Acts 27:29, “Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.”

I was caught by our Scripture passage today.  I thought of many thing that I love such as lighthouses, ships and the water.  My mind went back to some trips to Lake Michigan along the west side of the state of Michigan when the wind was fierce and the waves were horrible.  I have a picture from one of our first trips to Michigan City, IN where the waves are crashing through the railing that has been put there to keep people from being swept away.

When Paul’s ship experienced such a strong storm they were tossed to and fro.  They came to a place where they could anchor and wait for day to break.  They cast out four anchors and waited for the day.  It is the same in our lives when we face the winds and waves of trials.  We need to cast out some anchors and wait for the day.

The first anchor we need to cast out is the anchor of prayer.  So often when life overwhelms us we seem to let our prayer life fall away.  I don’t know why this is so easy; but, it seems to happen that way.  The Word of God tells us in Luke 18:1, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”.  If the Lord Jesus Christ command us to do this then it is possible that we can do it.  When the winds and waves of this life beat down on us we need to first of all throw out the anchor of prayer and rely upon it to keep us focused upon the Master of the Wind and not the storm.

Second we need to cast out the anchor of Bible study.  This is another one of those things that we seem to let drop when things get tough in our lives.  An anchor is something that brings stability to our lives.  In a time in life where things are in such turmoil we need to torn to the anchor of the Word of God.  Look at Psalm 119:9,11, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  Maybe the storm you are experiencing is because of your own sin.  Here is the anchor you need to throw out.  If you read the Word of God then the Holy Spirit will use it to convict us of sin, righteousness and of judgment to come.  That is His work in our lives.  Throw out the anchor of the Word of God.

Thirdly is the of Church attendance.  In Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” we are exhorted not only to consider our brothers and sisters; but, to provoke them and then we are exhorted to be faithful to attend the worship services of our Church.  The Church is a birthing center for new Christians; but, it is also an Emergency Room for the hurting saints also.  When we come to God’s house we can interact with other believers just like us and we see that we are not the only one that is hurting or suffering and we can gain comfort from the ministry of others and the ministry of the Word of God through the Pastor.

Fourthly we need to throw out the anchor of personal evangelism.  When we face trials we seem to leave off telling others about Jesus.  It is like we don’t think He can handle our problems, let alone help anyone else.  This could not be farther from the truth.  He is able to help us and He is the only hope of the person who has never trusted Him for salvation.  It is our pleasure to share the gospel with others and it is our duty also.  We need to be about our Father’s business of telling the world that Jesus saves!  Throw out the anchor of personal evangelism.

If you are in a storm today I hope you will consider getting back to doing the four things set out here today.  When we take our focus off our circumstances the storms don’t seem so big.  Focus on Christ and His commands.

So, how are you dong?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 20, 50, 80, 110, 140; Proverbs 20; Acts 25, 26, 27

Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

My mother and I were having lunch and she related a story from her Sunday School class to me.  It seems that the teacher; who is a local farmer, had been asked by someone to allow their children to ride in the combine during harvest.  The mother had been persistent to the point of bugging our farmer.  The lady called yet again and spoke with the farmer’s wife.  When his wife called him to relay the message, the farmer snapped somewhat at his wife and caused her to cry.  This was not his intent.  After the Lord dealt with his heart the farmer took a moment and called his dearly beloved wife and offered his sincerest apologies.  He said, “Then she cried even more.”  The tears the second time were not for the same reason they were the first time.

The reason I relate this story is because we don’t realize the power of the tongue and our words.  Words especially are very powerful.  Our mouth should be used to praise God and to speak good and godly things.  Look at Psalm 109:30-31, “I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.  For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.” I hope when you and I open our mouth it is in praise to God and is pleasing and acceptable to Him.  It is Him that we will one day stand before and give account (II Corinthians 5:9-11a).

So, what are you saying?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 19, 49, 79, 109, 139; Proverbs 19; Acts 22, 23, 24

Acts 19:15, “And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”

I remember a few years ago my wife and I went to a “Meet the Teacher Night”.  When we arrived in the room we both could tell that the teacher was highly nervous.  The meeting went well.  After the meeting was complete there was some chat time not related to school matters.  I remember telling our new teacher that I had been a dispatcher for a long time.  She inquired where I worked.  When I told her where I worked she explained that her husband was a fireman there.  When she told me his name I laughed out loud.  Her husband and I had been friends since Junior High School.  Unfortunately, I did not remember her.  You could feel the stress and tension melt away.

The reason the new teacher was so nervous was because she had been told that my wife; and especially me, were hard to deal with.  This is because we advocated for our child and we did not take “No” for an answer.  This made us the bad guys so to speak.  I don’t mind that either.

