time when you felt not just down, but down and out? You felt hopeless? Your circumstances were weighing you down to the point where you just couldn’t see beyond them? You couldn’t see a way out? Maybe you were bogged down with fears and worries, anxieties.

We’re going to look at a Psalm written by David that describes that kind of scenario. I find that the Psalms are a helpful and comforting place to go when you are feeling strong emotions and need to be reminded that God understands and that He hears you.

Psalm 40:1-2 reads:

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy (horrible) pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.

Barnes notes on the Bible defines a “pit” as “… a cistern; a prison; a dungeon; a grave…It may refer to any calamity – or to trouble…”

When we look at the word describing the pit, “Horrible” – “means ‘noise, uproar, tumult, as of waters; of a crowd of men; of war. Then it seems to be used in the sense of ‘desolation’ or ‘destruction,’ as applicable to the grave.”

If we were to put these ideas together, we could say perhaps that it’s “…a cavern, deep and dark, where the waters roar…” It is also rendered “a lake of misery.” “It is a deep and horrid cavern, where there is no hope of being rescued, or where it would seem that there would be certain destruction.”

Pretty dark imagery, right? Certain destruction doesn’t really invoke feelings of hope, does it?

The bottom of the “pit” is not solid. There is no rock on which to stand. It’s all mud and mire. You can picture it, can’t you? Dark. Thick. Heavy. If you were in that pit, would you feel the unrest of not having anything firm on which to stand?

We see an example of this with the prophet, Jeremiah in Jer. 38:6.

“So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.”

In the psalm, David says, “I waited patiently…” which, though difficult, is exactly what God would have us do. However, that doesn’t mean that David was inactive while he waited. He didn’t just slump down, wallow in his misery and surrender. He cried out to the Lord and trusted that the Lord would rescue him.

What was the Lord’s response?

“…he turned to me and heard my cry.” God hears the cries of His people. He hears your cries.

David then describes being lifted out of the thick, miry, mud. Where is he lifted to? A rock.

“…he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” When you think about a rock, it’s the opposite of mud. It’s solid, strong, stable, secure…just like the Lord.

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Ps. 18:2
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Ps. 62:7
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Barnes notes on the Bible elaborate on what took place when the Lord set David’s feet on a rock and gave him a firm place to stand.

“And established my goings – Or, fixed my steps. That is, he enabled me to walk as on solid ground; he conducted me along safely, where there was no danger of descending to the pit again or sinking in the mire.”

So even though it looked like there was no way out, like certain destruction – seemingly hopeless, no possibility of rescue, God stepped in. He lifted the Psalmist out (that’s praise-worthy in and of itself) and then God set his feet on solid ground.

I wonder if we could liken this a bit to a wilderness rescue scenario. Imagine a hiker becomes injured and is unable to get himself out of the mountains. The rescue helicopter comes and lifts him out. There is relief in that alone…but there is more to do. The helicopter gets him to a place where he can heal and move on with his life. Isn’t that what God does for us?

See my blog post, The Path We’re On.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary wraps up our Psalm this way:

“Doubts and fears about the eternal state, are a horrible pit and miry clay, and have been so to many a dear child of God… The psalmist waited patiently; he continued believing, hoping, and praying. This is applicable to Christ. His agony, in the garden and on the cross, was a horrible pit and miry clay. But those that wait patiently for God do not wait in vain.”

“Christ is the Rock on which a poor soul can alone stand fast. Where God has given steadfast hope, he expects there should be a steady, regular walk and conduct. God filled the psalmist with joy, as well as peace in believing.”

The next time you find yourself in a “pit”, let me encourage you to wait patiently, remember God knows where you are, He understands, and He hears you. Look to Him, pray to Him. Trust and believe that He has all the power to lift you out and set your feet on the Rock.

With this in mind, let us go be radiant this week.

Jehosheba vs. Athaliah

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We are going to look at two very different women. One of them wicked, and one of them good. One of them sets out to destroy and the other one bravely steps in to save. It’s a story involving the line of Christ and it’s a story of life and death.

To best understand the story, we need to do a little family history and genealogy.

Family History/Genealogy

Remember Jehoshaphat, King of Judah? (2 Chron. 20:2 and following). See my blog post Standing Firm in the Midst of Battles.

When told a vast army was coming to attack, he gathered all his people. They all went before the Lord, collectively (men, women, children, and little ones). Though they did not know what to do, their eyes were on the Lord.

Then God said to them:

Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

God gave them victory.

Jehoshaphat had several sons, and he gave his eldest son, Jehoram, the right to be King when he passed away.

Look here for a family tree which is helpful in keeping everyone straight.

Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son became king at age 32. Once firmly established on the throne, he killed all his brothers along with some officials. Yikes!

