Step Out

Monday, June 3, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Hebrews 9:28

so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Memory verse: Psalm 90:14

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  

Today's reading: 2 CHRONICLES 21-22 JOHN 14

Step Out

(In the book of Acts)

In a few days, the number of converts to Christ were numbering in the thousands. Peter and John could not be silent or stop moving. The Jewish leaders were almost frantic. The dam had burst and now instead of one man, Jesus, men who spoke like Jesus were all over and on top of that, miracles were happening in front of everyone-the Comforter had come. The Holy Spirit was loosed by the hand of God and nothing could hold the Spirit of God back.

Everything about this new religion flew in the face of Jewish leaders. Common, uneducated men were teaching with authority and energy. Peter even said in Acts 4:

9" If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed."

 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’

The Jewish leaders now had been accused of murder and stupidity. The man who was healed was 40 years of age-this was life expectancy at that time-why waste a healing on an old lame man? The Jewish leaders did not know what to do with all this. As we see this, we should be humbled. We are no better than the Jewish leaders. What keeps us from speaking out as did John and Peter?

The same thing that drove the Jewish leaders-ego-self-preservation-comfort.

The world cannot see Jesus in us until the world sees us get earthly concerns out of the way. Our need is to step up and out of the mire of the world and stand on Jesus and quit standing in the mud of self.

Step up out of the mire on to the Stone...

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I confess I give the world attention that should be Yours. Keep me from being so simple,

Patient and Holy Father,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen