The more you fill your heart and mind with God's Word, the stronger your faith will be so you can stand against the powers of darkness. Choose faith instead of fear by choosing God's Word.

Saturday in the Sixth Week of Easter

Acts 18:23-28

Ps 47:2-3, 8-9, 10

J ohn 16:23b-28 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. (24) Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (25) "I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. (26) In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; (27) for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. (28) I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father."

Meditation by Tom Purcell

B oth of today’s readings focus on Jesus as Messiah.  In the story from Acts, Apollos is a follower of Jesus who is preaching (apparently effectively) of the need for repentance, the message of John the Baptist.  This was a very traditional prophetic message, one that John and others presented to the Jewish people – “repent and make yourselves ready for the Lord, who is coming someday (soon).”  And although Apollos “spoke and taught accurately about Jesus” two of Paul’s friends, Priscilla and her husband Aquila , felt they needed to call Apollos aside and explain the way things really were.  There was much turmoil among the Jews at this time about whether Jesus was the Messiah, or instead a great prophet.

The Gentiles had a much easier time of accepting Jesus as Messiah.  A few lines before today’s readings is an excerpt that relates the frustrations felt by Paul and others with the Jews who refused to believe in Jesus as Messiah, as the Son of God.  Apparently Priscilla and Aquila convinced Apollos, and he became an ardent advocate for the belief in Jesus as Messiah.   

Jesus is more indirect, but still clear, especially in the hindsight of Easter, that He is the Son of God.  He tells his followers they will be answered favorably when their requests are made to God in the name of Jesus. 

The psalm invites us to clap our hands, to shout in gladness, to sing hymns of praise, because the Lord is king of the earth, supreme guardian over all the earth.

I am a somewhat reserved person, but there are times I feel like clapping in delight, shouting in gladness, and singing hymns of praise, as the psalm invites me.  This past weekend we heard our symphony offer a masterful performance of Aaron Copland’s Third symphony.  When the last movement ended, I jumped to my feet and clapped and shouted with joy, moved by both their performance and Copland’s masterful composition.  But I also had been reflecting during the piece of the powerful gift of hearing, the amazing gift of artistry of musicians, the subtle power of a conductor who blends all the pieces into a brief moment of incredible beauty, never again to be repeated in exactly the same way.  I feel this same sense of humble, grateful awe at the sight of a sunrise breaking over the horizon as songbirds dance with the joy of the moment on slender branches; the sensual delights in experiencing the gorgeous blooms of spring after a long, cold winter; the deep love I feel in my wife’s eyes and embrace. 

Perhaps a useful exercise to try today would be to return to one of those special times in your life where you felt especially grateful to be alive, to be aware, of the gift that life is for you.  When you have settled on that feeling, consider again the incredible gift that is Jesus, and His life, and His sacrifice for us, and feel the emotion of gratitude for the salvation that comes from Him. 

And so my prayer today is not just to know in my mind that Jesus is my salvation, but also to feel in my heart the power of gratitude for the greatest sacrifice of all time.

Supplementary Reading

Choose Faith Today

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go - Joshua 1:9

D id you know that fear works just like faith but in the opposite direction? In the same way that faith opens the door for God to work in our lives; fear opens the door for the enemy to work in our lives.

The Bible says that fear has torment. Fear has no mercy. If you act on fear instead of acting on faith, it will keep you depressed, miserable and lonely. And so many people today are missing out on God's joy, peace, and victory because they keep giving in to fear. They feed fear by what they watch on TV or read in the news or on the internet. Don't let that be you! Romans tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The more you fill your heart and mind with God's Word, the stronger your faith will be so you can stand against the powers of darkness. Choose faith instead of fear by choosing God's Word.

Remember, the power that is in you is greater than the power of fear. When thoughts come that say, "You're not able", choose faith by saying, "I can do all things through Christ!" Choose faith today so you can overcome fear and live in the freedom God has in store for you!

"Heavenly Father, I receive Your Word today which is life, health, and strength to me. I choose to close the door on fear by guarding what I say, what I listen to, and what I dwell on. Fill me with Your love and faith, and I meditate on Your Word. In Jesus' Name. Amen." (Joel & Victoria Osteen)

  
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GOD BLESS US ALL!
O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.