Jehoram married a daughter of Ahab, her name is Athaliah (we’ll come back to her later, but I call her “Evil Athaliah”). Jehoram did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

2 Chron. 21:7 – “Nevertheless, because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David.”

Just as we see the Lord’s hand here, we’re going to continue to see it as we keep reading in 2 Chron. 21:12-20

All of Jehoram’s sons were killed, except Ahaziah. In 2 Chronicles 22:1, we read thatthe people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, king in his place.

It is at this point in the story we get to the two women I mentioned earlier.

Let’s see what we learn about evil Athaliah:

• Chronicles 22: 3 tells us that Ahaziah’s mother encouraged him to act wickedly. His mother “encouraged” him to act wickedly!

“The counsel of the ungodly ruins many young persons when they are setting out in the world. Ahaziah gave himself up to be led by evil men. Those who advise us to do wickedly, counsel us to our destruction; while they pretend to be friends, they are our worst enemies.”

Matthew henry

*We must be careful not to give ourselves up to be led by evil people or allow them to influence us.

As we continue reading in 2 Chron. 22:7, we learn that “Through Ahaziah’s visit to Joram, God brought about Ahaziah’s downfall.”

Skip ahead to v. 10.

• ¹⁰ When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. 

This woman was ruthless! She usurped the power and authority and ascended the throne and caused almost all the royal seed of the house of Judah (all the male members who might set up claims to become King), to be murdered. Some of these might have been Ahaziah’s own sons (her grandsons!).

She had no regard for human life.

Only one heir remained:  Ahaziah’s son who was only a year old.

This is where the account gets suspenseful because this is the LINE of DAVID, which is also the line of CHRIST.  We must remember that all the prophecies said that the Messiah, the salvation of the world, was to come from the line of David. And everything now hangs on the life of a 1-year-old, whose grandmother is trying to kill him!

“The tree had been cut down, and there was but this one sucker pushing forth a tiny shoot from ‘the root of Jesse.’” (MacLaren’s Expositions)

What will happen? Will Athaliah succeed in her evil plan?

Let’s keep reading and take special note of a very important word in Scripture:

2 Chronicles 23

¹¹ But Jehosheba,^[e] the daughter of King Jehoram…

• Scripture doesn’t say that Athalia is her mother.
• Take a look at the family tree and find Jehosheba.

…took Joash, son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. “

We see this brave woman stepping in to save the line of David.

“Because Jehosheba,^[f] the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him.” 

So Jehosheba is Joash’s aunt. And she, along with her husband, are trying to protect Joash.

^12 “He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.”

Not only did Jehosheba need to be brave to take Joash and hid him, but she had to exercise courage daily for 6 years. Imagine the danger she must have been in.

2 Chronicles 23 tell us that Jehoiada “showed his strength.” He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred and they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns. The whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God.

Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David.

2 Chron 23:7 ^“The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. 

 ⁹ Then he gave the commanders of units of a hundred the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of God. ¹⁰ He stationed all the men, each with his weapon in his hand, around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

¹¹ Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”

¹² When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord. ¹³ She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

¹⁴ Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops, and said to them: “Bring her out between the ranks^[b] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not put her to death at the temple of the Lord.” ¹⁵ So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

¹⁶ Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king^[c] would be the Lord’s people. ¹⁷ All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

¹⁸ Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the Lord in the hands of the Levitical priests, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the Lord as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. ¹⁹ He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Lord’s temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter.

²⁰ He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. 

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²¹ All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.

What an incredible ending to this story of good vs. evil! Jehosheba, granddaughter of King Jehoshaphat, was brave, she persevered, and with the help of her husband, did everything she could to save the line of David. All the people rejoiced! The city was calm because Athaliah was no more.

I’m reminded of the words we started with in 2 Chron. 20:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

Whatever you are facing right now, remember God is a God of redemption. The Lord is with you. Let us go be radiant remembering Who is, and always will be, with us.

Lydia, a Woman of Faith

In my recent blog post, The Path We’re On, I wrote about how God:

• shows us our path, the way we should go,
• and He lights it up,
• he GUIDES us,
• AND He STRAIGHTENS the path before us,
• we don’t have to be afraid. We can go WHOLE-HEARTEDLY ahead!

We are continuing that idea as we look at a woman named Lydia who needed to take another step on her path – her faith journey.  

The passage we’ll focus on is Acts 16:11-40. Here’s some quick context:

• Paul, Timothy, Silas and Luke have just arrived in Philippi, a Roman colony and military station.
• In places where there wasn’t a synagogue, Jews would frequent the riverbanks.
• They would form “oratories” – which were commonly circular and without a roof and it was there they would pray.
• So that’s where Paul and his companions went on the Sabbath, and they spoke to the women who had gathered there.
• The fact that there were only women shows the significant absence of a Jewish population.
• It’s here we learn about Lydia.

