Pastor Mary Haley

God created us and the seasons in our lives to shape us and fulfill his plans for us (Ecc 3:1). Every season of life provides new learning experiences that prepare us for the next—childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, and retirement—bringing varied opportunities and challenges for discipleship growth. Although life will always serve up a generous portion of unwanted change, there are times and stages in which we grow exponentially because we simply must pick up our cross, adhere to our faith, and follow Jesus one step at a time.

The season I am presently in has brought more spiritual growth than I could have possibly imagined; ways that pushed me to grow in trusting God for his strength. According to Scripture, every season is valuable, but certain stages in life bring situations that apply the most pressure to our souls for the greater outcome. With new levels of growth come new worldly temptations from evil. Yet, we must remain committed to the values of God’s Kingdom of Love—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit (Ro 14:17).

In our passage today, the aging Apostle John is writing his first letter to reassure believers, through all generations and in every season of life, to place their confidence in God and grow in their faith and love. Yes, John is the apostle we most associate with love. John challenges believers in all seasons of life to make a choice to love one another the way Christ loves us. To love difficult people means we need to lay hold of Christ’s strength, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Phil 4:13).

Remember, to love a person with God’s love is to want the Lord’s best for him/her; to help that person by speaking the Truth in love and sharing what we have learned in our relationship with God and through his Word. We seek to shine the Light of the Savior’s love for others, because the world puts up a fierce battle for control. A lust for sensual pleasure, power, and possessions attacks the soul of every human being; we must choose to love God more than self.

John wants us to understand the powerful pull of the world to draw believers away from living in God’s love. We must not allow ourselves to be vulnerable by loving the world’s ways—or the things it uses to tempt us—more than God. Ways to fulfill selfish worldly pleasure is on temptation’s table all the time; things that do not come from God or please him. However, may we crave the things of God more than anything the world has to offer. Eternal life is both a gift and a choice.

1 John 2:12-17 NLT
12
I am writing to you who are God’s children
    because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.[through His name]
13 
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
    because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
    because you have won your battle with the evil one.
14 
I have written to you who are God’s children
    because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
    because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
    because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
    and you have won your battle with the evil one.

Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of eternal life and for the ability to choose to grow in every season of life. We belong to you, Lord, and are grateful for the privilege to serve and honor your righteous plan for our spiritual maturity. Continue to make us strong disciples who faithfully live to please you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps 118:24). Like the psalmist proclaiming praise to the Lord for our very lives, we rejoice because the godly can enter the very presence of divine Love and receive mercy and salvation to live in his victory (Ps 118:20-25). As we read our devotional, today, let us be mindful we have been given life and the choice of the will. Will we rejoice and be glad?

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds us people typically fall into one of two categories: 1) Those who live by selfish flesh [foolish] or, 2) those who live by the Spirit of God who is Love [Wisdom]. The flesh [sinful nature led by lies/deception] and the Holy Spirit [godly nature led by Truth] are at war all the time, so a choice to love God and others must be made by the will.

Jesus has made a way out of this spiritual battle, so the command of God is to choose wisely and live in the Truth. Keep in mind Truth is a person—Jesus. He came that we might have life more abundantly and to be our peace in the midst of the struggle we may face in our flesh (Jo 10:10). Jesus has already fought the spiritual battle and we must now keep walking in the character of our loving Christ—the Supreme Victor!

The Apostle Paul reminds us when we belong to Christ [made him Lord/Center of life] and allow the Spirit to liberate us from sin [unbelief/rebellion against God], we face NO condemnation [punishment for breaking God’s law], because we are listening to and seeking to obey the Voice of the Lord. If there is no condemnation from God, we cannot allow the enemy power to condemn us either. Our minds must stay fixed on the Truth. Believers no longer follow the selfish demands of the sinful nature, because our greatest allegiance is to follow the Truth.

The battle will always be fought in the mind; therefore, we must allow Truth to renew our minds and get us ready for the victory Jesus wants to bring those who belong to him and are led by the Spirit. So, live in the peace of Christ, today, and rejoice because you please God!

Romans 8:1-11NLT Life in the Spirit
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Prayer: Lord, because we belong to you, we thank you for the victory that is ours today in Christ Jesus. We will seek to walk with the Spirit of Truth, seek to lay hold of your strength despite our personal weaknesses, and seek to take spiritual authority in the power of divine Love everywhere you lead us, today. By the choice of the will, we will rejoice and be glad in it. In Jesus’ name.

