Psalm 19 The Law of the Lord is Perfect

Creation speaks with a loud voice concerning the glories of our Creator. The heavens, the sky, the day, and the night reveal the knowledge of the Almighty. David writes: "There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard." Every human being is struck by the glory of God as he contemplates nature.

Alongside Nature, there is another voice that sings in harmony the glories of our God. It is the voice of Revelation through the Scriptures. David describes the Scriptures as perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true. On top of that, he describes the effects that Scripture has upon the person: revives the soul, makes the wise the simple, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. This list of characteristics and benefits is long enough to entice our souls to run to the Scriptures every day of our lives.

To top it all off, David says: "...by them your servant is warned..." The Scriptures serve the purpose of warning us of our own errors. "Who can discern his errors?" Given my propensity to defend myself from wrongdoing, it is imperative to rely on the Scriptures as the one that pinpoints with grace and love the faults in my life. God promises to clear me of my sins if I only come to him in confession and repentance. God also promises to protect me from being controlled by my sin and sets me free to live for him.

The long term benefit of coming to the Scriptures is: "...in keeping them there is great reward." I look forward to my reward for living my life according to the Scriptures with the help of God through his Spirit. The ultimate effects of feeding on the Scriptures in the here and now is the regulation of my words and my thoughts and motivations: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Father, help me value the Scriptures as the voice the proclaims your glories and may I feast in it to reap its benefits in my life. May I never forget your word, or become disinterested. Revive in me a passion for your Word that I may grow in you. Amen.

Acts 17:1-9 Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

Paul and Silas were consistent in their strategy to preach the Gospel. They looked for a nearby synagogue and began to preach the Gospel there. They spent three Sabbath days (weeks) at the synagogue. Paul reasoned with them, explaining and proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ who had to suffer and rise from the dead. Certainly the Gospel needs to be preached in the power of the Spirit, and needs to be centered on the Scriptures, but it does not exclude the use of reason. Is Scripture the source of my preaching? Am I seeking the power of the Spirit to preach?


Reason (explanation and proof) is at the service of Revelation with the purpose of persuading those who listen. When Paul refers to his preaching not being of words with eloquent wisdom (1Cor.1:17), he is referring to the custom of the professional orators who performed for the sake of entertainment and instruction calling attention to themselves. The preaching of the Gospel strives to persuade using reason at the service of revelation by exalting Jesus as the Christ, not the messenger. The proclamation of the Gospel must be Christocentric. The messenger must hide behind the cross.

It was very difficult for the Jews to accept that the Christ would have to suffer. They expected a Christ who would become King, but they could not conceive of a suffering Christ. The truth of the Gospel is that through suffering and death we are given healing and life. I don't like suffering. The mere thought of suffering causes me to shrink back. But we know that suffering produces endurance (Rom.5:3) and it is part of our identification with Christ in his kingdom. If Christ was hated and persecuted and suffered, I must realize that my following him will bring the same upon my life. Suffering is part and parcel of the kingdom of God. I have to come to grips with suffering. This is part of the cost to follow Jesus. Am I willing to pay the cost?

The jealousy of the Jews drove them to go after Paul by forming a mob, setting the city in an uproar. They went into Jason's home, but they missed him - thank God. Because they missed Paul, they went after Jason and some other brothers accusing them of acting against Caesar by proclaiming Jesus as king. At least, they were not executed. They were charged a fine as security - more likely referring to giving their word that Paul and Silas would not come back to preach. This may be the "Satan's hindrance" mentioned by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians (1Thes.2:18). It is important to realize that behind such opposition lie the powers of darkness. My struggle is not against flesh and blood. That's why I can't stop praying!

Acts 15:12-21 The Jerusalem Council - Part II

After Peter's testimony on how the Holy Spirit guided him to minister to the Gentiles and how the Holy Spirit came upon them just like for the Jews, Paul and Barnabas take the stand and testify on all the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. Both Peter and Paul had experienced the presence of the Spirit guiding them to minister to the Gentiles and the power of the Spirit upon them in conversion and baptism accompanied by signs and wonders just like among the Jews. There is no partiality in God and there should be none in the Church which means there should be none in me.