We know a few key things about Lydia. First, she was from the city of Thyatira (which you might recognize as one of the 7 churches addressed in the book of Revelation), and it was famous for its dyeing works, especially for purple or crimson. Second, Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth and third, she was a worshipper of God.

In Acts 16: 14, after Lydia had been listening to Paul and his companions speak, we see something incredible happen but if you blink you might miss it.

“The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.”

Now wait, wasn’t she already a worshipper of God? Yes! Here’s how one commentator explained it:

“She had left the heathenish idolatry and owned the one and only and true God but as yet was unacquainted with the Gospel…” Matthew Poole

Lydia had turned to God, but she still needed to take another step – there was still more she needed to know and do in her faith journey.

TAKE AWAY #1 – Pray the Lord would help you take the next step in your spiritual life.

You see, it was THE LORD who opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. Paul’s job was to preach; the LORD’s job is to open hearts.

What does it mean that the Lord “opened her heart”?

            “Her understanding was enlightened, her heart changed, she now loved what she before hated, and hated what she before loved.” Matthew Poole

Some would say that it means that the Lord opened her understanding and her will and that it corresponds to the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk. 24:45) and Lydia responded (or gave heed to). How did she respond? By getting baptized.

Apparently, she was baptized without delay and likely right there in the river where the Jews went to pray (it was usual to be baptized immediately on believing) – cf Acts 2:41, 8:31).

Not only that, she wasn’t the only one getting baptized, it was her whole household! There is no specific mention of a husband or children – it could be that her household or “family” meant female slaves and freed women she employed.

What happens after her baptism?

Lydia invites Paul and his companions to stay with her at her home. Here we see a few things:

• Her large-hearted hospitality implies a certain measure of wealth, as does her occupation, which required considerable capital.

• She appealed to the fact that they had recognized her faith by admitting her to baptism. If she was fit for that, was she unfit to host them in her home?

• She also probably wanted further instruction in the doctrines of religion.
• “Religion does not call us from our business in the world, but directs us in it.” Matthew Poole.

TAKE AWAY #2 – INVITE GODLY TEACHING INTO YOUR HOME

Even though she had just taken the next step in her faith, she didn’t want it to stop there. She wanted more. Oh, to be like Lydia in our spiritual lives – that we may always want more.

Paul and his companions agreed to stay at her home.

Remember from The Path We’re On, when you ask God to broaden your understanding, He will. Likewise in the book of James, when you ask God for wisdom and believe that He will give it to you, He does! Couldn’t we also then say that when you ask God to bring you Godly teaching and instruction, He will?

In the text, we take a little break from Lydia and have another situation that takes place before we see her again.

Here are some highlights in Acts 16:16-40:

1. I kind of chuckle that Paul got annoyed.
2. It gets serious though when Paul and Silas are stripped, beaten and thrown into prison.
3. You might think, oh no, that’s terrible, especially after such a wonderful time seeing growth in the life of Lydia and her household. However, Paul and Silas don’t see it that way. They are praying and singing in the middle of the night in prison.
4. There’s a violent earthquake that releases everyone’s chains. (AMEN!)
5. Skip down to v. 29 and the jailer wants to know what he must do to be saved.
6. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – you and your household.”
7. They spoke the word of the Lord to him and all others in his house…”
8. The jailer took them and washed their wounds (maybe at the river?); then immediately he and all his household were baptized (maybe at the river?)
9. Then they get released and go back to Lydia’s house where they MET WITH THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND ENCOURAGED THEM…”

The ones who had just suffered for their faith came and encouraged Lydia and those who met at her house? We’ll come back to that.

Lydia’s house appears to have been the meeting place (the church).

Who were the brothers and sisters? Probably some of the ones who were baptized by Paul. They are also the ones who later supported Paul by sending money, twice, when he was in Thessalonica and when he was in prison in Rome.

How do you think Paul and Silas encouraged them? Here are what some commentators say:

• “They exhorted them and encouraged them to persevere, notwithstanding the opposition and persecution which they might meet with.” (Barnes)
• “…by telling them what God had done both FOR them and BY them in prison.”
• “…exhorted them to prepare for suffering, and to submit unto God in it, and to make a holy use of it.” Matthew Poole.

TAKE AWAY #3

As you keep taking those steps God wants you to take, it may lead you to suffering – but BE ENCOURAGED, WATCHING TO SEE HOW GOD WILL USE IT.

Remember we can trust God and forge whole-heartedly ahead – taking those steps of faith that He wants us to take. Can I encourage you to spend time in prayer this week, asking God to make known or make clear to you, the next steps He wants you to take?