We must walk mercifully through life, because we never know the things other people may be dealing with in their souls. Most people can cleverly put on an outward smile, but be filled with sorrow, fear, bitterness, or even anger on the inside. Frankly, as believers, we can be blind to certain things within ourselves that need God’s attention; behaviors that may be hindering our nearness to God or harming our souls without our awareness.

In our passage today from Luke’s gospel, the Pharisees and religious leaders have expectations not only for Jesus but for others, as well. These leaders want to think of themselves as “clean” or pure examples of righteousness. Yet, Jesus can see their hearts [inner life] and he calls their souls, “filthy!”

The Pharisees were always worried about being defiled by unclean [unholy] things or people; therefore, they neglected the infirm, outcasts, and needy. They believed if they touched anything unclean, they would not be able to perform their religious rituals in the Temple; things that made them feel important. Jesus wanted the Pharisees and religious leaders to understand he came to share the love of God with the world and everyone needs transformation even the Pharisees. But, instead of the Pharisees leading people toward God, they confused them and embraced a religion of their own making rather than helping others open their hearts to the truth.

Luke 11:37-52 NLT Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
37 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. 38 His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

43 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces. 44 Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”
45 “Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”

46 “Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden. 47 What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago. 48 But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments! 49 This is what God in his wisdom said about you: ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’

50 “As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world— 51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.

52 “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”

Prayer: Father, we thank you for lifting the burdens off from our souls and helping us to live in your liberating love. We pray for opportunities to help others see and understand the Truth of your love, today. May we be a help and not a hindrance for others to hear and know the Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The word of some people is just not worth a lot of confidence; some people we may deal with in life and business simply lack integrity. In Hebrew, when a person walks with integrity, he or she speaks the truth and practices righteousness. There is harmony of the inner person with the outer person. Integrity is associated with the Hebrew word shalom—wholeness. In ancient Israelite culture, integrity was valued and revealed in a relationship with God and with his or her community. For example, the patriarchs Job and Noah, were described as models of righteousness or integrity.

For the disciple of Christ, walking in integrity is our way of life and conduct. Integrity brings many benefits: security, preservation, and blessing. We avoid so many pitfalls when we run from dishonesty and into integrity. We need to pray all the time to be people who can be trusted based on our integrity; we represent Christ.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul helps us understand how suffering for the sake of integrity brings us to an end of ourselves, because then we can experience the fullness of God’s character. If we are honest, none of us would delight in running to a place of suffering. Yet, Paul helps us understand the faithfulness of God to run to the aid of his sons and daughters who boldly stand in integrity against evil accusations.

Initially, Paul went to Corinth to bring some constructive criticism to church drama. The church faced some real issues and Paul thought they would be able to bring reconciliation and a solution to their problems before he returned. They did not mend their ways in Christ’s love. So, Paul decided to write a letter rather than revisit Corinth, because he did not want to refuel the initial issues. In changing his plan to personally return, some of his accusers decided he lacked integrity and could not be trusted. Paul explained it was not indecision that held him from returning, it was God’s love and concern for them. Paul did not want to rebuke them further; they were in God’s hands now.

2 Corinthians 1:12-19 NIV Paul’s Change of Plans
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[a] and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”

Prayer: Lord, integrity is a big deal with you and how we treat other people matters. Please help us to be people of integrity. We pray for our “yes” to be “yes” and our “no” to be “no.” May we be people of the Word and of our word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I never cease wanting the people around me to know my heart and my motives to love, protect, and help them in their spiritual journey. The struggle we can face in life is real. Sometimes the Church misses the importance of ministering to believing disciples, because we are more heavily focused on reaching unbelieving hearts. Yet, God clearly wants the spiritual family to have the grace-filled guidance, healing, and help the Holy Spirit administers, as well.

As believers, we must guard our hearts against thinking after salvation we are all set for life. Accepting Jesus is the entry-level; we are assured of eternal life when we commit our lives to Christ. Learning to live and think like Jesus while we follow the Spirit makes us exercise our faith by climbing the transformation ladder toward the glory of the Lord. This exercise takes discernment, trust, and the hard work of Love.

In our passage today from a letter written by John, the apostle reminds us about how God wants believers to know his heart, as well as his motives to love, protect, and help his children who are called to thrive in his Love. John’s first letter is really important, because he reminds believers about the power of light vs. darkness, the love of the Father vs. the love of the world, Christ vs. the spirit of the antichrists, righteousness vs. sin, truth vs. lies, and the Spirit of God vs. the spirit of the Antichrist. In other words, through the apostle John, God wants us to know what is right and what is wrong. The letter has been written to believers, so we will genuinely live out our faith and experience the goodness of God.

