Reflecting on Acts 19-21

What do I do when God’s truth has backed me into a corner?

In my life right now, one of the biggest sources of frustration and anger is my workplace, regarding one relationship in particular. I’ve never felt so trampled, belittled, and disrespected by another person than this individual. Over the past few months, these are the thoughts that I have running through my mind: ‘No person deserves to be treated like this,’ ‘I have the right to work in a place where I and others are treated fairly,’ ‘At some point I won’t be able to stand by while this person treats others like he does, I’m going to snap.’

In my moments of clarity, I recognize that the root of all my concerns is what I believed I’m owed, what rights of mine that have been infringed upon. When these concerns are held up under the light of the Word, they wither. What am I owed in this life? What rights do I deserve?

The Book of Acts recounts the journeys of the apostles as they traveled throughout the Roman world, sharing the gospel of grace with everyone who would listen. The book is full of beatings, unfair trials, stonings, scourgings, unjust accusations and imprisonments, all endured by the apostles. They were often locked in prison cells, kicked out of community gatherings, dragged before city officials, or sneaking out of cities to avoid being murdered by enraged mobs. And yet despite all this, Paul was able to say in Acts 20:24, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” The apostles held to their certain hope in Christ, the one who overcame all powers of this world, the one who raised us all to new life with Him. In the face of every trial that was thrown in their path, they chose to believe God’s Word.

God my Father has given me everything. He raised me from death and placed me in His Son. He has given me all grace, all peace, all hope, all joy, all love. He has given me purpose. He has sealed me with His very Spirit. He has given me life. As I ponder my perceived needs at work, I am confronted with truth. I have no need that God has not met. And He, as my loving Father, promises to use trials and struggle to grow and mature me, faithfully transforming me into the image of His Son. My God is the God who has provided overwhelmingly all my needs.

Looking at it from every angle I can muster, this relationship at work is nothing but a blessing and a teaching tool. In light of truth, there is no room for whining or complaining about my situation. No matter how disrespected, offended, or furious I may feel, I must reckon with God’s truth. He has called me to love this person, to walk humbly before them. He has called me to represent Him to this person. He has called me to walk worthy of Him as I live each day He’s given me. By submitting humbly to these callings, the Father will be glorified.

“For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:6-7.

Backed into a corner by truth. How to respond? What other way is there? God’s Word is the only source of truth. I must obey. I should not be surprised or offended in the face of trials like this particular work relationship. I should welcome them joyfully, fully confident that my loving Father has allowed this into my life for His perfect purposes. I am imperfect and I will fail, but He is faithful, and He will not give up on me.

Lord, I believe your Word. Help my unbelief.

Reflecting on John 14-17 & Acts 16

The night Jesus was betrayed, He spoke of the certain suffering that was to come to those who chose to believe and follow Him. He also promised all comfort, peace of mind and heart, and victory. He spoke of our new identity, our new joy, and future glory. He spoke of the glory that would come to the Father when His disciples chose to walk in light of what was now true of them, in unity and truth. These certain promises brought hope and purpose to the disciples as they went out into the Roman world to preach the truth. Amidst unjust courts, prison cells, beatings, stonings and torture, the disciples walked in light of their new identity, bursting joy and certain hope of future glory.

Christ purchased my freedom with His life. He promises me all comfort, peace of mind and heart, and victory. He has given me a new identity, a new joy, and has promised future glory. And when I choose to walk in light of truth, He will bring glory to Himself through my life. All of this is astounding grace upon grace upon GRACE.

And yet like the prodigal son, I choose to squander my inheritance and eat with the pigs. In light of all Christ has given, “as a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness” (Prov 26:11). What a waste. What foolishness. Like I said before, Christ purchased my freedom with His life. “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36). Praise God that He has nailed my sins to the Cross with His Son. He pours grace over my head unceasingly.

Oh my King, my Creator, my Father, my God, you’ve given me everything I could ever need to walk worthy of who you’ve made me. Forgive me, restore me. You’ve intended this little pathetic life of mine to be used for your purposes, not my own.

I look at the disciples. It’s easy to focus on the horrors endured for the Father, but I don’t think that’s the most important part of the stories. Through their lives, thousands upon thousands of lost souls were brought to light. They came to understand and believe that Christ has purchased their freedom with His life. They came to understand Christ’s promises of comfort, peace of mind and heart, and victory. They came to understand their new identity, their new joy, and their certain hope of future glory. And through such understanding the Father was glorified. And those souls now behold Him with their own eyes, and they rejoice even now before His glorious throne. And my hope is the result of them, of generations of believers choosing to believe His Word and having the faith to share their hope with a neighbor. Somewhere down the line of humanity someone shared their hope with me, and I came to understand the same truth.

So it’s time to stand up under His wondrous grace, and start walking in light of what is true. I know failure lies before me, because I know my heart. But God’s Word is true. In Him, there is only victory, joy and glory. I don’t want to waste this gift of life my Father has given.

Lord, I am humbled by Your grace. Thank you for not giving up on me. Teach my foolish heart.

Can I do anything else?

The Word of God declares that I am not my own, that I was bought at a price. My ambitions, my goals, my desires, my passion, my vision must be laid down.

Jesus Christ, the night before He laid His life down for mankind, fell on His face in prayer. He said, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, Your will be done.” Jesus looked outside Himself, to the Father, for purpose and direction. As a child of God, bought with Christ’s precious blood, will I now choose to look to Him for the purpose and direction my life should take?

Will I lay my life down? Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” Will I lose my life for His sake? Will I lose my life for His ambition, His goal, His desire, His passion, His vision? That is, that every man would come to know Him?

With all the authority on heaven and on earth, Jesus gave His Church her commission: “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations.” God’s heart has always been for every people on the earth, every tribe, tongue and nation, to have the opportunity to embrace His plan of salvation, the gospel of Christ’s finished work on the Cross on behalf of sinful man. God is not willing that any should perish.

The Church has received her commission. She has received clear orders. As a member of Christ’s body, am I expendable for the sake of my King and His purposes? Am I willing to LET GO of my life?

Jesus promised that the one who loses his life for His sake will save his life. Do I have a correct understanding of the incredible, overflowing, abounding, steadfast love of my God? 1 John 4:18 says “There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear.” He draws me with cords of love. All He asks of me is faith. He told His disciples, “if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” For all things are possible with God. His power is perfected in weakness.

With a correct understanding of the incredible, steadfast love of God toward His children, we can now, with enormous confidence, lay our life down. We can take risks. We can embrace the unknown. We can move forward by faith without fear. Great is His faithfulness.

Again, the questions await answers.

Will I choose to look to Him for the purpose and direction my life should take?
Will I pursue His ambition, His goal, His desire, His passion, His vision?
Am I expendable for the sake of my King and His purposes?
Am I willing to LET GO of my life?

In light of what He has said, in light of His promises, can I do anything else?

Luke 24:47, “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations.”
Acts 1:7, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”
John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”