Let us go be radiant as we take those next steps of faith.

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Beyond the Cross

Today is Good Friday and it seems unfitting to call a day when Jesus was crucified on a cross after being severely beaten, “Good.” What Jesus experienced that day and what led up to it, epitomizes the concept of suffering, which we rarely, if ever, label as good. However, when we zoom out and see what God does after Jesus’ death on the cross, our perspective changes, doesn’t it?

God RAISED Jesus from the dead!

Romans 4 tells us:

^23 “The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

Did you notice what verse 25 does? It gives a reason for Jesus’ death AND a different reason for His resurrection. His death was for our sins, however, His resurrection was for our justification.

Romans 5:1 gives us some additional insight, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,…” 

What justifies us? Faith. Faith in what? In the resurrection!

According to the bible

It’s easy to believe that someone died but believing that someone was raised from death to life – that’s hard. Remember “Doubting Thomas?” He didn’t doubt Jesus died, he doubted that He was raised from the dead. See John 20:24-29.

Believing Jesus was raised from the dead requires faith – faith that the One who created the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them, raised Jesus from the dead. This is the faith that was, and still should be, proclaimed.

Paul, in Romans 10, explains the message of faith that he and his companions proclaim:

⁸ … “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”^[d] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”^[e] 

Not only does Paul speak of these things but notice what Peter does as he begins to preach the Gospel. Acts 1:21-22 stresses the need for finding someone to replace Judas, the betrayer, to “become a witness” of Jesus’ resurrection. There is no indication in the Bible that every apostle saw Jesus die on the cross, in fact, only John is mentioned by name. However, we do know that all of them saw Jesus after God raised Him from the dead.

^21 “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²² beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

Acts 10:39-43 emphasizes what we just read in Acts 1.

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 cross, 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.”

So as we think about “Good Friday,” let us remember that Jesus was crucified for our sins but He was raised for our justification. If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, the apostle Paul writes that we would still be dead in our sins.

1 Cor. 15:17, ^“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”

Let us rejoice that our faith is NOT futile, that we are NOT still in our sins, for us who believe, because God raised Jesus from the dead and it is no longer we who live, but Christ in us!

Let us go be radiant, reflecting this truth as we celebrate Easter this Sunday. Wishing you a very joyful Easter!

The Path We’re On

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When I worked in Costa Rica, my team and I would often host groups. During their stay, we’d take them to a rural area to a steep hiking trail with some rustic steps.

Those of you who know me well know that I’m not a huge fan of hiking. Why, then, would I take people on difficult hike? Because of what awaited us at the bottom of the trail…a huge, fast flowing, heart pounding, awe-inspiring waterfall.

The waterfall empties into a large pool of water surrounded by rocks. Not only is it a sight to behold, it’s a place where people can swim and feel the force of the falling water.

It such a beautiful place that it makes the hike down (and back up) the path worth it.

The idea of a path is such a great analogy to our lives, isn’t it? It represents the different directions we’ve taken and will take over the years based on our decisions and circumstances. It’s full of symbolism as we imagine it being smooth or rough, straight, or crooked, well-lit, or dark.

As you think back on your life, you might observe that some of the things on your path are the result of things that God did and some of the things are a result of decisions you made.

The Bible talks quite a bit about different “paths,” sometimes translated “ways,” and the more I studied the topic, the more I saw a pattern – God’s part and our part.

Our part

Like the Psalmist, we ask God to show us His ways and teach us His paths.

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths”. Ps. 25:4

“Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight”. Ps. 119:35

We don’t always know what those next steps are in our life, so we ask God to show us.

God’s part

He makes known and gives understanding.

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand”. Ps. 16:11

“I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding”. Ps. 119:32

When we ask God to show us and teach us, He does.

What else does God do?

He LIGHTS our path.

          “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”. Ps. 119:105

• How does God light our path? By HIS WORD. His word is what illuminates the way before us.

• As we spend time in His Word, we will know the way we ought to go. It’s not about what the WORLD says, it’s about what His WORD says.

• When I worked in Costa Rica, we never took people to the waterfall at night, and you can imagine why. It was pitch black. There would be no way to see or safely make our way down the rock and dirt laden path.

What is our part/our response to a lighted path?

We walk on and stick to the path on which we know we ought to go.

• “My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled”. Ps. 17:5

• “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day”. Prov. 4:18

That’s the path of the righteous. Do you want to be on that path? I do! How do we do that? How do we keep our way pure?

• Ps. 119:9  “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.”

What else does God do? What’s His part?

He does the Guiding and the Leading

• Why? Because He knows the way – just like in Costa Rica, we, who lived there, led the team to the path toward the waterfall.
• He has done the leading for a very long time.

