The choosing of StephenActs 15: 5-12
5
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."
6
The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
7
After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he did us.
9
He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.
10
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
11
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they."
12
The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
Each day I use my feedjit live tool found at the bottom of the blog seeing what people have read - how the blog's search tool & google are used to find what they are looking for. Using these things, not to cater to man, but looking at the older posts and re-evaluate with new eyes - finding typos, things that made sense to me at the time - analogies I have to make more clear.
So today.... I see a Scripture Partner has googled this Scripture from 5-30-08 - one I left blank, thinking that no analogy was needed. The question put forth was - in the Scriptures who are my brothers? It is an important question and deals with something we should think about daily - Jesus gave us the Great Commission.
Jesus was asked this same question and He gave us the story of the Good Samaritan. This was a carefully phrased question put to Jesus to avoid the answer.... it was a teacher of the religious law asking Jesus. He didn't ask Jesus who is my "brother", (he might not have wanted to hear that Jesus answer) he asked who is my "neighbor".
We all are aware that friendship, acquaintance - have different levels. It's really great to give this deliberate thought. It encompasses the jerk you want to avoid, the hurt-er, the budding friendship, the unknown, the potential love interest. Jesus said something that covers ALL the Levels
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Again for emphasis - Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
What did Jesus ask of a "neighbor"? Actions and words of mercy. We are always to act as the neighbor, the merciful. We expect other people to be the neighbor. Expect the best from yourself, expect the best from other people...... People can absolutely tell if you think they are suspicious, dodgy, below par or sinner. You know it. You knew it when you were single and someone had a crush on you, you know if someone doesn't like you.
Now. The balance to the equation:
Proverbs 1
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
Really. I have a personal example of the glamour of sin. My mom had a decades long friendship with a woman who had a very vivacious personality. She had all the right connections, told great stories, went to interesting events and loved to be very generous, giving small gifts. Other women they knew, together, were wary of her. My mom felt sorry for this and felt the woman had a good heart - all those gifts. The woman was fun. Decades of friendship soured when that women became my dad's second wife. Adultery. Yes.
Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
It's a tale of glamour overcoming good sense. Some people should be placed in the neighbor/mercy category, permanently, and not the "brother" category.
And the other side of the coin:
Matthew 10:16
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
A woman worked at the same place for years and enjoyed the people she worked with. She found she had cancer and lost all of her hair. Some days she didn't feel well and she looked bad. People began to go the other way and disappear into offices when she walked down the hall. Part of the sadness in her illness was the isolation. How did it turn out for her? She got a temp henna tattoo on her bald head and people couldn't resist talking to her about it. A survivor! Someone who gives mercy ! She was willing to be pleased and understanding to the people who avoided her.
Who are your brothers?
Jesus told us.
Luke 8:21
He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
And the people we love who aren't believers?
Luke 18:1-7
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart!
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
Micah 6:
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God
<><
5
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."
6
The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
7
After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he did us.
9
He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.
10
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
11
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they."
12
The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
Each day I use my feedjit live tool found at the bottom of the blog seeing what people have read - how the blog's search tool & google are used to find what they are looking for. Using these things, not to cater to man, but looking at the older posts and re-evaluate with new eyes - finding typos, things that made sense to me at the time - analogies I have to make more clear.
So today.... I see a Scripture Partner has googled this Scripture from 5-30-08 - one I left blank, thinking that no analogy was needed. The question put forth was - in the Scriptures who are my brothers? It is an important question and deals with something we should think about daily - Jesus gave us the Great Commission.
Jesus was asked this same question and He gave us the story of the Good Samaritan. This was a carefully phrased question put to Jesus to avoid the answer.... it was a teacher of the religious law asking Jesus. He didn't ask Jesus who is my "brother", (he might not have wanted to hear that Jesus answer) he asked who is my "neighbor".
We all are aware that friendship, acquaintance - have different levels. It's really great to give this deliberate thought. It encompasses the jerk you want to avoid, the hurt-er, the budding friendship, the unknown, the potential love interest. Jesus said something that covers ALL the Levels
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Again for emphasis - Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
What did Jesus ask of a "neighbor"? Actions and words of mercy. We are always to act as the neighbor, the merciful. We expect other people to be the neighbor. Expect the best from yourself, expect the best from other people...... People can absolutely tell if you think they are suspicious, dodgy, below par or sinner. You know it. You knew it when you were single and someone had a crush on you, you know if someone doesn't like you.
Now. The balance to the equation:
Proverbs 1
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
Really. I have a personal example of the glamour of sin. My mom had a decades long friendship with a woman who had a very vivacious personality. She had all the right connections, told great stories, went to interesting events and loved to be very generous, giving small gifts. Other women they knew, together, were wary of her. My mom felt sorry for this and felt the woman had a good heart - all those gifts. The woman was fun. Decades of friendship soured when that women became my dad's second wife. Adultery. Yes.
Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
It's a tale of glamour overcoming good sense. Some people should be placed in the neighbor/mercy category, permanently, and not the "brother" category.
And the other side of the coin:
Matthew 10:16
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
A woman worked at the same place for years and enjoyed the people she worked with. She found she had cancer and lost all of her hair. Some days she didn't feel well and she looked bad. People began to go the other way and disappear into offices when she walked down the hall. Part of the sadness in her illness was the isolation. How did it turn out for her? She got a temp henna tattoo on her bald head and people couldn't resist talking to her about it. A survivor! Someone who gives mercy ! She was willing to be pleased and understanding to the people who avoided her.
Who are your brothers?
Jesus told us.
Luke 8:21
He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
And the people we love who aren't believers?
Luke 18:1-7
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart!
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
Micah 6:
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God
<><
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