“I’M GLAD YOU SEE”                                                   

A HUGE REASON TO BE THANKFUL CONTINUALLY                                        

What if you majored in adhering to law where “an eye for an eye” literally meant “AN EYE FOR AN EYE!”? What if you didn’t believe in angels or spirits?  What if you didn’t believe in the resurrection – either Jesus’ or you own? 

When I was growing up, my mother told me about an aristocratic group of priests in the Bible called SADDUCEES that supported the above beliefs.  “Stevie,” she said, “If you didn’t believe in angels or in the resurrection of the dead – you, too, would be SAD…. YOU SEE!”  I’ve always remembered her play on words, but never more than when re-reading Peter’s second sermon found in Acts 3:12-26.

Peter opens his discourse following a miracle and the observers’ misplaced amazement.  Peter redirects their amazement to, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers (verse 13).”  “HE IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD BUT OF THE LIVING! (Matthew 22:32).” 

Then in less than 15 verses, Peter unfolds the Gospel story in a very unique way.  Like a mender of nets, Peter amazingly weaves God’s redemptive work using divine thread by penning the following ten descriptors of His Son: 

• His servant Jesus
• The Holy and Righteous One
• The Prince of life
• The One whom God raised from the dead 
• Jesus
• His Christ
• The Lord
• Jesus the Christ
• A Prophet
• (and back to the beginning) His Servant!  

Nearing conclusion, Peter exhorts his audience, some of them Sadducees, to repent and turn back to God!  Why? 1) That your sins may be wiped away.   2) That times of refreshing may come.  3) That God may send Jesus for you!  

JESUS IS NOT DEAD!  JESUS IS RISEN AND I’M GLAD….YOU SEE!  A HUGE REASON TO BE THANKFUL CONTINUALLY!

God is good all the time!  Mr. Steve

LIGHT CHECK

Six years ago, I shut my front door and realized too late that I had just locked myself out of my own house!  That very morning, I had been studying one of Paul’s exhortations to the church at Thessalonica: “In everything give thanks.”   Since this passage was so fresh on my mind, I just started thanking God for having a house I could lock myself out!  Later, after getting help to get back inside and recover my keys, I met Bruce, a friend of mine, and told him my story.  After that, whenever we’d get together, Bruce would usually reply to anything I shared – “OK, but were you thankful?!”  We’d both smile.

A few months after locking myself out of my house, I was standing by Bruce at a groundbreaking. As the person in charge was jokingly sharing how he had really been the first one to “break ground” on the property by getting his suburban stuck near the entrance – Bruce turned to me with a twinkle in his blue eyes and said, “Yes, but was he thankful?”  I laughed.

Our song of the month of November is “Sanctuary” by Third Day: “O Lord, prepare me – to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You.”  

In other words:

• Lord, prepare me to be pure and holy
• Lord, try me to be pure and holy
• And through it all, Lord, help me to always be thankful!

Part of the Lord’s preparation of our being sanctuaries for Him is our learning to be thankful in ALL circumstances.  Tall order but extremely necessary.  

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Romans 1:21

It appears that honoring God and giving thanks helps keep “the light on” in our sanctuaries – otherwise hearts are darkened!  LIGHT CHECK!        God is good all the time. Mr. Steve

LIGHT CHECK

Six years ago, I shut my front door and realized too late that I had just locked myself out of my own house!  That very morning, I had been studying one of Paul’s exhortations to the church at Thessalonica: “In everything give thanks.”   Since this passage was so fresh on my mind, I just started thanking God for having a house I could lock myself out!  Later, after getting help to get back inside and recover my keys, I met Bruce, a friend of mine, and told him my story.  After that, whenever we’d get together, Bruce would usually reply to anything I shared – “OK, but were you thankful?!”  We’d both smile.

A few months after locking myself out of my house, I was standing by Bruce at a groundbreaking. As the person in charge was jokingly sharing how he had really been the first one to “break ground” on the property by getting his suburban stuck near the entrance – Bruce turned to me with a twinkle in his blue eyes and said, “Yes, but was he thankful?”  I laughed.

Our song of the month of November is “Sanctuary” by Third Day: “O Lord, prepare me – to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You.”  

In other words:

• Lord, prepare me to be pure and holy
• Lord, try me to be pure and holy
• And through it all, Lord, help me to always be thankful!

Part of the Lord’s preparation of our being sanctuaries for Him is our learning to be thankful in ALL circumstances.  Tall order but extremely necessary.  

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Romans 1:21

It appears that honoring God and giving thanks helps keep “the light on” in our sanctuaries – otherwise hearts are darkened!  LIGHT CHECK!        God is good all the time. Mr. Steve