• Neh. 9:19 reminds us how God led the Israelites:  “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.”

• We see something similar in the New Testament in Luke 1: 76-79 in Zechariah’s prophecy about his son, John the Baptist which reveals:

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
⁷⁷ to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Barnes Notes on the Bible gives us some insight on the cultural, historical context to help us see the meaning of “to guide our feet”:

“The figure in these verses is taken from travelers, who, being overtaken by night, know not what to do, and who wait patiently for the morning light, that they may know which way to go…. So (man) sat in the shadow of death. So he knew not which way to go until the Sun of righteousness arose, and then the light shone brightly on his way, and the road was open to the promised land of rest – to heaven.”

Barnes Notes on the bible

• Are you familiar with the song, Same God?  The same God who led the Israelites out of Egypt and in the wilderness, is the same God who leads us today. He gives us direction. He guides our steps, just like He did in Biblical times.

I think we know that in our minds, but do we practice that as we make decisions? Do we seek His will, direction, and guidance? And do we wait for it before we act?

You know what else God does?

He Straightens our Path.

• Prov. 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight“.^[a]

The Psalmist asks God in Ps 27 to lead him in a straight path. If you’ve ever been hiking or on a winding trail, you know how daunting it can be. You can’t see what’s ahead, what obstacles there might be, what the terrain is like…

But when you have a straight path, you can see far beyond your location. You know what’s coming – you have a clear path before you.

The caution is to stay on that straight path. Prov. 2

My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.

¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
¹³ who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,
¹⁴ who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
¹⁵ whose paths are crooked
    and who are devious in their ways.

Those who have left the “straight paths” have made choices to do that.

The choices we make determine the paths we take.

What is our response to God as He straightens our path? What is our part?

Let’s CHOOSE TO TRUST AND RUN!

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• Run? Yes!  We get on our running shoes.

• Ps. 119: 32, “I run in the path of your commands,
      for you have broadened my understanding.”
• We trust God so much that when He:
  • shows us our path, the way we should go,
  • and He lights it up,
  • he GUIDES us,
  • AND He STRAIGHTENS the path before us,
• we don’t have to be afraid. We can go WHOLE-HEARTEDLY ahead!

Maybe that means boldly sharing your faith with your neighbor, or praying for something bigger than you’ve ever prayed for before, or stepping up to serve in a way you know God has called you…

Now I’m not saying your path won’t have challenges at times. I’m not saying it will be easy or smooth all the time. But remember why I endured a rough hike in Costa Rica. It was all about that amazing waterfall that awaited me at the end.

Remember what awaits you at the end of your path – eternal life with our God – it’s worth it.

Let us go be radiant on our path this week!

Hannah – A Woman of Faith

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Have you ever been inspired by someone? There is a woman of the Bible named Hannah, and I find her to be a true inspiration of faith. We learn about her in 1 Samuel 1.

The story begins with a man named Elkanah, who was from the hill country of Ephraim. He had two wives, Hannah (who had no children) and Peninnah, who had children.

We can already see the foreshadowing and potential problems, can’t we? Two wives – one with children and one without.

Elkanah was a God-fearing man because we know from v. 3 that “year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh.”

We also know that when it was time for him to sacrifice, “he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. BUT to Hannah he gave a double portion BECAUSE HE LOVED HER and the Lord had closed her womb.” (vs. 4-5)

However, while her husband showed her love, Peninnah did just the opposite. Verse 6 tells us that “Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.”

This is one of the ways I find Hannah to be so relatable. We’ve all had people in our lives at one time or another who have provoked us to irritate us, right? Maybe a sibling, a classmate, a co-worker. Unfortunately, this provoking wasn’t just an occasional annoyance. The Bible tells us it went on year after year (v.7). In fact, Hannah’s rival provoked her so much that she wept and wouldn’t eat.

Peninnah was provoking Hannah – reminding her of what she didn’t have – children. In a sense, Peninnah was really emulating what the Enemy does, right? The Enemy gets to us by pointing out what we don’t have, eating away at our what? OUR CONTENTMENT.

Elkanah would ask Hannah, “why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

We have to remember that culturally, it was very important for women in Hannah’s day to have children. We see other examples of that in Scripture, like Elizabeth in the New Testament for example.

Hannah kind of came to “enough is enough.” She came to the end of herself and brought her issue before the Lord. She knew it was the Lord who had closed her womb, so it would be the Lord who could open it.

Hannah, in her deep anguish, prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. “And she made a vow, saying, ‘Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.’” (v.11)

In a sense, she made a deal with God. The Bible calls it a “vow” but it’s an “if-then” situation. 

