Microchurch Minute
We were so blessed to gather together and celebrate dads on Sunday. How blessed we are to be loved by a perfect Father! While many of us have far from perfect experience with earthly father figures, we can turn to the bible for the unshakable truths of God. He loves us so much that He will provide for us and sustain us. Are we trusting in that provision or do you find yourself pressing into the uncertainties of tomorrow? At times when correction is needed, we will sense God’s discipline as He provides course correction. Discipline may not always feel welcomed, but we can rest in the fact that God disciplines those whom He considers His own. The opposite of love isn’t necessarily hate, but oftentimes can been seen as complete apathy. If He didn’t truly embrace us as His own, there wouldn’t be a desire for correcting us. But instead, God chose to adopt us and care for our spiritual longevity with Him. We can fall into the comfort of His grace and reject the spirit of fear. He is loving and shows compassion to His children. Simply look at those of us striving to be good parents, we aim to love and embrace our children, providing the best things for them that we are capable of in this life. As flawed and fallen as our earthly selves are, just imagine the divine perfection that God loves us with. If we think we can provide so much good for our children, how much better can God actually provide for His own children? (that’s YOU!) Dads I encourage you to press into these truths, both about who you are to God and who He has called you to be to the youth entrusted in your care. God is not distant from us, but desires to walk among us and be present with us. Look at your everyday lives. Are you invested in your children and active in their lives? Are you setting the bar high by showing them how you follow God and by how you love their mother? The journey of fatherhood is a divine anointing God has placed on your life. A great responsibility. It’s time to rise up to who you’re called to be in the body of Christ.
Microchurch Minute
Being a Christian sure is a cakewalk, isn’t it? With our collectively perfect pasts and simply acquired citizenships. Sense the sarcasm. We see parts of Paul’s story highlighted, even in the midst of trials. Paul even identified as a Jew while referencing the persecution he personally inflicted on believers prior to being welcomed into the family of God. Relatable much? I really have grown to love the saying “I was one way and now I am completely different.” It looks different on this side of grace, yet sounds completely crazy to unbelievers. The crowd turns against Paul when he mentions reaching out to the Gentiles. As Christians, we understand that we are all God’s children, and that dictates an urgency in reaching out to them all. But to those confused at the mercy of grace and the gift the Jesus bestowed upon all creation the day he took up the cross, it’s a common misconception that is seen even in the modern day church… “christians” believing that they are better than or worth more than those that are not.
How does your everyday life look? Are you actively reaching those around you? In the midst of persecution, do you find yourself seeking opportunities to point to Heaven the way that Paul did? He related to people by way of sharing his story. You can’t argue someone’s testimony. Religion and politics can be debated all day, but the facts of your story will hold true. Who you were. Where you’ve been. What you’ve done. And then the shining moment, how did God make you completely different after you chose to rest in His grace. We all have a story. We have all faced varying degrees of trials. You’ll be amazed at the situations God strategically places you in where there are ears that need to hear it. At the coffee shop? In the checkout line at the grocery store? We have hundreds of opportunities each day to shine the light into the lives of others. Embrace it and seek the opportunities. Allow God to give you the boldness to speak unapologetically about His glory and how you’ve been transformed.
Microchurch Minute
We jumped in to Acts 23 discussing what to means to have a clear conscience. God can see to the very depths of your heart, even the dark spots. What does He see when He looks there? When you’ve actively turned from sin to pursue Jesus, you’re choosing each day, every moment to resist sin and subdue yourself to God’s will. His grace is not a permission slip to sin freely, but a true acceptance of new identity when we choose to shed our sinful nature. Paul was clearly living the convictions God had placed in his soul. While Paul receives a message from God to keep spreading the good news, there were simultaneously men that were planning his assassination. Yet in God’s great goodness, He provided a messenger to alert the commander who offered Paul a secured escape by the cover of night. After being safely delivered to the governor in Caesarea, Paul was granted safe keeping in Herod’s palace. See, even in the face of opposition, surrounded by those who may not be believers, God can still use those surrounding you to help make a way. You see, because He is God, He can and will continue to use all circumstances for His good, to accomplish His desired plan. Are you trusting in that plan or leaning more on yourself? Even when it gets uncomfortable, we can confidently trust that God is still orchestrating everything around us for His good plan. I pray that you be consumed by full faith vested in His unfailing grace.
Microchurch Minute
Acts 24 was tough to get through. We saw false accusations thrown at Paul, as he stood before Felix in Caesarea. Instead of an argumentative rebuttal, Paul chose the response of God’s grace. He was confident in his actions, the facts of the holy truth, calm in his reply and respectful of the audience that he presented to. Can you take notes from that? How does this compare to the way that we handle criticism or misunderstandings? Think carefully, Paul is sure to respond and not just react. He approaches this trial with a clear conscience. God knows the depths of his heart and soul, Paul can confidently provide facts knowing that the Holy Spirit is in his corner. Felix, a Roman leader, is revealed to have a Jewish wife (Drusilla). What a shake up in the system. Paul was then given the opportunity to speak regarding his faith and the knowledge of what is to come in the end of times. This made Felix nervous, so Paul was sent away. As he was continually sent for, Paul kept with the truth and maintained his clear conscience, refusing to offer bribes or drop his guard for the earthly promise of “freedom”. Instead of a final judgement being made, Felix chose to leave Paul in custody, continuing to await a fair trial.
Like Paul, you’ll never escape criticism from unbelievers. Even as we strive for a clear conscience, the backlash is unavoidable. People who hate Jesus, will look past your goodness and exaggerate your flaws to magnify sin. At the end of the day, can you look to your Heavenly Father and trust that He is continuing to work in your waiting and in your accusations? Keep focused on the One Who holds eternity in His hands. He already knows the truth and knows you. God, I pray that you reveal to me where I am flawed and should be leaning more into you. Let me never grow weary of the warfare that surrounds my soul and the seasons that feel stagnant at times. I trust that You have this and all scenarios in your mighty and powerful hands.
Microchurch Minute
So what happens after two years of Paul’s being detained? Enter, Festus. At first, the Jews ask a favor – that Paul be brought to Jerusalem so that they could ambush and kill him along the way. Wait a minute, didn’t God tell Paul a few chapters back that he would share the Good News in Rome? Festus convened court to hear the charges brought against Paul and then offered to send him to trial in Jerusalem. But Paul appeals to Ceasar. So, as only God can do, Festus can find no grounds to comvict Paul and is moved to send him to stand trial in front of Ceasar. In Rome. Paul is going to Rome.
I wonder, how many times do we feel God’s calling on our hearts and become discouraged at the delay in “our” plan to accomplish that calling. Or maybe what looks like a complete derailment. I’m willing to bet that when Paul heard from God he was going to Rome, he probably didn’t picture himself being imprisoned for 2 years and sent there as a prisoner.
Do you feel the calling that God has placed on your life? He always has a plan and you are always at move in it. Even in unprecedented circumstances. Even in uncomfortable settings. Even in seasons that feel stagnant. I dare you to believe that God has you there on purpose. If Jesus saw you today and asked, face to face, what you’ve done to share the Good News in the last 30 days… what would you say?
