Word for Today, Wed, Jun 21 2006, Being Counted Worthy

#1 · June 21, 2006, 11:25 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on June 21, 2006, 11:25 pm
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Wed, Jun 21 2006, Being Counted Worthy
Dear friends,

Jesus Christ loved us enough that before the world was formed, He had
a plan to give men freedom to choose - to love the Lord their God
freely or to make their own choices, for or against God. In this way,
when men chose God, they were choosing freely, being compelled to Him
by His love for them, His creation.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, in very nature God. We believe that
God is one person, but three persons in One, God the Father, God the
Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Spirit (known as the Holy Spirit or
the Holy Ghost).

We can never earn what God has chosen to do, redeeming us by costly
sacrifice. We can, however, show our gratitude for what He has done
by faithfully serving Him.

Jesus' disciples gave up much when they stopped what they were doing
to follow Jesus. They faltered several times and misunderstood Jesus
as He was teaching them, and they ran in fear when Jesus' captors came
to torture Him and send Him to the Cross at Calvary.

Yes, the disciples failed, just as we do. But do you see how they
later responded, as recorded in Acts 5?

Yours in Christ,
Brian

Acts 5:22-42

22 When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called
together the Sanhedrin -- the full assembly of the elders of
Israelu2014and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving
at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back
and reported, 23 "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards
standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one
inside." 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard
and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of
this.

25 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are
standing in the temple courts teaching the people." 26 At that, the
captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did
not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the
Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict
orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled
Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of
this man's blood."

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather
than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead --
whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to
his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance
and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these
things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who
obey him."

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to
death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who
was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered
that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed
them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to
these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be
somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed,
all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and
led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his
followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise
you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or
activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God,
you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves
fighting against God."

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had
them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of
Jesus, and let them go.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been
counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day,
in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped
teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright Â© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

--
Brian Masinick, masinick at yahoo dot com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Wed, Jun 21 2006, Being Counted Worthy
Dear friends,

Jesus Christ loved us enough that before the world was formed, He had
a plan to give men freedom to choose - to love the Lord their God
freely or to make their own choices, for or against God. In this way,
when men chose God, they were choosing freely, being compelled to Him
by His love for them, His creation.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, in very nature God. We believe that
God is one person, but three persons in One, God the Father, God the
Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Spirit (known as the Holy Spirit or
the Holy Ghost).

We can never earn what God has chosen to do, redeeming us by costly
sacrifice. We can, however, show our gratitude for what He has done
by faithfully serving Him.

Jesus' disciples gave up much when they stopped what they were doing
to follow Jesus. They faltered several times and misunderstood Jesus
as He was teaching them, and they ran in fear when Jesus' captors came
to torture Him and send Him to the Cross at Calvary.

Yes, the disciples failed, just as we do. But do you see how they
later responded, as recorded in Acts 5?

Yours in Christ,
Brian

Acts 5:22-42

22 When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called
together the Sanhedrin -- the full assembly of the elders of
Israelu2014and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving
at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back
and reported, 23 "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards
standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one
inside." 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard
and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of
this.

25 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are
standing in the temple courts teaching the people." 26 At that, the
captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did
not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the
Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict
orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled
Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of
this man's blood."

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather
than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead --
whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to
his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance
and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these
things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who
obey him."

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to
death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who
was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered
that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed
them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to
these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be
somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed,
all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and
led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his
followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise
you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or
activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God,
you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves
fighting against God."

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had
them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of
Jesus, and let them go.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been
counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day,
in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped
teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

New International Version (NIV)

--
Brian Masinick, masinick at yahoo dot com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
mail.yahoo.com