My point today is this.  Do you and I cause the devil so much trouble increasing his kingdom that he is annoyed by us and knows who we are?  My guess that in today’s world that most Christians are of little or no threat to the devil or his kingdom.  This should not be.  We need to be zealously; by the leading of God, charging the gates of hell with a water pistol.  We should be causing the devil so much harm and damage to his kingdom that he has nightmares about us every time he lays his evil head down at night (or day) when he sleeps.

What are you and I doing for God?  I fear that I do not do nearly enough.  This passage struck me today in that the demon knew Jesus and Paul; but, the other guy was unknown.

So friend, does the devil know your name?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 18, 48, 78, 108, 138; Proverbs 18; Acts 19, 20, 21

Acts 16:9-11, “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.  Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;”

I think it is funny as a preacher of the gospel that we call this passage, “The Macedonian Call.”  In Paul’s vision a man of Macedonia calls for him to come over and preach the gospel to them.  It turns out that this is really a woman named Lydia and she is from Thyatira (Acts 16:14).  God has a sense of humor.  The call of God is no joking matter.  God’s business is serious and it is big business and not as the world sees business either.

We can rest assured that if we answer the call of God there will be bumps in the road.  Some days you will feel like you are the bump in the road that everyone is running over repeatedly.  Do not despair.  God never promised an easy road; but, He did promise to walk down the road with us.  Look at Paul and Silas in  Acts 16:25-26, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”  No matter how bad it looked to Paul and Silas God delivered them and He will do so for you too if it is His will.

Just think though the impact we can have if we will answer the call of God and not go back.  Sometimes it affects others and we don’t intend for it to effect them.  Look at  Acts 17:6, “And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”  This man Jason and others were put in front of the rulers for what Paul did.  Look at the testimony of the ungodly people about, “These that have turned the world upside down… “.  Unfortunately I do not know any true Christian that is turning the world upside down in our day.  Oh, some are having success so to speak; but, I just don’t see the world being really changed.  They are being “christian-ized” and not born again by the Spirit of God.

God has chosen you and I to carry the Gospel to the world.  We find a good reason to go in  Acts 18:6, “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”  See II Timothy 2:25 also.   These people are sin sick and we have the cure.  Will you go?  If it were my relative (and some are) I would exhort and implore you to go and carry the Gospel to the lost and dying world.

I hear Him calling.  Will you go?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 17, 47, 77, 107, 137; Proverbs 17; Acts 16, 17, 18

Acts 13:8, “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.”

The devil is a subtle enemy.  He sneaks in wherever possible.  The problem is that we leave too many holes that allow him access.  Notice in our verse here today that this sorcerer withstood Paul and tried to keep the deputy from putting his faith in Christ for salvation.  This is the whole plan of the devil.  He seeks to get Christians so useless to Christ that they are no longer effective.  Daniel 7:25 tells us, “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”  It is his goal that we run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off accomplishing absolutely nothing for God.  If we will stay in the Word of God and prayer daily we will see these schemes and then we can avoid them.

The longer we walk with the Lord then the more we can become like Him.  Then maybe it would be said of us what is said in Acts 13:22, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”  If we seek not to yield to the devil and we seek to please God and live for Him then we will be like David.  I wish this was my testimony; but, I know me too well.  One day I will be like Jesus and so will all of God’s children.  One day we will be like Him.  We will be a person after God’s own heart.

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 16, 46, 76, 106, 136; Proverbs 16; Acts 13, 14, 15

Acts 11:26, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

I have always been told that “Christians” means little Christs.  When I looked this up it told me that it meant Christ like.  It is the same, only different I guess.  I was thinking about a few years ago when I was dispatching for a particular police department. The other person that I worked with at that time would often be confused for me and I for him.  The sad reality is that he no longer speaks to me.  That is a long story that is too long for this application.

It was funny because one particular person go to the point where he would say both of our first names when either one of us answered the phone.  I was greatly amused when I heard that.  Many times when couples are married they take on some of the same attributes.  They do things similar or even say things that are similar.  What is the old saying, “Nearness is likeness.”  I believe it.

With that being said, if you and I are spending time in God’s Word and prayer then as He ministers to us we should become more and more like Him each day.  The rub comes in when we neglect our alone time with Him.  If we do not spend time with Him we will not become more like Him.  This is just the truth. You cannot change this because it is true.

So, who are you most like?

Today’s reading:  Acts 10, 11, 12; Psalm 15, 45, 75, 105, 135; Proverbs 15

Acts 7:33, “Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.”

One of my favorite songs to hear my wife sing is the song, “Holy Ground”.  Right now I cannot tell you who wrote or sings it.  Such is life when you get older.  I remember someone telling me on time that, “Every bush is a burning bush and all ground is holy ground.”  That has stuck with me for many years.

It is sad today that so many people who say they are a child of God do not feel this way.  It is as if they have outgrown their faith.  How sad!  Today in Churches all over the world people attend and are entertained and made to feel better about their sin.  This is so sad.  We need to be careful that we do not fall into that trap of the enemy of our soul.  He would love to get us focused on something other than God’s will for our lives.