What is so incredibly significant here is that Hannah was willing to give up what she was asking God to give her.

She had the right perspective – that everything is from God and belongs to Him. And we’ll find out later in the passage if she keeps her part of the deal.

Now Eli, the priest, saw Hannah praying. Her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. He mistakenly thought she was drunk and asked her how long she was going to stay drunk. He told her to put away her wine.

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Hannah replied that she was not drunk. “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” (v. 16)

“Eli answered, ‘Go in peace,’ and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

There are a couple of important things to note here:

1. Eli tells her to “go in peace,” which is exactly what Jesus told the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years after she touched his cloak and was healed. Go in peace, knowing in faith, that He will do what you have asked of Him.

FAITH BRINGS PEACE

2. Eli didn’t even know what Hannah was praying for, but he said, “may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

When Elkanah returned home with Hannah, v. 19 tells us he made love to his wife. Now, not to get too steamy here, but I would call this faith in action 😊 because in the course of time, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’” (v. 20)

Later in the passage, we read that when Hannah had weaned Samuel, she took him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh (where they offered sacrifices and worshiped the Lord). (v. 24)

Hannah took Samuel to Eli the priest and said, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. (vs. 26-28).

She kept her part of the deal.

In 1 Sam. 2, Hannah goes on to pray (sing) a beautiful prayer where she starts off rejoicing in the Lord – not in the gift He gave her, but in the Lord Himself.

*May we be reminded of that when we are tempted to love God’s gifts more than God Himself.

She also notes her deliverance from her enemy – though she doesn’t call Peninnah by name. She chose to take the high road there.

***May we, too, remember that we have victory over our Enemy!

In her prayer, Hannah goes on to say that there is no one like the Lord, no one besides Him, no Rock like our God.

God loves to be reminded of who He is and what He’s done because when we remind Him, we exercise faith.

What was the fruit from her faith, her righteousness?

• God gave her what she asked – a son
• That son, Samuel, went on to anoint the first 2 kings of Israel – Saul and, David, who was in the lineage of Christ! Isn’t that so incredible?!?

Every year, Hannah would make Samuel a little robe and take it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. She continued to clothe him, reminding him that he had been dedicated to the Lord’s service.

“Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, ‘May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.’” (2:20)

“And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.” (2:21)

As we look at this little glimpse of Hannah’s life, may we be reminded:

1. God is the One we go to
2. We go to Him in faith and prayer, believing He can do anything!
3. When He gives us what we ask of Him, we delight in Him more than the gift, recognizing every good and perfect gift comes from Him

I hope you’ve been inspired by Hannah just as I was. Let us go be radiant this week as we act in faith, possibly even inspiring others in the process.

Faith and Power – Jesus Heals and Restores

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I was speaking to a woman who has a couple of different, significant health issues. In the course of our conversation, she said, “I just need to touch Jesus’ cloak.” Her statement really impacted me. I could hear her longing for healing and her faith. It inspired me to study Luke 8:40 – 56.

Jesus has just returned from the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee, where he restored a demon possessed man.

A crowd is waiting there (likely in Capernaum) for Him and welcomes Him. A synagogue leader named Jairus, falls at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house. Why? Because his only daughter, a girl of about 12 is dying.

As I read this, I noticed something Interesting – Jesus doesn’t reply verbally, but we know He goes with Jairus because v. 42 says, “As Jesus was on his way…”

As we picture the scene before us, we know it’s completely crowded because the passage says the “crowds almost crushed him.”

While Jesus is on his way to heal a sick girl, something happens to cause him to stop and ask a seemingly unusual question. I call this:  The Interruption.

A woman was there. We don’t know her name, but we do know:

• She was subject to bleeding for years (12).
• She had spent all she had on doctors.
• No one could heal her.

Presumably, she’s desperate and in FAITH, she comes up behind Jesus (v. 44) and touches the edge of his cloak. IMMEDIATELY her bleeding stops

Here, in v. 45, is where Jesus asks a seemingly unusual question. “Who touched me?” All the disciples deny it and Peter chimes in, “Master the people are crowding around you and pressing against you.” I’m guessing Peter wondered why it even mattered until Jesus replied, which we read in v. 46. “But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that POWER has gone out from me.’”

Power had gone out from Him? We’ll come back to that.

We read in v. 47, “The woman, seeing she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of ALL THE PEOPLE, she told why she had touched him and how she had been INSTANTLY healed.”

That must have been so difficult for her, maybe even embarrassing to share that in front of such a crowd, but what a testimony. How powerful is it that she was instantly healed?

In v. 48 we read Jesus’ response, “Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your FAITH has healed you. Go in peace.”

Earlier we learned that this woman had spent all her money to try to be healed. But it wasn’t her money that healed her…it was her FAITH. She is now freed from her suffering and can go live her life in peace. 