Now James, the Apostle, more likely the lead elder of the Jerusalem church, offers scriptural backing for what Peter, Saul, and Barnabas have experienced and are trying to explain. He cites Amos 9:11-12 that refers to the restoration of Israel in the end times to include all the nations of the world. It is interesting to note that the apostles are reasoning together to find a solution to the Gentile issue. They bring experience, but they also bring the Scriptures to bear upon it. There was no angel with a message, there was no vision (they had a few already on the issue), and they were not prophet speaking a word. Yet, the presence of the Spirit in their decision-making cannot be questioned. Experience, Scripture, and Reason are working together for the glory of God and the advancement of his kingdom.

James, based on the evidence before them, proposed a solution to the issue of asking Gentile believers to circumcise and keep the Law. He proposed that no undue burden be placed upon them, but "to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood." And the reason he gives for the Gentiles to abstain from these things is that the Law is proclaimed in the synagogues everywhere. In other words, to ensure that the Gospel would have no stumbling blocks among the Jews and to ensure the fellowship between Gentiles and Jews, there had to be some standard of conduct.

Am I willing to do whatever it takes to avoid being a stumbling block for the Gospel where I live? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to ensure fellowship with my brothers and sisters who are different from me in my local church? I think I am too prompt to sound the cultural trumpet to excuse myself from things that could offend others. Whether that be language, food, greeting, etc. I must be willing to give up my culture for the sake of the kingdom of God so that people don't have objections to the Gospel and my brothers and sisters can feel comfortable around me. Ultimately, my citizenship is from heaven and not from earth. And heavenly citizens are willing to give up their earthly customs to promote evangelism and fellowship.

Father, thank you for my heavenly citizenship. Help me understand that my culture may stand in the way of reaching others for the kingdom and it may stand in the way of bonding with my brothers and sisters in the kingdom. Grant me discernment to learn what I must give up to avoid being a stumbling block for the Gospel. Amen.

Acts 1:12-26 Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

After Jesus' ascension, the apostles obediently returned to Jerusalem and waited in prayer. Many others joined them (120 people total) including Mary, the mother of Jesus. Peter, stands and speaks to the brethren gathered there. He explains Judas' treason and fate as a fulfillment of the Scriptures as written by David in the Psalms. So the Scriptures are used as the authoritative source to understand and explain what has happened.

Many see a contradiction in the this account of the field's purchase as compared to Matthew 27. It is best to see them as two different perspectives on the same event and they are reconcilable. Peter recounts that Judas acquired the field with the reward, but Matthew states that Judas came back to the Pharisees with a guilty conscience and threw the money at them in the temple and hung himself afterwards. It is not difficult to think that the Pharisees purchased the field in Judas' name since they knew it was blood money and could not keep it for themselves. None of them would want a property in their name associated with blood money. So much so, that the people called the field a Field of Blood (Akeldama). Peter quotes Psalm 69:25 as a prophecy to be fulfilled - it would be desolate and no one would dwell in it.

Moreover, the Scriptures also are the authoritative source, not just to understand what has taken place, but to decide what must take place. Peter quotes the Psalms (109:8) as the basis for their first decision as apostles - Let another take his office. Understanding that Psalm 109 predicts Jesus' suffering and the final fate of his betrayer, they decide to choose a replacement for him. They established the requirements, they prayed, and they selected by casting lots.

Concerning casting lots... It was a method of selection that eliminated human influences like popularity, money and other controlling factors from the process. It is important to note that the selection criteria was established beforehand and the candidates had to meet such criteria. Manny people don't feel that there is an election unless there is a popularity vote with at least two people competing against each other. Not so in the Scriptures. It is best to have the leadership establish the requirements and choose those who meet the requirements. If there is more than one meeting the criteria for a given position, then cast lots!

The Scriptures are central to the believer's life. They are the only authoritative source for all of life and faith. I must make the Scriptures central in my life. In order to derive the benefits that the Scriptures offer, I must meditate on them often. I must also take them seriously. The Scriptures should always be my light and my guide.

Father, make me hungry for your Word every day. May I seek what it says. May I strive to live what it commands. May I delight in it every day of my life. Amen