Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 29th) The Message of the Church

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6

What can the church say to a world ruined by sin? There is only one answer to this question.

Peter did not tell the beggar at the gate to beg some more, for that would have benefitted him for a only short time. Neither did he tell him to ignore his situation and be content with his plight, for that would have filled him with crushing despair. Peter told him something that he wasn’t expecting: “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

There are two great parts to Peter’s statement: one involved a correction. This beggar was expecting something to fix his temporal needs. But Peter spoke in such a way as to redirect him. When he said, “Silver and gold have I none,” he was making it clear that such things were not the most important things. His correction of the beggar was quickly followed by his counsel to the beggar, for Peter went on to say, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

That was a Christ-centered word. It was a converting, transforming, and delivering message, and it was spoken with authority and accompanied with power. At once the lame man stood up and walked.

So back to my question, what can the church say to a world ruined by sin? We can tell a sin-ruined people of a Christ who is mighty to save. Preachers can tinker with the problems of society—politics, pastimes, pleasures, and philosophies—but to what avail? What would the church accomplish? Nothing!

We need to speak in the name of Christ and proclaim the great news that Jesus Christ alone can save from sin. Let us give ourselves to that work.

Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 28th) A Burden for Souls

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6

Some weeks ago I preached a message in my own church entitled “When the Church Meets the World.” I took the words of Acts 3 and explained what happened when Peter and John met a lame, forty-year-old beggar outside the temple in Jerusalem. That poor man was a picture of sheer wretchedness—poor, helpless, and crippled—and it appeared that he was destined to die as he had lived.

So how did Peter and John respond to him? Think of this. We are surrounded by wretched sinners. Some are drug addicts, some are trapped in immorality and vice, some are religious but filled with pride. In short, we live among men and women marked with total depravity.

So how must we respond? When Peter met the lame man, he “fastened his eyes on him.” That phrase is used by Luke twelve times, and it is designed to make us realize that Peter looked on the man in order to excite his attention and raise his expectation. Peter and John had a real interest in the man’s case. They stopped with him and spoke with him and did so in a way that indicated their compassion for him.

The church should have compassion on needy souls. As a young man, the famous Scottish preacher Robert Murray M’Cheyne spoke of hearing the tramp, tramp, tramp of sinners on the way to hell, and he was burdened for them. I fear that too often we are taken up with ourselves, and we fail to see a world ruined and wretched in sin. Let’s pray that our spiritual vision would be corrected, and let us see men and women as sinners ruined by the fall who need Christ.

Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 27th) In a State of Sin and Misery

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.” Acts 3:2

Have you ever asked yourself what has happened to society? News reports are full of murder, rape, theft, and social mayhem. Drugs and immorality are the norm. War and economic meltdown have plunged thousands into poverty, and all the while there is little thought of God and His gospel.

How can we explain the wretched state of the world in 2012? The answer is hidden in the words of our text for today. We cannot read these words without being struck by the desperate and hopeless situation of the “certain man.” To be a lame beggar without health, prospects, money, or any means of self-support is the epitome of a ruined and wretched life in the physical realm. But the point the Holy Spirit is making in recording these details is that the lame man’s physical state is a graphic picture of the spiritual state of this world.

The beggar at the gate had never known anything else but misery. He was lame from his mother’s womb. And this is the first great message of the Christian gospel: every one of us is born in sin. Furthermore, our sinful misery cannot be alleviated by the world. This man had great problems, and the world could do nothing about them. Transfer that truth into the spiritual realm and the lesson is clear: the world cannot meet the spiritual needs of sinners.

Let us ponder these things carefully today and resolve to take the gospel to people caught in the misery of sin.

Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 26th) The Christian’s Social Life

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” Acts 3:1

Ireland has for a long time been called “the land of saints and scholars.” This description reflects the fact that religion played a major part in Irish history: monks and scribes, in the safety and seclusion of monastic life, preserved many of the West’s written treasures and to some extent “saved civilization” when the stability of Europe was rocked.  While we are thankful for the literary accomplishments of the medieval Irish, we must not overlook the fact that it was in the context of false religion. All over the Emerald Isle there are monasteries and convents testifying to the mistaken belief that religion could best be maintained by being kept apart from the outside world, that seclusion and separation equaled holiness.

