“Ananias… laying his hands on him, said: “Brother Saul, the Lord… has sent me.” — Acts 9:17
“Lord, send me anywhere, but not there!” This is how I prayed when I was still a teenager and was about to go abroad to study for a year. I didn’t know where I was being sent, but I knew very well where I didn’t want to go. I did not speak the language of that country and had many prejudices against the customs and people. So I asked God to send me somewhere else.
But God, in His infinite wisdom, sent me there. And now I’m glad that everything turned out this way, and not otherwise. Forty years later, I still have good friends in that country. When I got married, my best friend Stefan came to my wedding from there. And when he got married, I flew to him to repay the debt of friendship. And soon we are going to meet again.
When God makes a change in the heart, wonderful things happen. Such a transformation can be illustrated by two biblical words: “Brother Saul” (Acts 9:17).
They were spoken by Ananias, a Christian who was commissioned by God to heal Saul’s sight shortly after his conversion (vv. 10-12). Ananias initially resisted, because he knew about Saul’s cruelty in the past: “I have heard, Lord, from many about this man, how much evil he has done in Jerusalem to Your saints” (v. 13).
But Ananias was obedient and left. In the person of Saul, he found a new brother in faith. Saul became known as Paul, and the Good News about Christ spread with great power. The Lord is making amazing changes!
Is there a place in your life where the Lord is calling you to change? How can you support a new convert today?
Lord Jesus, thank you for the love that changed my heart. Help me spread it to others.
? 03/19/2023 10:03 AM #broadcast “Meeting with Jesus” has started on the Church of God’s Glory channel | Pastor Dmytro Ignatenko 19.03.2023: https://youtu.be/S0jfbyQw1Ww
“When we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all kinds of unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9
One day I noticed a small, unfamiliar plant near our porch next to the watering hose. She seemed innocent to me, and I forgot about her. What can such a small thing do to the whole lawn? But after a week, the plant turned into a bush and began to take over the yard. The shoots spilled over the path and sprouted in other places. I had to sound the alarm. I asked my husband to help me dig up the weeds and treated the yard with herbicide.
Something similar can be said about sin. If we ignore its presence, sin can take over our souls and darken our lives. There is no darkness in God. As His children, we have everything we need to resist sin and walk in the light, “as He Himself is in the light” (1 John 1:7). Through confession and repentance, we receive forgiveness and release from sin (vv. 8-10), since we have a great Advocate – the Lord Jesus (1 John 2:1). He paid the ultimate price, shedding his blood “for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world” (v. 2).
When the Lord points out sin to us, we can choose to deny, remain silent, or evade responsibility. But if we choose to confess our sin and repent, He will eradicate everything that harms our relationship with Him and those around us.
How does understanding that our sins offend God change your view of repentance? What sins have taken root in your life and need to be “rooted”?
Loving Heavenly Father, remove sins from my life so that my relationship with You and people can be strengthened.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” —Revelation 3:20
Frederic Brown’s short thriller “The Knock” says: “The last man on Earth was sitting alone in a room. There was a knock at the door…” Ouch! Who can it be and what does he need? What kind of mysterious creature came after her? Now she is certainly not completely alone.
And we are not alone either.
The church in Laodicea heard a knock at its door (Rev. 3:20). What kind of supernatural Being came to her? Her name was Jesus, “The First and the Last… and the Living One” (Revelation 1:17-18). His eyes burned like fire. His face was “like the sun shining in its power” (v. 16). When the apostle John saw the brightness of His glory, “he fell at His feet as if dead” (v. 17). Faith in Christ begins with the fear of God.
We’re not alone, and that’s comforting, too. Jesus Christ is the radiance of God’s glory and the image of His hypostasis, He holds the universe “by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3). However, He does not use His power to destroy us, but to show us His love. Here are His words: “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and I will dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Our faith begins with fear: who is there at the door? But it ends with joy and blessing. Jesus promises to always be by your side, even if you remain the last person on Earth. Thank God that we are not alone!
Why is Christ’s power inseparable from His love? Why are both so important?
“All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for guidance, for education in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16
At the end of the 19th century Christians in different places almost simultaneously began to develop similar materials for service. The first, in 1877, was Montreal (Canada). In 1898, a similar program was launched in New York. By 1922, about five thousand such programs were operating each summer in North America.
Thus began the Summer Bible School. Those who invented it were guided by the desire to teach God’s Word to children.
