Get Steppin!!

Have you ever had to walk home from a party, a broken down car, or just walked a really long distance and you were not happy about it? What if you had to walk, lets say 50 miles tomorrow, would you spend time packing a bag and preparing mentally for the strenuous journey? Would this negativity change if you had a mission that you were positive would change peoples lives for the better?

As I went through Acts chapter 8 this morning, I noticed a re-occurring theme. Walking!! In verse 14, Peter and John hear of Samaritans believing in the Word and travel there to help them receive the Spirit, preach a bit, and bounce back to Jerusalem (v.25). Here's the thing: We seem to get flustered when we get that spot that is at the end of the parking lot at the mall, Target, wherever it is we go. The shortest possible route to any Samaritan village is about 25 miles. Peter and John had a mission. They were excited to walk to hear about what Jesus had done in these Samaritans lives. 

Only 1 verse later (v.26), the Lord calls Philip to go south from Jerusalem to Gaza. Verse 27 says, He started out.... He did not wait, he did not pack, he did not prepare!! Through the next couple verses, Philip finds a Ethiopian man and preaches the gospel to him and baptizes him as well. All of this preaching and baptizing after a short 50 mile walk to Gaza. How amazing!!

When I was in the Army I walked 12 miles straight on numerous occasions, 32 miles on one occasion, and even 75 miles over 2 days. This was not fun because I wasn't walking for God's glory. God is more than sufficient. Whatever kind of rut you are stuck in right now whether it is depression, sexual immorality, loss of a loved one, or even walking a long distance when you'd rather be driving: Walk with God! He is everywhere you look! He wants to be your partner in your walk and make whatever it is you are going through something he can join you in. Isn't it better to go through struggles, happy times, or anything with a friend?

Lie and Die!

Have you ever given your word to someone or something and just could not come through? As I read through Acts chapter 5 yesterday, I found myself white knuckled (literally) from gripping on to my pants, shirt, or whatever was near. This was an all day thing. Here's a quick summary of Acts 5:1-10. The Holy Spirit is new and filling the hearts and minds of Christians. Everyone is selling their land and possessions to serve the poor, help widows, and further the ministry Jesus has left for the apostles to begin. A married couple, Ananias and Sapphira, sold their property and gave half the money to the ministry. Here's the issue: They lied and said they were giving all of it.  Peter says, "You have not lied to men, but to God." Earlier in verse 3, Peter says they lied to the Holy Spirit.

The reason I was wrestling with this all day was because I figured that for them to lie to the Holy Spirit, they had to have the Holy Spirit. So, they must have been saved right? Well, we lie, we sin, we are evil but we are not killed instantly because of little white lies. Why did they die? I first thought it was to make an example of how powerful and just the Holy Spirit is. Then I started to wonder, are Ananias and his wife in heaven? Maybe Peter said they were lying to the Spirit and they dropped dead because they did not actually have the Spirit. Who knows. Not me!

However, Philippians 2:12 says we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. My good friend Geoff Francian always says that verse reminds him of me. I seem to have this fear of God when I read scripture. But if I truly feared Him, would I knowingly sin? Yes we might be sinful by nature, but fear can bring a discipline that I believe can keep us from knowingly sinning. All I know is that wrestling with God is good. I challenge everyone to question God. Question the things you do not understand. He wants to know. He wants to show you these things. Fear Him, Love Him.