Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Topic Introduction with headline.
Scripture
Acts 18:9-10
The Lord: Do not be afraid, Paul. Speak! Don’t be silent! I am with you, and no one will lay a finger on you to harm you. I have many in this city who are already My people.
Devotional
Have you ever been in a crowd of people listening to someone spout of something you knew was wrong but noone spoke up?
Hitler’s speeches
Terrorist rhetoric
General wrongdoing/evil action
We think we’re the only one in the crowd and are afraid of what the crowd might do to us if we speak up
Usually not the only one
Usually others in the crowd feel the same way but are also afraid
Usually just need someone with the courage to start that chain reaction of good will to stand up against evil
Will standing up against evil always put the crowd on your side
No
Jesus was crucified
Paul was martyred
Many have lost their everything they owned and some lost their lives for speaking up for Christ
But the courage to speak up always has positive consequences
Look at what Stephen’s martyrdom sparked
Saul an onlooker
Many witnesses saw Stephen’s reaction and thousands wanted to know this Jesus he spoke of
The same has happened when others throughout history have stood up for Christ
Jesus promised His disciples He would never leave the or forsake them
He never fails to keep His promises
When we invite Him into our lives He is with us and in us
He gives us the courage to stand alone in the crowd because we know we are never alone
He is with us, empowering us
Gives resurrection power to enable us to share His message of forgiveness for the asking
Do you feel alone in the crowd?
Think again
Search your heart
You may be the spark that begins a revival fire among those who witness your testimony of God’s grace and mercy in your life
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Ever make a big promises that you didn’t keep? Peter made a whopper of a promise. Jesus caught him in his failure in less than half a day. Remember what that promise was?
Scripture
Luke 22:31-32
Jesus: Simon, Simon, how Satan has pursued you, that he might make you part of his harvest. But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers here. Peter:Lord, what are You talking about? I’m going all the way to the end with You—to prison, to execution—I’m prepared to do anything for You. Jesus: No, Peter, the truth is that before the rooster crows at dawn, you will have denied that you even know Me, not just once, but three times. Remember when I sent you out with no money, no pack, not even sandals? Did you lack anything? Disciples: Not a thing. Jesus: It’s different now. If you have some savings, take them with you. If you have a pack, fill it and bring it. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. Here’s the truth: what the Hebrew Scriptures said, “And He was taken as one of the criminals,” must come to fruition in Me. These words must come true. Disciples: Look, Lord, we have two swords here. Jesus: That’s enough.
Devotional
Peter is like a lot of us.
Think we can stand the test
Make promises we can’t keep
Crumble under the intense pressure against us
Honest with ourselves
We’ve done the same
Failed to honor Him in the tough times
Kept silent when He said to speak
Went the path of least resistance
Denied Him when the pressure was on
Jesus says something important
I have prayed for you
That you faith will hold firm
That you will recover from your failure
That you will become a source of strength for your brothers
Peter still failed that night and many other times recorded in the New Testament
Recognized his failure
Repented
Learned from his errors
Became stronger in his faith each time
Finally was executed for his faith
Jesus prayer extends to us as He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us
That our faith will hold firm
That we will recover from any failure
That we will become a source of strength for our brothers and sisters
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
* Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk With God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
* Have you ever thought about this question, “If Jesus promised not a single hair of your heads will be harmed. Why are there so many martyrs and so much persecution for His followers?”
* music intro
* You can follow along in a year long Bible reading program at richardagee.com where you can also subscribe to the podcast, send me comments to let me know what you think of the devotional, and listen to past devotionals. That’s richardagee.com.
* music intro
* Devotional
* In Luke 21:18–19 Jesus said: But whatever happens, not a single hair of your heads will be harmed. By enduring all of these things, you will find not loss but gain—not death but authentic life.
* Promise of no
* persecution
* beating
* imprisonment
* execution
* More – gain instead of loss; authentic life instead of death
* Never more than today
* Middle east
* Africa
* Russia
* China
* India
* Even in United States beginnings of rights removed, persecution evident, followers hated
* All the same problems as everyone else plus persecution
* What does Jesus mean? Contradiction?
* We take out of context
* Forget what comes before and after these verses
* Want to use part of a discourse to our benefit
* Like to twist promises to suit our wants
* What does Jesus mean?