Today, many people will be observing Valentine’s Day—a day to celebrate love (romantic, familial, and platonic)—let’s remember God is Love and, no matter how much we love others, nothing and no one should take his place in our hearts. Love is an act of the will, so we have to guard ourselves against worshiping the idols the world has created for people to love more than God. If we love the world more than God, we do not know and belong to Christ. Guard your hearts and remember Jesus is Lord! Blessings for your weekend!

1 John 5:13-21 NLT Conclusion
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

16 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. 17 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

Prayer: Father, thank you for loving us and pouring your perfect love into our hearts. As well, thank you for the assurance of our salvation found only in Christ. We pray for Christ to remain central in our lives; to rule our lives in righteousness. Help us to cast down sin and make us wise in recognizing the traps of Satan. We live for the glory of your name and the advancement of your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ro 14:17). It is a realm where those who seek the Kingdom recognize and obey the authority of our King—Jesus. The Kingdom is not about a group of perfect saints; rather, the Kingdom is for people who seek to live in a way that pleases God. Christ’s followers are real people who live respectfully among fellow human beings in a sin-filled world. The difference is Kingdom people are keenly aware of the need for God’s mercy and forgiveness; therefore, we choose to speak the Truth in love while pressing on in the transforming grace Christ provides each day. Godliness is the goal.

So, if we look at the Kingdom properly, we will see living for Jesus is a lifestyle of understanding his righteousness and bowing to his authority while listening and obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit who exalts God’s Word. This is what is really means to be a “believer” who is rooted in Christ. It’s all about growing roots that attach to the Tree of Life!

In our passage today, the psalmist (composer) wants us to note the contrast between the godly and the wicked and sing about the goodness of life with God. Again, the godly are not perfect people; they simply want more of God and to do his will. According to this worship leader, the wicked are not only those who commit heinous crimes; this psalmist refers to anyone who walks away from doing the will of God outlined in his Word as wicked—without roots in God.

If we do not have roots in our Source, we cannot quench our spiritual thirst and stay vibrant. If we do not have STRONG roots in God’s Word, we cannot flourish and bear righteous fruit—the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Godly people have STRONG roots and producing fruit is their goal. So, produce godly fruit and share some with others, today, because God is watching!

Psalm 1 NLT
1 
Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.
2 
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.
3 
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
    bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
    and they prosper in all they do.
4 
But not the wicked!
    They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
    Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 
For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
    but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for watching over the path of the godly. Please continue to cause us to prosper in all that we do and all that you seek for us to become. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

There are so many things that make every person made in the image [likeness] of God special. Within each individual, God has placed gifts and abilities to be used to further his Kingdom of righteous, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ro 14:17). The saddest part for us—when we come to this saving revelation—is that others we know and love may still be lost in their own understanding of God’s sacrificial love for them. To know Christ, is to passionately want others to know the Lord. Interestingly, when we connect to Christ, he causes us to see how the gifts we have been given can help others know their Maker and experience his acceptance and love for them.

To help us gain some very practical understanding, we need to follow the Lord to Capernaum where—according to our passage today from Luke chapter 5—Jesus deliberately approaches a tax collector named, Levi. During this time in history, the most hated people by the Jews were the tax collectors who sold their fellow Jews out for the gain of money and possessions by working for the Romans—the ones oppressing the Jews. Jesus knows when a heart is ready to hear the Truth, so as he is walking through town, he speaks to Levi to come follow him. Levi leaves everything he has gained in this natural life—except his pen—takes his skills and abilities and walks away knowing he can never return. He must move forward with the One who delivers his children from sin.

Levi quickly becomes convinced Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. In moments, this Jewish man goes from being hated as a betrayer to experiencing the pure love and acceptance of Jesus. He cannot wait to introduce others to the Christ who gave him new life and a new purpose.

What does Levi do? He gives a Messiah “reveal party.” Levi wants to be of service to the One who has saved him. He has the money to throw a grand banquet and the connection with others who need the One he has discovered. He is filled with joy at being able to help others see the Truth.

What is the response of the Pharisees and religious leaders to this party? They condemn Levi, Jesus, and the party attendees, of course. They have completely missed the joy, the message, and the Messiah that filled Levi’s party.

Every day, we are invited to reap the benefits of the joy of our salvation, share the Truth, and help others see the Messiah in us. May today be a great day for God’s Kingdom.