The apostle Paul had a similar desire for his young co-worker Timothy. In his letter to him, the apostle reminded that “the Scriptures are inspired by God” and are able to prepare us “for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). But his words are not just friendly advice to read the Bible. Paul’s instruction follows a dire warning that “in the last days perilous times will come” (v. 1). Many false teachers will appear who “can never come to the knowledge of the truth” (v. 7). Therefore, it is important to protect yourself with God’s Word. It immerses us in the knowledge of the Savior and makes us wise “for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (v. 15).
Not only children, but also adults should study the Bible. And not only in summer, but every day. “You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were a child,” said Paul to Timothy (v. 15). But even if we were not taught the Bible in childhood, it is never too late to learn God’s truth. No matter what age we are, biblical wisdom points us to Christ.
What are your favorite Bible texts? How do they point to Christ?
Loving God, thank You for the Holy Scriptures and that they help me to know Christ.
The first photograph of a person was taken by Louis Daguerre in 1838. The picture shows an empty Paris street in summer. The strange thing is that the street and sidewalks should have been filled with carriages and pedestrians. However, no one is visible.
The person in the photo was actually not alone. People and horses moved along the busy Temple Boulevard, the view of which is shown in the picture. They just didn’t register. The exposure time for creating a photograph (known as a daguerreotype) was seven minutes. Only stationary objects were depicted. And the only motionless living being was a man on the sidewalk. She stood in front of the shoe shiner with her foot on the stand.
Sometimes immobility allows you to achieve what is impossible during movement and effort. God speaks to His people in Psalm 45:11: “Be still and know that I am God.” Even if the nations are in turmoil (v. 7) and the earth is shaking (v. 3), those who are calm in their hope in God will know that He is “a help in the troubles that often happen” (v. 2).
The Hebrew word translated as “calm down” can also be translated as “stop fussing.” If we rest in God, instead of relying on our limited abilities, He will become our protection and strength (v. 2).
How do you “appease” before God today? In what area do you need to trust Him more?
Heavenly Father, help me to rely on You and find peace in Your unfailing love.
“And to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” — Luke 6:27
The handshake spoke for itself. On a March evening in 1963, two basketball players – one black, the other white – defied racial hatred and shook hands. For the first time in Mississippi State history, an all-white men’s team played against a mixed team. In order to participate in a “game changer” with Loyola University Chicago, the Mississippi State team defied a court order barring them from leaving the state. And Loyola’s black players were insulted throughout the season, pelted with popcorn and ice, and more than once faced with closed doors on road trips.
And still young people played. Chicago beat Mississippi 61-51 to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship. But, in the end, love won over hate that night. The Lord Jesus taught: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
Bible teaching changes hearts and lives. To love our enemies, as Christ taught, we must submit to His radical precepts and be transformed inwardly. As the apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, but the new has become” (2 Cor. 5:17). But how does this new overcome the old? With love! Having put on it, we will be able to see our Lord in each other.
What makes you see enemies in other people? What can you do to counter hatred with Christ’s love?
Loving God, help me to see people not as enemies, but as those who are valuable to You, and to love them with the love of Christ.
“Let us run with patience to the fight that is before us.” — Hebrews 12:1
It was impossible to watch my friend Iryna’s social network status update without tears. In February 2022, just days after fleeing Kyiv, the besieged capital of Ukraine, she posted one of her old photos of herself raising her country’s flag after participating in a running competition. “All of us are running the marathon called life to the best of our abilities. Let’s run it even better these days. With something that will never die in our hearts,” she wrote. In the following days, I watched my friend continue her run. She regularly posted messages asking for prayer and help for the suffering citizens of her country.
Irina’s words gave a new depth in my eyes to the biblical call to patiently go through the struggle “that is before us” (Heb. 12:1). This call follows the description in the eleventh chapter of the “cloud of witnesses” – numerous heroes of faith who remained faithful to the Lord, despite the risk to their own lives (Heb. 11:33-38). And although they only “saw” God’s promises from afar (v. 13), their lives were dedicated to the eternal – which will never die.
All believers in Christ are called to live with the same attitude. Because shalom – peace and prosperity – the Kingdom of God is worth giving up everything for. And also because we have the example of Christ and His strength that supports us (Heb. 12:2-3).
What examples of bold faith have you seen? How does the example of Jesus Christ give you hope?
God, I am at a loss for words when I see the faith and courage of Your children in desperate circumstances. Give me the courage to follow You just as faithfully.
