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What It Means To Be A Christian
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11: 26, NIV The followers of Jesus where once called as disciples, saints, believers, or followers of the way. In Antioch, they were first called as Christians. They were identified as “Jesus’ People.” Christians are those who spread the gospel and truly follow the teachings of Jesus. In the present, Christianity is the most widely practiced religion. But sadly, many of us didn’t really have an intimate relationship with Him. Before, Christians were…
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We Are Commanded To Testify about Jesus And Become His Witnesses
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42, NIV Peter said these words while he was in the house of Cornelius, a centurion man who lived in Caesarea. He proclaimed the gospel in front of Cornelius’ family and relatives. In this particular verse, it is important to note the words that Peter used. He said that Jesus commanded his disciples to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. In other words, sharing the…
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We Are God’s Vessel
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” Acts 10: 25-26, NIV Cornelius treated Peter with so much honor to the point that he fell at his feet in reverence. This is his expression of honoring Peter as a man of God. And Peter responded by asking Cornelius to get up. He reminded Cornelius that just like him, he was only a man. It seems like Peter humbly pointed out to him who he is. He knew that he was just a vessel of God. And the…
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The People That Jesus Treated As Family Are Those Who Obey God’s Word
He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” Luke 8: 21, NIV Jesus said these words when His mother, Mary and His brothers came to see him. Someone told him that his earthly family was there waiting for him, but then Jesus said that those He considered as family are the ones who hear God’s word and put it into practice. Many of us would think that Jesus would give special privileges for His earthly family but in His eyes, the people that He treated as family are those who would obey God’s word. Being close to God isn’t just about…
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Peter Had Faith In Jesus, And Not In Himself
“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. Acts 9:34, NIV Peter healed a bedridden man in the name of Jesus. He knew that the power of Jesus was more than enough to restore someone’s health. He proclaimed His power, and the disciples witnessed what happened. Peter identified himself as God’s instrument. Aeneas was healed not because of Peter’s own effort or skills but all because of the power of Jesus. Peter had faith in Jesus and not in himself. Sometimes, we tend to forget that we are just merely instruments of God. We focus on the blessings…
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When God Instructs Us To Take One Step At A Time
“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:6, NIV As Saul was on a journey going to Damascus, he personally encountered Jesus. After that, He gave him a simple instruction about what to do next. He didn’t explain or gave him the assurance that we usually wanted to hear. Instead, he provided a simple step that he could follow. Sometimes, Jesus doesn’t give us the exact details about what’s going on in our lives. He doesn’t explain things to us simply because He knows what we need. We may think that we need to understand and comprehend everything before…
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Saul Unknowingly Persecuted Jesus
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. Acts 9:3-5, NIV Saul was breathing out murderous threats against the early Christians. He was full of zeal with his beliefs in Judaism to the point of hurting those people who followed Jesus. He was one of the Pharisees who greatly persecuted those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah. He never really realized who he was persecuting until he encountered…
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Let’s Live A Surrendered Life Before The Lord
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship. Acts 8:26-27, NIV Philip was in the middle of a successful work in Samaria when God asked Him to go to a desert road to share the gospel with an Ethiopian Eunuch. Before God’s sudden instruction, Phillip witnessed people receive healing, and they listened to his message. While he…
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When People Speak Before They Listen
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2, NIV The book of proverbs is filled with practical wisdom that could help people live a fruitful and blessed life. There, you will learn how to identify the wise or foolish people. One of the things that King Solomon mentioned about foolish people was that they find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Sometimes, they speak before they listen. They judge before they check the background of the story. They are quick to misinterpret the situation or other people because they choose to value their own opinions. Sometimes, I am…
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Let’s Pray That God Will Teach Us How To Let Go Of The Grudges Inside
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7: 59-60, NIV Stephen died with faith in his heart. He chose to pray even when he was in pain and suffering. In fact, he didn’t hold grudges. With a humble heart, he asked God to forgive those people who stoned him. If I experienced the same pain, most probably I would complain and ask God for questions. But Stephen did the exact opposite. His life is a great reminder for me…