Luke 5:27-32 NLT Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)
27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”
31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson from Levi. He left money and possessions behind, but gained so much more in relationship to you. Help us to come to that understanding, as well, when you call us to leave sin behind. Holy Spirit, give us opportunities to share salvation with other. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Well, here I am one year older, today, so I am praying to also be one year wiser! Please Jesus! Each one of us has the potential to be wiser every day, because as we grow in the Truth of Christ’s love, we grow in Wisdom. Let’s spend some time, today, in the Truth.

In our passage today, the psalmist asks the readers to honor and glorify God’s name no matter what we face in life. We need to learn how to abide in God’s peace even when life leaves us hurt and feeling unappreciated. As we learn in verse 3, we must accept God’s loving plan in this life or we may find ourselves in a state of inward bitterness and pain. Our perspective has everything to do with finding genuine peace.

This psalmist exposes the foolishness of idolatry. We can make idols of anything, can’t we? Our possessions can become so dear to us we make gods or idols out of them. We can value the things we have accumulated more than our spiritual growth, transformation, and the time we spend loving others. Even a wrong perspective of the people we love can make gods out of them; which is wrong to do as only God deserves certain places in our hearts.

We become what we worship. If we worship God who is Love, we become like Jesus. If we worship the false gods surrounding us, we become superficial like the fleeting things of the world. When we place our trust in the Lord, we are covered by the shield of his Love and grace. When we place our trust in the world, we are sorely disappointed because it cannot and will not protect us or comfort our hearts.

Only the Lord can bring increase to our lives. So, today, let’s seek to praise God, allow his righteousness to be worked out in our souls, and receive the blessings he alone can bring to us. May we praise God now and forever!

Psalm 115 NLT
1 
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
    but to your name goes all the glory
    for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
2 
Why let the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
3 
Our God is in the heavens,
    and he does as he wishes.
4 
Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
    shaped by human hands.
5 
They have mouths but cannot speak,
    and eyes but cannot see.
6 
They have ears but cannot hear,
    and noses but cannot smell.
7 
They have hands but cannot feel,
    and feet but cannot walk,
    and throats but cannot make a sound.
8 
And those who make idols are just like them,
    as are all who trust in them.
9 
O Israel, trust the Lord!
    He is your helper and your shield.
10 
O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the Lord!
    He is your helper and your shield.
11 
All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!
    He is your helper and your shield.
12 
The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
    He will bless the people of Israel
    and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
13 
He will bless those who fear the Lord,
    both great and lowly.
14 
May the Lord richly bless
    both you and your children.
15 
May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
16 
The heavens belong to the Lord,
    but he has given the earth to all humanity.
17 
The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord,
    for they have gone into the silence of the grave.
18 
But we can praise the Lord
    both now and forever!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us see things through the lens of your love. We trust you and know you love us. Help us place our love and value in spiritual things. Forgive us, Lord, if we have placed anything above you. May we stop caring so much for the things of the world, that we cease to desire the spiritual gifts and grace you have set aside for us. We hold onto our fear of the Lord and seek to glorify your name, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

At Connect2Christ Church our vision statement is: “Bridging the gap between worship and missions through our connection to Christ.” We believe Jesus is the Bridge who connects us in the anointed worship of our eternal King and then sends us out to connect with others in his kingdom mission to the world. To worship God is to bow down in devotion [obedience] and make ourselves available to Christ’s mission of saving humanity. The knees of disciples bow now, but one day every knee should bow in heaven and on earth…to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:10-11 NLT). It is such a Gift to connect to our Christ—the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jo 14:6).

At the foundation of the Gospel [Good News] message of salvation is the invitation to bow before the High Priest and King, because only God can save a sinful soul destined for destruction. We are invited to willingly and gratefully bow now, and we should, because bowing later will involve tremendous pressure, suffering, and pain. The Spirit is wooing human beings to draw near and now is the time.

In our Bible Study from last night, we learned bowing to our High Priest enables us to come boldly to the throne of our gracious God to obtain mercy and find the grace [empowerment] to help in our times of need (Heb 4:16). Humanity should run to this High Priest and fall before the Savior! Life will continue to get more challenging and the power of the Spirit is the Helper of Christ’s disciples. Waiting to bow is dangerous, because Jesus will return like a thief in the night [unexpectedly] for his disciples [the Church] and we need to have established and devoted our allegiance to the King before then (Rev 16:15).