The apostle and disciples of the early New Testament church had a different view. The believers practiced separation from sin, not separation from not society. They were very conscious of the need for personal sanctification, but they did not take their true Christianity and hide it behind the gray walls of a monastery.

Our text shows that the early disciples lived their Christian lives for God before men. They went out into the world among the people. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said there is always the danger that we should “think of Christianity as something abstract and intellectual. Though we must know the theory and have the understanding, we must never forget that first and foremost the Christian faith deals with life and living; it is the most revolutionary power the world has ever known. A dead church is a contradiction in terms. It is dead something—call it what you like—but not a dead church. The church is life, and it is power, and it is vigour.”

How true! We are often ashamed of the gospel. We feel comfortable in the services on a Lord’s Day, but Monday sees us afraid, timid, and silent. We must pray for power and courage to be out and to meet the world with the gospel of Christ.

Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 25th) The Impact of a Spiritual Church

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46-47

The church of Christ is largely ignored by the world. Certainly in Western societies Christianity is viewed with increasing indifference. The majority of people go about their business without a thought of the gospel. The church is just another building, and the congregation just another society, and the work of the gospel just another branch of social services catering for the poor and the less fortunate. In this respect the world looks on the church as a part of its culture. That evaluation of the church underscores the tragic reality that in many cases the church is making little impact on the world: it has lost its voice and influence.

It was very different in the days immediately following Pentecost. The advance of the church at that time made a vast difference in society. A spiritual fear came upon the people. There was a consciousness of God even among the ungodly; there was a restraint of sin. As a result, the church had “favor with all the people”; literally, the church found acceptance with the people.

That leads me to think that the world took notice of the church. So why is it that today the world looks the other way and cares little for the church? Could part of it be that we have lost the power of the Holy Ghost? A church on spiritual fire through the visitation of the Holy Spirit will always make an impact. Now, that’s what we need.

Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 24th) It’s All About Christ

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46–47

It’s always good when reading scripture to note words, phrases, or themes that appear regularly. The repetition of a certain subject is not by accident. If God speaks on an issue once, we must pay attention. But when He speaks numerous times and sometimes with the same words on a particular theme, we would be fools to ignore it.

For the third time God highlights that the early New Testament church was in one accord. That is an amazing statement given the political and social makeup of the church. There were people from different backgrounds, political persuasions, and cultures, but they are all in one accord.

From a human perspective this kind of unity would be impossible! So what was the uniting factor? It was Christ! They had a common Saviour; their hearts were knit together through Him. But we need to note also that this harmony was promoted in the absence of selfishness and pride.  The saints worshipped together and looked out for each other. They fellowshipped together and they laid aside financially so that others could be helped. There was a spirit of sacrifice, humility, and selflessness.

If there are two things that threaten to destroy the witness of the church, they are selfishness and proud individualism. The Christian life is not about me. It is about Christ.

March Devotionals—Patrick of Ireland: A Devotional History

Patrick of Ireland: A Devotional History

In the early part of March considerable attention is given to the memory of St. Patrick in the run-up to the celebrations on the 17^th March. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are now a worldwide phenomenon and growing every year. Irish mythology is brought to life in the streets of many cities as green-coloured leprechauns parade under green bunting and drink green beer. City fountains bubble up with green water, major rivers run green, and multitudes sport shamrocks and green face paint. It is just another opportunity for a shindig, an Irish pastime!

Most of what is commonly believed about Patrick is false. He never chased the snakes out of Ireland, never mentioned the Church in Rome in his writings, and was never officially canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. However, setting aside all the myth and mystery of Patrick—and there’s lots of it—and setting aside the celebrations that have no relation to this ancient saint, let’s get to the heart of Patrick’s story.