* Verses in the middle of end times discourse
* Signs
* Events
* Interlude to comfort disciples
* Picture scene
* surrounded by disciples
* listening intently
* growing fear of description
* Jesus sees fear
* Calms with promise of what happens for His followers during the end times
* Put verses back into context
* We have nothing to worry about
* Still hated by the world
* Still face persecution until He comes
* Still suffer as followers
* Notice He says “if we endure all these things”, means we go through them
* After the signs have come
* earthquakes, floods, drought, famine, disease
* wars, nations fighting against each other and fighting within themselves
* Then we enjoy the promises He gives
* Jesus comes again
* Returns victoriously
* No more suffering
* No more martyrdom
* No more persecution
* No more loss
* No more death
* Today’s words from Jesus:
* Encouragement that the end brings relief from the evil of this world
* …life everlasting
* …indescribable joy
* …eternal praise and worship of the King of kings in His presence
* Disciples needed that interlude of encouragement
* We need it today, too.
* music exit
* If you want to know more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
* music exit
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Luke 14:16-24 Jesus: A man once hosted a huge banquet and invited many guests. When the time came, he sent his servant to tell the guests who had agreed to come, “We’re ready! Come now!” But then every single guest began to make excuses. One said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I just bought some land, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.” Another said, “So sorry. I just bought five pairs of oxen. I need to go check them out. Please excuse me.” Another said, “I just got married, so I can’t come.”
The servant returned and reported their responses to his master. His master was angry and told the servant, “Go out quickly to the streets and alleys around town and bring the poor, the amputees, the blind, and the cripples.”
The servant came back again: “Sir, I’ve done as you said, but there is still more room.” And the host said, “Well then, go out to the highways and hedges and bring in the complete strangers you find there, until my house is completely full. One thing is for sure, not one single person on the original guest list shall enjoy this banquet.”
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
Jesus story reminds me of a wedding I attended not long ago. I was just a guest so I don’t know how many people the bride and groom invited or how many actually sent back an RSVP, but at both the wedding and the reception, there were a lot of empty chairs. I assume that means people said they would come, the wedding party spent a lot of money on food and other accommodations for their expected guests and all the prepared food, money, and energy ended up wasted.
That problem seems to happen more and more these days. We have lost our social graces. We don’t pay any attention to those four little letters that appear at the bottom of most invitations. RSVP means respond. The party that sent the invitation may not care whether you come or not, but at least be polite enough to answer the question. Are you coming? Uhhhh? Hello? Anyone out there? Did you get the invitation? How is anyone supposed to plan when we don’t have the courtesy to let the host know if we’re coming?
It’s not just weddings that the phenomenon happens. In fact, we’re more prone to answer wedding invitations either yes or no that almost any other invitation that comes our way. Birthday parties? Silence. Dinner for a group of people? No response. Invitation to a theater event, ballgame, or other social activity? Nothing. What ever happened to common courtesy and just simple etiquette?
I think it’s a simple answer. It’s that selfishness that rears its ugly head again. We focus on ourselves and don’t really care about anyone else or the inconvenience we might cause in our failure to respond. We just decide at the last minute to go or not to go based on whether there is a better offer for us. How do I feel at the moment of departure? So we just don’t answer. Then if we show up it’s okay and if we don’t, we think it’s okay.
It’s not. Things may not end the way they did with the host and guests in Jesus’ story, but the host will feel the same. And you certainly won’t win friends by letting a host prepare for your coming and then not show up, or show up without the host preparing for you. In the first instance, the host may be pretty angry, in the second, he may be embarrassed because there may be no place for you. Then you might be angry. Both situations end with broken relationships.
How hard is it to send a note in the mail, pick up the phone, or send an email with a simple yes or no to an invitation? We are on our smartphones and computers all day long. What’s a few seconds to confirm or regret that invitation from someone who asks your presence at something. It’s not hard to do and keeps your relationships intact.
The host understands people have things to do and he would not have been angry had those guests sent their regrets when the invitations came out. The problem was their broken promise. They promised to come. Their RSVP said yes. But they made excuses and didn’t show. It’s the broken promise that made the host angry. The same is true today when those simple invitations go out. Be polite. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. You can say no, but say something. Then keep your promise.
I know, there are lots of other things you could say about this parable that Jesus gave us. Those who heard it understood some of those subtle innuendos, too. They knew Jesus was talking about them and that He referred to their coming absence from God’s banquet table if they didn’t change their ways. But just for a moment, think about the easy thing to see about the story Jesus tells. Be polite. Answer those RSVPs that come this time of year. Then keep the promises you make.
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Mark 10:29-31 Jesus: That is true. And those who have left their houses, their lands, their parents, or their families for My sake, and for the sake of this good news will receive all of this 100 times greater than they have in this time—houses and farms and brothers, sisters, mothers, and children, along with persecutions—and in the world to come, they will receive eternal life. But many of those who are first in this world shall be last in the world to come, and the last, first.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
We love Jesus’ words to His disciples here, don’t we? If you give up things for Him, He’ll return them 100 times over. Sounds like great news for those “name it and claim it” believers, doesn’t it? Give up your house and get a hundred back. Give up an acre of land and get a ranch in return. Sounds like a good investment plan, right? We love to quote Jesus’ investment plan for getting rich. Give up everything and get it back 100 fold.
