Moves

19 Now those who were scattered as a result of the trouble that occurred because of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They proclaimed the word only to Jews. 20 Among them were some people from Cyprus and Cyrene. They entered Antioch and began to proclaim the good news about the Lord Jesus also to Gentiles. 21 The Lord’s power was with them, and a large number came to believe and turned to the Lord. 22 When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw evidence of God’s grace, he was overjoyed and encouraged everyone to remain fully committed to the Lord. 24 Barnabas responded in this way because he was a good man, whom the Holy Spirit had endowed with exceptional faith. A considerable number of people were added to the Lord. 25 Barnabas went to Tarsus in search of Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They were there for a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching large numbers of people. It was in Antioch where the disciples were first labeled “Christians.” (Acts 11:19-26, CEB)

We see here in this passage the birth of the Christian church, before this, they were called followers of the way. We also see in this passage the depths and lengths God will go to to make things happen.

Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Paul because he was needed. God moves us to do things we may not want to or think we need to to get the plan done.

Follow God where God leads you and know God’s ways are better than your ways.

Loving People. Loving God.

How they will know…

31 When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Human One has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify the Human One in himself and will glorify him immediately. 33 Little children, I’m with you for a little while longer. You will look for me—but, just as I told the Jewish leaders, I also tell you now—‘Where I’m going, you can’t come.’ 34 “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” (John 13:31-35, CEB)

This is how everyone will know you are my disciples…

When you loudly tell others they are sinning

When you tell others they are going to Hell

When you exclude people because they live differently than you

When you exclude people because they believe differently than you

When you try to make people be just like you

Nope. None of these are the way they will know. They will know we follow Jesus by our love for them.

Our love for them when they are not like us, or believe like us, or live like us, but we love than any way because that is what Jesus told us to do.

Love.

Loving People. Loving God.

the time

16 Then the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God. 17 They said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and was, for you have taken your great power and enforced your rule. 18 The nations were enraged, but your wrath came. The time came for the dead to be judged. The time came to reward your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the chest containing his covenant appeared in his temple. There were lightning, voices, thunder, an earthquake, and large hail. (Revelation 11:16-19, CEB)

The time came…

for the dead to be judged

for the servants to be rewarded

to destroy those who destroy the earth

So have hope and share love as you go.

Loving People. Loving God.

rule forever

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will rule forever and always.” (Revelation 11:15, CEB)

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will rule forever and always.

Christ will rule forever. Best news ever!

Share love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Vision

Then I saw another powerful angel coming down from heaven. He was robed with a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet were like fiery pillars. 2 He held an open scroll in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3 He called out with a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he called out, the seven thunders raised their voices. 4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and don’t write it down.” 5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 He swore by the one who lives forever and always, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, and said, “The time is up. 7 In the days when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious purpose will be accomplished, fulfilling the good news he gave to his servants the prophets.” 8 Then the voice I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the opened scroll from the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will make you sick to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 So I took the scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. And it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it made my stomach churn. 11 I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” (Revelation 10:1-11, CEB)

I heard the seven thunders and was ready to write about it, but was told to seal it up and not write about it.

We must remember that Revelation is a vision and sometimes those getting the vision do not include everything because we do not need to know all the details.

We get what we get and we believe even with the holes, because of the promises that were made that have been upheld we can have faith that all the promises are true and they will happen.

Loving People. Loving God.

what we want

31 Again the Jewish opposition picked up stones in order to stone him. 32 Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of those works do you stone me?” 33 The Jewish opposition answered, “We don’t stone you for a good work but for insulting God. You are human, yet you make yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus replied, “Isn’t it written in your Law, I have said, you are gods? 35 Scripture calls those to whom God’s word came gods, and scripture can’t be abolished. 36 So how can you say that the one whom the Father has made holy and sent into the world insults God because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, and you don’t believe me, believe the works so that you can know and recognize that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again, they wanted to arrest him, but he escaped from them. 40 Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had baptized at first, and he stayed there. 41 Many people came to him. “John didn’t do any miraculous signs,” they said, “but everything John said about this man was true.” 42 Many believed in Jesus there. (John 10:31-42, CEB)

When what we want goes against what we believe we must choose to keep believing or what we want.

Sometimes what we want is so powerful that it blinds us from the truth and we will do whatever we can to keep the perceived power we have and not follow what we believe.

Those in religious power were afraid they would lose their power so they had to do something with Jesus, but the truth kept making it hard to know what to do.

The easy thing to do is follow God. even when it goes against the rules, because God gave us the rules, so it is God’s prerogative to bend or break the rules.

Loving People. Loving God.

healed

32 As Peter toured the whole region, he went to visit God’s holy people in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed.” At once he got up. 35 Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. (Acts 9:32-35, CEB)

Do we follow God because of the miracles we see?

We may see something miraculous but that will not sustain us. It can turn our heads and get our attention, but faith comes through following when the miracles are not seen.

Peter healed people as God told him and we should too. We may not make a paralyzed man walk, but we will do wonders through God’s love.

Share love every day and help people know they are healed.

Loving People. Loving God.

end of anger

Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in heaven. There were seven angels with seven plagues—and these are the last, for with them God’s anger is brought to an end. 2 Then I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who gained victory over the beast, its image, and the number of its name were standing by the glass sea, holding harps from God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, God’s servant, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and awe-inspiring are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, king of the nations. 4 Who won’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? You alone are holy. All nations will come and fall down in worship before you, for your acts of justice have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:1-4, CEB)

With the seven plagues, God’s anger is brought to an end!

After the victory, we will stand around the sea of glass and have harps and sing praises to God forever and ever.

Peace will come. We have faith and know the promises are true.

Share love and stand strong.

Loving People. Loving God.

Fooled

22 The time came for the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple, walking in the covered porch named for Solomon. 24 The Jewish opposition circled around him and asked, “How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, but you don’t believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them from my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:22-30, CEB)

I was scrolling through social media today and I found this image.

I think that goes with the reading here. The Jewish Religious Leaders who opposed Jesus wanted Jesus to plainly say who he was, and according to Jesus he had told them plainly, but they didn’t want to hear it.

They knew the truth, but refused to accept it, does that make them double fools?

Accept the truth and follow Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

worry

29 Don’t chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying. 30 All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. (Luke 12:29-32, CEB)

I worry about everything.

And I can come up with some interesting outcomes that will never happen. But I worry so it is what I do.

But does worry help at all? No. We shouldn’t focus on the bad that could happen, we should focus on the good that could happen and know that no matter what happens that God is with us through it all.

Don’t worry. Love.

Loving People. Loving God.