I think we are like the men of Acts 7:54, “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.”  I don’t think we go to the point of those who stoned Stephen; but, I do think we resist the Truth to the point we make it of none effect in our lives.  When the Holy Spirit speaks to us do we listen or do we grieve Him to the point that He really does not speak to us anymore.  Think about that for a while.

If we do not live our lives on “holy ground” then we could be like Saul in Acts 8:3, “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”  Think about that.  If you are not for Jesus then you are against Him.  If you do not walk on “holy ground” then you are walking on unholy ground.  When we walk on unholy ground we make “havock” of the Church and God does not like that at all.  Ask Saul.

So, how are you doing?  Are you on “holy ground”?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 14, 44, 74, 104, 134; Proverbs 14; Acts 7, 8, 9

Acts 5:1-3, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”

My wife used to love to watch a show on the local PBS station.  The title of it was, “Keeping Up Appearances”.  It was a British show and I thought it was the dumbest show on television (this was a few years ago).  I remember trying to watch it; but, I could not watch it.  It was just too dumb to me.

The unfortunate truth is that today far too many are living the nightmare of this in their lives.  We try our best at “Keeping up Appearances”.  Sometimes we do pretty well and we fool those around us.  Once in a while someone sees right through the facade to the reality.  We don’t like this at all.

The reality is that God sees all and knows all.  You cannot keep a facade with the Lord.  He knows before you put it up that it is a fake.  Don’t even try to fool Him.  Yet, we do about our lives daily living like we are some super spiritual person.  The sad reality is that we know deep down on the inside it is a lie from the pits of hell; but, we feel trapped and cannot get out of it.  Run to Jesus!  Let me encourage you to take the first step and tell a mature Christian person who can help you get out of the mess in which you find yourself.

So, what appearance are you trying to maintain?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 13, 43, 73, 103, 133; Proverbs 13; Acts 4, 5, 6

Acts 1:13-14, “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”

Today I was caught by the the phrases, “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode…” and “These all continued with one accord…”.  These phrases caught my attention because of the seeming “Exodus” from good Bible believing Churches.  The Church as we know it is loosing it’s power and influence.  When children raised in Church reach the time in their lives where they begin to stretch their wings so to speak they leave the Church and do not look back.  This is a real tragedy.

The world today discredits the Bible as merely a fairytale book that is full of superstitious junk.  Wrong!  What has happened to us?  It is my opinion that when we began to give up religious liberty we began down a slippery spiritual slope.  Now we have come so far down that apart from a miracle of God we are “a gonner” so to speak.

We need to get back to old fashioned Christianity where we look at a person’s soul and not what they are wearing.  I am all for looking your best for God and dressing to the nines so to speak.  However, if someone wearing shorts or bluejeans will keep them from coming to Church we need to welcome them and when they become members teach them the good and right way.  Not before!  Have you ever cleaned a fish before you caught it?  I don’t think so!  We need to let Jesus work in the hearts of sinners and bring them to Himself and then teach them how to walk in righteousness.  Our staunch standards pushed upon people in a holier than thou attitude has brought us to a place where people do not want to be a part of the Church.  This is the place where baby Christians are birthed and we are running them off before we get the chance to tell them that Jesus loves and died for them.  Wake up Christians!

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 12, 42, 72, 102, 132; Proverbs 12; Acts 1, 2, 3

John 19:25, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”

I remember a dark time in my life when I felt so alone.  I just wanted to die and get life over.  How foolish I was at that time in my life.  I was not a mature Christian and I was basing my whole life on my feelings and not the truth.  So many people seem to live moment to moment and I understand that in the current society in which we are living.  Things appear to be tough right now.  If you think this is bad, hold on it will get worse, I believe.

Upon reading our Scripture passage for today I thought about some things.  One thing I thought about was the shame and ridicule Jesus suffered for you and I.  The Roman soldiers played what is known as “The King Game” with Him.  This was a ploy to mock Him and discredit Him.

I thought about how a man; who was not the Son of God, would have endured such treatment.  You or I might have lost our mind so to speak.  We cannot imagine have such pain and suffering placed upon us.  It would be unbearable to someone who was mere mortal flesh and blood.  Yet, Jesus was mortal flesh and blood.  He was also God!

I also thought about the loneliness and Him being alone.  One thing people do not want is for their relatives to die alone.  Notice that our Scripture said that Jesus’ mother, her sister and Mary Magdalene stood by the cross.  We live in a day that it is not popular to be a Christian and we will have to make a choice to either stand by the cross or forsake it.  Our way of life is now hated and people are being killed for their beliefs.

Jesus has never left you.  There might be some moment in time that you feel like He has abandoned you.  I assure you that He never has and He never will (Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 4:31).  Now it is our time to not leave nor forsake Him.

So, how are you dong?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 11, 41, 71, 101, 131; Proverbs 11; John 19, 20, 21