February 16 – Letting a Bit of Jesus Rub Off On Us

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” - Acts 4:13 (NASB)

One day, Peter and John were in the Temple courtyard in Jerusalem.  Only days since the Holy Spirit had come down on the Apostles at Pentecost. They had been continuing to witness to the Jews in Jerusalem and preaching he resurrection of Jesus Christ. This sermon by Peter, the second one recorded, came after instantly a man is healed who had been lame from his birth. A large crowd gathered and listened to what Peter had to say. Peter and John were both from Galilee – a region that was not recognized as producing many educated intellectuals.  All the “smart folks” lived and were educated in Jerusalem. So the crowd was amazed at what Peter said and how it was said.  But many had seen and heard Jesus. There was something about them that reminded this crowd of people of Jesus. They talked and taught like Jesus. They acted like Him and that was noticed. They were able to heal like Jesus did. These disciples had been with Jesus and people could tell the difference. Isn’t that what we want to happen in our lives? Live close to His Word and people will see that we have been with Him. 

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December 31

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

We have come to the last day of this year. It is a reminder of a changing world. Is it not wonderful to know that in this changing world which can be filled with chaos and uncertainty there is One who never changes and that is our verse for today. He is always the same and we can trust him fully. We face the unknowns as we face a new year. But Jesus is the constant in our lives. As He cared for us in the past He is faithful, never changing, dependable, and we can trust Him for the future for His love and His care. Remember that His promises remain the same. What we experience from His hand in the past will be there for us as we go into the New Year with Him. 

November 16

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

The main statement of this verse is that God is faithful. The special significance of this statement here is based on the project that God is working on. Did you notice what it is that God has planned for us? We read that He has called us into fellowship with His own Son, Jesus Christ. So what does that mean – to have fellowship with Jesus? It means a relationship of sharing. We enter the family of God by accepting what Jesus did for us on the cross. Now in His family, God calls us to a continual sharing relationship with Jesus – a daily and hourly fellowship with Him. And God will be faithful to make this fellowship real.

February 16

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 (NIV)

What does it mean to be a Christian? It means that we are identified with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. People took note that Peter and John had been with Jesus. There was something about them that reminded people of Jesus. They saw that they talked and taught like Jesus. They acted like Him and that was noticed. These disciples had been with Jesus and people could tell the difference. Isn’t that what we want to happen in our lives? Live close to Him and people will see that we have been with Him. 

January 25

“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out ‘Abba Father’.” Galatians 4:6 (NIV)

When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we become children of God. This verse tells how we become aware that we are God’s children. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make us realize that the great Creator is now our Father. When we call on God as our Father, it is the Holy Spirit living in us that makes the relationship real. And when the Holy Spirit teaches us to call God “Abba Father”, He is making our relationship very real – as a child today calls its father “Daddy”. Let’s let the Holy Spirit teach us more of what that means for us.

January 16

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” John 15:7-8

Did you notice that this is a promise of answered prayer? And our Lord showed that there is a connection between that promise and the idea of bearing fruit. That is not strange because when we pray asking God to do something for us, this can produce great results. Aren’t these results like the fruit of our praying? Of course we don’t produce the results. God does that just as He produces the results of any service we do. So let’s remember that by effectively praying we produce fruit to God’s glory.

January 14

“And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”  Ezekiel 36:27

When we accept Christ as our Savior, there is a great change in our lives. One thing that happens is that the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He is in us to perform God’s purposes in our lives. God knows that we do not have it in us to live as we ought. We cannot follow the rules that God has put down for us to obey. That’s why God has given us His Holy Spirit to live within us and to become a part of our lives. He helps us to see when we have failed to please God and encourages us and helps us to move in the right direction. Let’s recognize the work of the Spirit in our lives today.

January 6

“ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

When we accept Jesus as our Savior we enter into a new relationship with God, our Creator. When Jesus was here He explained this to His disciples. We believe that these words can be applied to us who are disciples of Jesus today. He wants us to know our Lord’s business, what God is doing, and what His purposes are. Jesus taught the disciples much about God’s business. We have the Holy Spirit to teach us and our Bibles to read. He calls us friends and wants to teach us. Let’s be sure we are listening.

January 3

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” Psalm 40:3 (NIV)

We know that many of the songs in our Bible were composed by David. Have you ever wondered where he got all the inspiration to write so many of the Psalms? If we had read the first verse of this psalm, we would have seen that David was telling what the Lord had done for him. So it was the Lord who put songs in his mouth. And each time David could say it was a new song that the Lord had put in his mouth. We may not be song writers, but we can experience a new song of praise in our hearts. God gives us songs. As we praise Him, let’s remember that He is the one that inspires it.

January 2

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

Have you made any new resolutions? We do have this verse to think about today which expresses the attitude that the apostle Paul had toward the years ahead of him. It was very important for Paul to keep before him the goal which God had set for Him. He earnestly wanted to attain that goal. God has a goal for each of His children. Each of us can decide to press on during this year to reach that goal – to live a life pleasing to Him and to become what He wants us to be. Let’s tell our Lord that this is our desire now as this New Year begins.

January 1

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” Psalm 73:23 (NIV)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We do know there is happiness in store for you during this coming year if you are trusting in the Lord. The psalmist who wrote these words was trusting Him. We can think of ourselves as the psalmist did, being led through coming days by the Lord, our hand in His. Isn’t that a beautiful picture of the way the Lord leads His own? There is something very reassuring by the close contact this implies. And that is the way He wants to lead us to be sure we are near Him and responsive to the guidance he wants to give. Remember though, that for God to lead us by the hand we must put our hand into His by a voluntary decision. Let us say today with the psalmist: “Your hold me by my right hand.”