And it keeps flowing………

14 years, 5 months ago 1
Posted in: Pilgrim's Chronicles

Two weeks ago I was in New England for 8 days, was home one day and then flew to New York, got back late Sunday night and left for Louisville and the Breeder’s Cup Tuesday a.m…… it just keeps flowing!  Not complaining, love my job and the people I work with or for, just would love to get off the merry-go-round for a few minutes.  What do you do when you are tired but must keep going?

 

Acts 5:27-32     New Living Translation (NLT)

 

27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28“Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” he demanded. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”

 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

 

Am I in prison?  No, working is not prison, and even when you get tired, you’re on a mission.  A mission that God will give you the strength to complete.  When  Peter was ordered by the Judge to stop teaching in Jesus name, he said, “We must obey God rather than men.”   What motivated such conviction?

 

God’s Sovereignty. Peter and the other disciples recognized that God had carried out His divine plan of redemption in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Convinced that salvation was found in Christ alone, they had the courage to speak boldly about their faith. They didn’t alter their words, even in front of a powerful authority. Instead, they gave allegiance to God and obeyed Him.

 

Thankfulness. Their obedience was also motivated by gratitude. After betraying the Lord, Peter had wept over his failure (Mark 14:72). Think of the disciple’s joy to realize that Christ had forgiven him for his mistakes and restored him to a right relationship with God (Mark 16:7; John 21:15-17). With his past behind him, Peter became a leader of the Jerusalem church, with a passion to obey fueled by a thankful heart.

 

God is in charge of our lives. He has rescued us from the bondage of sin, forgiven us, and brought us into His family. Grateful obedience should be our response too.

 

Each day we have a choice. We can acknowledge God’s sovereignty and trust Him, or we can turn away and follow our own plan. Cultivating a thankful spirit will motivate us to stay the course and obey the Lord. Like Peter, let’s commit to following our heavenly Father wherever He leads.

 

Today I choose to follow His plan, to love others with His love, to offer His forgiveness, to exhibit His kindness, to leave judgement to Him, to trust in His power, glory, and presence in my life.

 

the pilgrim

 

* Thanks to Charles Stanley’s In Touch Daily Devotional for this mornings entry.

 

 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 at 11:58 am

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One Response

  1. Robert Christopulos says:
    November 2, 2011 at 5:15 pm

    Hi Bill,
    I just figured out how to get in touch with you here at the new site. Honestly I miss the old one.

    Well, you asked what I do when I have some finger-twiddlin’ time. I suppose that this would be one of those times. Technically I’m retired from my pulpit now. I was at an early morning prayer meeting this morning. Now I’m waiting for my senior citizen’s group to start. This is my finger-twiddlin’ time! I have two counseling sessions today as well, and a Bible study tonight.

    Nope, I don’t think I’m really retired. They just took me off the rim, retreaded me, put me on a bright shiny rim and put me back in service-now I’m a really big wheel. Ha Ha!

    Really Bill I love my life and praise God that He’s allowing me to burn out for Him.

    You used to know me as The Kinsgman,

    Blessings,

    Rob