Planting Seeds

Acts 16:29-34

29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.”

So, who was the “man of Macedonia” in Paul’s vision?  I think the “man” in Paul’s vision was Lydia, the dealer in purple cloth, Lydia’s household, the slave-girl who was healed (even if Paul’s motive was not pure), the prisoners in the jail cell, and the jailer and his family.  I think the “man” was everyone in Macedonia who came into contact with and was helped by Paul and Silas.

God gave Paul a vision of a man, then put two unusual women in his path; he used Paul’s annoyance to heal, and his imprisonment to save.

During Paul and Silas’ time in Macedonia, the seeds of the Philippian church, the first Christian church in Europe, were planted.

God works in ways that we do not understand, yet it all comes together…

and it is beautiful to behold.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Turning the World Upside Down

Acts 14: 1-7

1 The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them. 4 But the residents of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5 And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; 7 and there they continued proclaiming the good news.”

Jesus once described the division that his life and words would bring to the world, “father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother…” (Luke 12:53).  Christ knew that his example of love and mercy and his words of hope and redemption were words that would unsettle the existing order.

In the verses above we see that Christ’s prophetic words came to fruition.  After Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in a synagogue in Iconium, a great number believed, but a great number also did not believe.  This naturally caused tension and strife among them and hatred towards the Disciples, such that the unbelievers plotted to kill Barnabas and Paul.

To Christians, the gospel is the word of God offering salvation to the world.  It is the hope of the world.  To unbelievers the gospel is a challenge to their way of life, turning it upside down, destroying their world.

In the midst of this tension, Christians are to show love and forgiveness, to be a beacon of light in the darkness for all who would believe.  We are never to conform to the world.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

And Then There Was Light

John 9: 24-25

“24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Jesus healed a blind man who had been blind since birth by spitting on the ground and putting mud on the man’s eyes.  In performing this miracle, Jesus chose to use the methods of healing that were common during this period of time. 

The Pharisees were not pleased that the healing had occurred on the Sabbath and they decided that Jesus was a sinner and was not from God. They summoned the healed man twice to testify before them.  

The first time they asked, “What is your opinion of him?”  He answered, “He is a prophet.”  The second time they were more direct.  They expressed their view that Jesus was a sinner.  The healed man was caught in a trap.  

He dared not contradict the learned and pious Pharisees with his opinion of Jesus.  So, he testified to what could not be questioned- the facts.  “Once I was blind and now I see.”

For all believers, everywhere, this sentence resonates with our hearts.  Once we were all in a state of blindness.  Once we all stared at the darkness. Once we were all without hope.  

And then there was Jesus.  

And then there was light.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)