Spiritual Growth

I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. Acts 26:19

Paul is in the middle of a trial. After two years in prison, he is before King Agrippa, recounting his story and his defense. As he spoke, he mentioned that he told people they should prove their commitment by the things they do.

It’s easy to make a decision and not follow through. I wonder if we make it too easy to be a follower of Jesus. Come on, pray this prayer and get this thing done. It’s the most important decision you will ever make. I know you just stopped by for a cheeseburger, but how about you accept Christ right now, with little thought? The result is a life with no deeds. I mean, what if I proposed marriage with such little thought. Shouldn’t it be a well thought-out decision? When I meet people who have wrestled with the decision and made a commitment to Christ, I usually don’t have to ask them if they are a follower. It shows by what they do. There entire life is wrapped around the thought out commitment that they made. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

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 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” – Acts 21:12-14

Paul had been meeting with some of the early church. A few days here, a few days there. Along the way, someone had told Paul and friends that he would be bound if he went to Jerusalem. Trouble was on the way. They took it as a sign that he should not go. Paul saw it differently.

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However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. – Acts 20:24

The apostle Paul was roaming the country teaching people about Christ. In some places, he was greatly effective, but not without resistance. He begins to take stock of his life and what it means to him. His life? Worthless. His only concern was the mission that God had given him: to tell others about God’s kindness. Compared to the mission, his life was worthless.

How can I even compare to this? I think my life is of great value. I try to protect my life. I exercise, wear a seatbelt, don’t wrassel snakes. My life is worth something to me. But am I hanging on to my life more than I am hanging on to the mission of Christ? Is my comfort more important than his cause? My security a greater value than his mission? I fear that it is.

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1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7So the word of God spread. – Acts 6:1-7

“I’m just tired of doing things half-way. People that would not normally irritate me are getting on my nerves. I am saying yes to everything”

I had a conversation last night with a friend. She is a giver. Problem is, she gives so much and can do so much that she is wearing out. I can identify.

The disciples found themselves in the same situation. They were trying to meet the needs of everyone. Instead of doing some things well, they were doing everything half-way, and the kingdom was limping.

I am intrigued by verse 7. “So the word of God spread.” The result of what the disciples did helped the word to spread. I am all about the kingdom growing. What did they do to aid the growth? Less.

They did less.

By doing less they did . . . more.

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I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. – Nehemiah 2:11-12

Nehemiah had just been granted permission from his King to leave and go rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. No one knew of the plan except Nehemiah, the King, and the Queen. The circle was small. He kept these things to himself. But why stay for three days and then set out? Why not ride into town and throw a party, rally the people, and get this thing rollin’? He moved slowly but deliberately.

I think Nehemiah was sure. He had heard God speak. He had prayed. He had found favor with the king. He now moved slowly and deliberately, with great confidence.

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this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. – Ezra 7:6

Ezra is about to set out on a mission from the king. Because the hand of God was on Ezra, the king gave him everything he asked for. But he had to ask.

I find myself praying that God would give me favor. Sometimes that’s as far as my actions go.

“God, give me favor here or there.”

“God, I really think you might be leading me here, so show me favor by making something happen.”

Then I sit. I wait. And nothing happens. Then I figure that it is not in God’s plans. Must not be in his interest to favor me in this way. But I never ask. I don’t take any action. I don’t move ahead to see if the favor is there, I just stop and wait for some . . . some something to happen. Life wastes away.

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When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” – Luke 19:5-9

Jesus clearly states his mission. To seek and save. Isn’t it also the Coast Guard who many time have a mission of search and rescue? Hmm, maybe it is a similar thing.

So here we see the purpose of Christ. Zacchaeus had just climbed a tree to get a better view of Jesus. He was a short fellow and needed a boost. Probably would have been bad manners to ask one of the locals to allow a tax collector to get on your shoulders like a kid at a parade.

But why would Jesus seek out Zacchaeus to save? Why not some of the others?

Maybe because Zacchaeus was looking. Maybe the others were just spectating. He cared enough to get a glimpse of God that he made an effort to get in a tree for a better view.

Jesus put Zacchaeus in his sites and the mission was on.

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Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” – Luke 17:20-21

I can remember our first motorcycle, a Honda Trail 70. My uncle had it. His kids were grown and out of the house. One day, during a visit, he said “I should bring that bike down and let you guys have it, since my kids are gone.” I wanted to scream “YES! YES, YOU SHOULD!” What is cooler than having your own dirt bike as a kid? My uncle left that day and I continued to think about the bike. He would visit again, but no bike. Hmm, maybe next time. Every time he would visit I would look for the bike. No luck. I kept looking, waiting to unlock the world of motorcycling.

One spring day he pulled up and poking out the back of his Olds station wagon was the Trail 70. Score.

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