FAITH BRINGS PEACE.

At this point in the passage, we return to Jairus. Remember, Jairus was with Jesus because they were on their way to heal Jairus’ daughter.

In v. 49 we read, “While Jesus was still speaking, someone came to him from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ he said. ‘Don’t bother the teacher anymore!’”

In Mark 5:35, it says, “…why bother the teacher anymore?”

As I was reading this, I asked myself, why add this last part, the part about not bothering the teacher anymore? And then it hit me. Because the messenger thought it was too late – that there was nothing Jesus could do.

In V. 50, we have a glimmer of hope as Jesus speaks. “Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid; just BELIEVE, and she will be healed.’”

One commentator noted, “…in perfect faith there is no fear; the more we fear, the less we believe.”

Matthew Henry

We fast forward to their arrival at Jairus’ house. Jesus didn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother.

Verse 52 tells us, “Meanwhile all the people were wailing and mourning for her. ‘Stop wailing,’ Jesus said. ‘She is not dead but asleep.’”

Why would Jesus make the distinction here? Why would he say that she isn’t dead, but rather asleep? Let’s look at Barnes’ notes:

“Every possible evidence of her death had been given, and he acted on that himself, and conveyed to the people the idea that he raised her ‘from the dead.’ He meant to speak in opposition to their opinions. It is not unlikely that Jairus and the people favored the opinions of the Sadducees, and that ‘they’ understood by her being dead that she had ‘ceased to be,’ and that she would never be raised up again. In opposition to this, the Saviour used the expression ‘she sleepeth;’ affirming mildly both that the ‘body’ was dead, and ‘implying’ that ‘her spirit’ still lived, and that she would be raised up again. A similar mode of speaking occurs in John 11:11 ‘Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.’ The sacred writers often spoke of the pious dead as ‘sleeping,’ 2 Peter 3:4; Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 15:6, 1 Corinthians 15:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15. The meaning of this passage, then, is, the maid has not ceased to ‘exist;’ but, though her body is dead, yet her spirit lives, and she sleeps in the hope of the resurrection.

Phew! I had to read that a couple of times. But it really helped shed a little light on that part of the passage for me.

Let’s return to Jairus’ house. Verse 53 tells us how the people responded when Jesus said the girl wasn’t dead. “They laughed at him, knowing she was dead.” In v. 54 we read, “But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’” And what happened? “Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.” V. 55.

In my last blog post, Awaking Tabitha, I recounted in the Biblical text that when she died, the disciples sent for someone. Who was it?

Peter, that’s right. And after Peter prayed, he said, “Tabitha, get up”, or “Tabitha, arise.” Peter heard Jesus say, “My child get up,” and watched the girl stand up.

Now think about what just happened with Jairus’ daughter in v. 54. Who was in the house with him? Peter!  Jesus had modeled for Peter something he would do at a future time. Isn’t that so amazing?!?

In Luke 9, following this passage, Jesus gives the 12 power and authority to drive out all demons and cure diseases and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Jesus literally empowered the 12. Remember when Jesus’ prayed for the disciples in John 17? He prayed for their protection by the power of His name. There is POWER in the name of Jesus. Our God is OMNIPOTENT – All Powerful.

The next time you feel powerless in a situation, remember the God you serve. Remember who lives in you! Remember to reach out to Jesus, in faith.

Let us go be radiant this week, in faith, reflecting the healing power of God.

Awakening Tabitha

Just like when buying a house, one thing you want to know right away is location, location, location, when reading Scripture, it’s context, context, context. Sometimes that context isn’t just literary context (what comes before or after a particular passage), but geographical context (where it takes place).

            Our story, Acts 9:32-35, takes place in Joppa. Let’s look at our map. Can you find Joppa?

• Joppa is a port on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• It’s not far from Lydda, also mentioned in our text
• It would be known today as Tel Aviv or Jaffa
• Joppa is also referenced in the Old Testament and was the place to which materials to build Solomon’s temple were brought.
• We also read about it in Jonah when God told him to go to Nineveh: “But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port…” Jonah 1:3
• Understanding the location of Joppa and that it functions as a port is important as we get to the end of our story – so we’ll come back to it.

The main character in the Biblical account is Tabitha. What do we know about her?

• She is called a disciple (v. 36)
  • I love that it’s the first thing we read about her
• She was always doing good (some translations “full of good works”).
  • “Many are full of good *words*, who are empty and barren in good *works*; but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker.” Matthew Henrey
• She was always helping the poor
  • She showed her faith by her works
• She made robes and other clothing (v. 39)
  • The “robes” were closer to the skin, kind of like tunics. The “garments” were the looser outer cloaks worn over them. (Ellicott)
• She was probably a widow (v. 39, 41)
• She became sick and died (v. 37)

Peter is another main figure in our Biblical account. “When the disciples heard Peter was in Lydda, which was near Joppa, they sent two men to urge him to come at once.” V. 38

Why do you think they sent for Peter? Do you think they just wanted him to come to console them in their loss?  