There are only two pieces of literature that historians are agreed on that accurately tell us about Patrick because they were written by him. One is his own Confession, a declaration of the work of God in his life: his conversion, his call to Ireland, and his ministry. The other is a letter he wrote to the soldiers of Coroticus, a British warrior, complaining of the capture of and brutality to Christians in Ireland.

The devotionals in the month of March will be taken from the Confession and the Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus and will also draw from other historical material to give context to the writings of Patrick. They will form a devotional history of the first missionary to Ireland and one of the first Christian voices to be raised against slavery.

Subscribe to these devotionals, learn the history of a man who truly was a saint, and learn how to read biographies devotionally for your spiritual good.

Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 23rd) Smile, Jesus Loves You

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46-47

When bumper stickers were more in fashion a few years ago one of the most popular said, “Smile, Jesus loves you.”

But that slogan really misses the point of the gospel. It doesn’t address the great issue of sin or make clear that the real joy that Jesus gives is freedom from sin. It falls horribly short of the core truths of the gospel. True Christians—those who have been born again of the Spirit of God and who have therefore been brought into a saving union with Christ—and only true Christians have cause to be glad!

Real happiness is inseparably linked to salvation. That’s obvious from our text for today. The newly converted saints in Jerusalem continued daily in a spirit of gladness. They enjoyed being Christians. Despite the persecution of the church and the difficulties they faced, the early disciples knew that they had been delivered from their sins, from their guilt, from the wrath to come and that’s reason to smile!

The psalmist said, “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.” Does your knowledge of the Lord make your heart smile? When you read His Word or hear it preached do you praise Him? As you face the trials and troubles of life do you grit your teeth, grin, and bear it? Or do you rest upon the Lord and rejoice in Him and trust Him in every circumstance? Can you smile because you know Jesus loves you?

Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 22nd) Christianity “Day by Day”

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46-47

The phrase “nine days’ wonder” has come to signify that the novelty of something has worn off quickly. The first impressions didn’t last. The initial enthusiasm was short lived. Many things in life fall into this category. However, the spiritual experience of the thousands converted on the day of Pentecost was no nine days’ wonder!

This was real and the reality of it is indicated by the phrase “continuing daily.” These new converts did not blow hot and cold; they did not fade away. Rather, they continued to have a daily walk with God. Their lives were marked with spiritual devotion. Their days revolved around spiritual things. I’m not suggesting that they did not attend to other daily business. But the thought here is that as they went about their other business, they did so in fellowship with God and with a desire to honor Him.

Their Christianity was not once-a-week Christianity. This was daily experience, day by day with the Lord, day by day living out the gospel. Day by day—through all the struggles of the day—remembering the Lord and walking with Him.

Is my Christianity put on with my Sunday clothes? Is my piety and reverence for the Lord occasional? Does Monday morning bring me back to the cutthroat business of life, suspending Christianity until the next Lord’s Day?

Daily Devotionals: (Feb. 21st) My Christian life—Vitality or Apathy?

The New Testament Church: Learning from the first disciples of Christianity

Reading: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46-47

In the course of my pastoral duties I often have to visit hospitals and stand by the bed of those who are seriously ill. It’s always a sobering experience to listen to faint breathing, look at pale cheeks, watch languid eyes and strain to hear very weak words. At times there seems so little energy and it is obvious that all is not well.

Sadly, sometimes vitality is rare in the body of Christ! Christians are often marked with lethargy rather than liveliness and often view gospel work with crippling indifference. It was so different in 1^st century Christianity!

The book of Acts shows a very practical and passionate Christianity. New believers did not simply make a profession of faith in Christ and then continue to live as if nothing had happened to them—their whole life was altered. It was a living experience. It was real! Christ was real! Salvation was real!

Surely this is what Paul meant when he said, “I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me…” This is a Christ centered life—lived in the victory of the gospel. Is this where my life is—my prayer life—my desires after God—my appetite for the Word of God? Is my life marked with vitality or apathy?