Today, we continue in Luke’s eyewitness writings about the Acts of the Apostles and the birth and growth of the Christian church. Acts is the connecting link between the life of Christ and the life of his disciples. Between the gospels and the letters to the churches, we find the Book of Acts and how people were responding to the revelation of the resurrected Christ through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit who brings spiritual life and vitality to willing hearts.

Saul (who is later renamed Paul) becomes an example of the humility that manifests when we recognize the authority and divinity of Jesus. Saul bows the first time under pressure, but after his revelation of the Living Lord, he willingly bows and gratefully gives his life to further the Truth. Saul seeks to live in obedience through the power of the Spirit. The lives of believers [disciples] of Christ should live likewise—as instruments of grace who bow to every opportunity provided, by the Spirit, for the redemption of others.

In our lesson today, we see that bowing reality in the disciple, Barnabas. When others cannot see the Truth of Saul’s conversion and changed life, Barnabas stands up as an eyewitness to the Truth of an obedient bowed life; his faith covers Saul for a season until others can see, as well. Saul spends his life shining the Light of Christ within him to a dark world. Only our living, perfect, and holy High Priest could bring such transformation within sinful human hearts—humanity without Christ.

Acts 9:26-31 NLT
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When the believers [disciples] heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.
31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.

Prayer: Lord, it is time for your Spirit-filled sons and daughters to display your glorious Light within us and your power to save. Your Word teaches all of creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when you will reveal who your children really are. So, give us holy boldness to witness to the Truth of who you are and how you have brought transformation to our lives. As our High Priest, please pray and intercede for us Lord. Help us to stay rooted in your Word, pray for anointed opportunities to witness, and continually place our confidence in the work of the Spirit to lead and sustain us in your grace each day. As well, keep us strong and vibrant as a spiritual family who willingly and joyfully cover one another in prayer and faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God is always interested in our transformation as disciples. According to Scripture, by the Spirit of the Lord, we are changed from glory to glory (1 Cor 3:18). Think about that for a minute. We are moved by the Spirit from one glorious stage and spiritual realm to another glorious stage and spiritual realm. In other words, we live and function in one period of time [often messy] until it has been made glorious [order out of chaos] and then we are promoted, by God, and moved to another opportunity [often messy] that will become glorious [order out of chaos] by the Spirit for the glory of the Lord. Our spiritual lives grow in the Truth which manifest good things in our natural lives. This is called transformation, friends, and we must stay in step with the Spirit!

The spiritual journey of discipleship is not focused on fixing others. God’s plan is to heal our hearts, as well as help us be an example of the Truth to others. So let’s ask the Spirit to remove the veil of our present understanding and help us see the Light as we ask ourselves some questions. Are we living in our present phase/realm in a way to bring glory to God? Have we embraced, in excellence, the things God has given us to do right now? To the best of our ability, have we been able to shine the Light of Christ as an example of the grace working in and through us any given day?

Truth is what removes the veil from our eyes and helps us understand where our lives need change. To be transformed is to change our presence status in the Spirit for a more glorious one. Yet, we must make the decision to grow in the Truth—in Christ.

Our passage today from the Book of Acts, picks up after Saul, on the Damascus Road, is blinded by the Light, knocked off his high horse [self-deception], and begins to understand the power of his flesh to take him out of the will of God. Saul was living void of the glory. As he recognizes and repents of his pride and self-deception, he is filled with the Spirit of Truth and life begins again. Saul is a new creature in Christ, but he needs to grow in the Truth. The name ‘Saul’ reminded this man of God who he had been and his new name Paul helped him live as a new creature on the road to transformation.

Now, some folks trust this new creature right away and some only see Saul. It will be up to Saul to reveal the Truth of the One who took him from a poor reputation and exchanged shame for the glory. In the meantime, the Spirit will protect God’s new man for the discipleship mission by the spiritual family.

When we gain strength in the Truth at our present stage of glory, we become more powerful in the hands of God. For the folks who want to claim Christ, but go nowhere further as disciples, they will seek to stop the ones destined to reach for the glory yet to come! The mission of Christ will prevail despite the work of the enemy to destroy the Truth!

Acts 9:19-25 NLT Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
19 Saul [renamed later, Paul] stayed with the believers [disciples] in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the mercy and grace you have made available for us as new creatures. We have all failed to continuously live in your Wisdom; we have all spent time demanding our own ways only to have the Truth remove the veil and reveal the Truth of our sin. But, Lord, it is time for us, as disciples, to allow the work of the Spirit in the transformation of our souls. So, Holy Spirit, please bring the transformation we need, because we desire to follow you from glory to glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.