We know he had just healed someone in Lydda (which we read about in vs. 32-35). They probably hoped, prayed, maybe even had the expectation that Peter could restore Tabitha’s life. If indeed they had this expectation, what GREAT FAITH they showed, considering that up to this point, it doesn’t appear as if any of the apostles had raised anyone from the dead. (Benson)

*Let’s pause for a moment here – when we have something huge happen in our lives, who do we reach out to and do we do it expectantly?

Peter arrived and all the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing Tabitha had made. My guess is that they were actually wearing that clothing, maybe even clutching it in their hands to show Peter the tangible ways Tabitha had blessed them.

Peter sends them out of the room, gets down on his knees and prays. On commentator noted, He goes to God in “submission of a servant who is under direction.” (Benson) Isn’t that how we should go to God in prayer—submitted to His will and direction? If you’d like to read more about that idea, see my post on Surrender vs. Submit.

Peter turns toward the dead woman and says, Tabitha, get up, or Tabita, arise. She opened her eyes (I would have loved to have seen the expression on Peter’s face) and seeing Peter, she sat up.

If you look back in Luke 8:40-56, you will see a similar scenario in which Jesus healed a dead girl and guess who was there as an eye-witness? You got it, Peter! Jesus had modeled this for him .

Peter takes Tabitha by the hand, helps her up and calls for the believers *especially the widows, and presents her to them alive. Can you imagine the widows rejoicing? How surreal it must have felt?

When reading this text, I had to ask, why would God have allowed Tabitha to get sick to the point of death? One commentator wrote, “Removed by Divine Providence in the midst of her usefulness, probably to give Peter occasion, by another and still more remarkable miracle than that just mentioned, of confirming the gospel, and awakening men’s attention to it…” (Benson). It wasn’t just to awaken Tabitha, but to awaken others to the truth of the gospel.

In v. 42, we read, “This became known all over Joppa and many people believed in the Lord.”

Now, think back to where Joppa is located. It’s a port on the coast. If this became known all over Joppa, is it likely it became known far beyond there as well?

Think about all the lives who were impacted as a result of Peter bringing Tabitha back to life.

• Tabitha’s
• The widows
• The other believers
• Peter’s
• People all over Joppa (who as a result BELIEVED) and beyond

When God does something miraculous or supernatural, or answers a prayer in our lives, do the people all over your town hear about it? Does it become known all over? What might happen if it did? Would more people BELIEVE?

Let us go be radiant as we share with others the miracles God has done that they might be awakened to the TRUTH.

Direction and Strength

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My kids had a lemonade stand over the summer and wanted to use the money they received (from very generous neighbors) to buy a basketball hoop.

I searched high and low for a good deal and found a previously owned hoop that wouldn’t exceed their budget. My husband was happy to go and retrieve it, hoisting it in the back of his truck.

When he got home, we had a few challenges. First, we had to get this long, and quite large basketball hoop out of the truck. Second, we needed to figure out how to get the very, very heavy base out without dropping it. Third, we needed to set the pole upright on that very, very heavy base and secure it.

My husband thought through a plan and step by step, we were able to carefully get the pole, attached backboard and basket (all in one piece) out of the truck and onto the grass. Then he grabbed a dolly from the garage and placed it like a ramp off the tailgate of the truck. Setting some heavy objects at the bottom of the dolly to hold it in place, we worked together to pull the gravel-filled base from the truck bed onto the dolly.

Once the base was in place on our driveway, we (meaning my husband) 😉 had to lift the pole and position it into the base. While he held it in place, I had to insert and properly line up the bolts. This sounds significantly easier than it actually was. Let’s just say we had to try it from a different direction after our first attempts failed.

Finally, we got everything in place and secured. Phew!

I said to my husband, “I am amazed at what you can do. I never could have done that.” He replied, “You just did.” I responded, “Only with your direction and strength.”

And then it hit me. Isn’t that how it is with God? He gives us a really big, or difficult task and we think, “no, I can’t do that.” Remember Moses?

But with God’s direction and strength, can’t we do anything He wants us to do? I believe we can.

When God asks us to do something, let’s not focus on the greatness of the task, but rather on the greatness of our God.

Now, every time we shoot hoops on the driveway, I have a visual reminder of how God works in us using His direction and strength. Next time you see a basketball hoop, maybe God will bring that to mind.

Let us go be radiant this week.