There is a problem with that kind of thinking, of course. When we serve just for the sake of getting something in return, we serve for the wrong reason and really serve no one but self. Unfortunately, that seems to be the motivator for so many today. We seem to let that “what’s in it for me” attitude sneak in and take over. We let self get in the way and take the parts of Jesus’ promises we like and forget the parts we don’t.
Speaking of parts we don’t like, we hurriedly skip over the part where He says we’ll get 100 times the persecution when we give up houses and lands and parents and families. We don’t want to hear about that part, so we skip over that pretty fast and take the good and leave the bad. But look around the world at what’s happening to Jesus’ followers. The news doesn’t talk much about it, but there have never been more Christian martyrs than today. There has never been more persecution than today. There has never been such an outpouring of hatred against Christians than what we see today.
Jesus was right when He said if we give up everything for Him we will get 100 times as much in return. We don’t like to hear that it will be both good and bad in this world, but it will be both. The question, is the sacrifice worth it? Is giving up houses and lands and parents and families for Jesus’s sake worth the price? Yes, we will face persecution. Yes, we may become martyrs for His name. Yes, the world will hate us because we follow Him. But is it worth it? That is the question each of us must ask ourselves and weigh the answer and make our choice.
Satan tries to tell us the outcome is not worth it. He tries to tell us the world is right and God’s word is wrong. Satan tries to use the glamour and glitter of the world to convince us that wealth and prosperity should be our goal. Take as much as you can. Don’t worry about who you hurt on the way. Make the right investments and you’ll be assured of long life and riches. But if you read God’s word, you know that is not true. Satan is a liar and the father of lies.
If you listen to God’s word, you know there is something after this seventy or eighty year lifespan during which we occupy this piece of dirt. You know the things we accumulate here are temporary but there is something beyond. God’s word talks about it. He tells us about a new heaven and a new earth that’s coming. If you listen to God’s word, you know the treasures stored here will disappeared, but treasures stored in heaven last forever.
Is the sacrifice worth it? Absolutely. Besides, God is God! He deserves our worship. He is God, He demands it. He is God. Nothing and no one else comes in a close second to Him as worthy of praise and glory and honor and majesty and power. Is it worth following Him? Absolutely. We owe Him everything we have and everything we are. He created us and allows us to enjoy everything we have. He enables us to breathe and exist within the span of years we have here and then on into eternity.
Jesus made a bold promise that many only want to remember only half. They want to remember only the good parts. They want to forget the promise of persecution, of the hatred the world will level against us, of misunderstanding and disapproval by the world if we choose to follow Him. But if we will listen to Him and follow Him, the rest of His promise is also true. In the world to come, we will have eternal life. Isn’t that worth it all? Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus: You know that God expects us to abide by the oaths we swear and the promises we make. But I tell you this: do not ever swear an oath. What is an oath? You cannot say, “I swear by heaven”—for heaven is not yours to swear by; it is God’s throne. And you cannot say, “I swear by this good earth,” for the earth is not yours to swear by; it is God’s footstool. And you cannot say, “I swear by the holy city Jerusalem,” for it is not yours to swear by; it is the city of God, the capital of the King of kings. You cannot even say that you swear by your own head, for God has dominion over your hands, your lips, your head. It is He who determines if your hair be straight or curly, white or black; it is He who rules over even this small scrap of creation. You need not swear an oath—any impulse to do so is of evil. Simply let your “yes” be “yes,” and let your “no” be “no.”
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
The election year will start up in earnest now. Candidates with spew their rhetoric across the airwaves and meet with thousands to vow what they will do if we will just put them in office. Well, we’re on president number 45. None have kept their vows yet. Should we expect number 46 to keep his or hers? I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to hold my breath. If I were a betting man, I’d bet none of them will keep their promises.
It’s important to God, though. He says so in these words. When we make an oath He expects us to keep it. But more than that, He expects our simple yes to mean yes and our simple no to mean no. But we’ve gotten really good at double-speak. Have you noticed? Just add enough words and you talk yourself into or out of just about anything. Instead, Jesus says use fewer words, get your point across, and mean what you say.
A lot of our problem in making promises is we do so about things we have no control over. Just stop and think about what you really control. You don’t control the weather, and how does that affect promises you might make to someone? You don’t control traffic, and how does that affect your promises? You don’t control the finacial state of the country, so how will that affect your promises? You don’t really control your own health except to a very small extent by what you eat, the sleep you get, and the exercise you do. So how will you health affect the promises you’ve made?
You certainly can’t control anyone else’s actions or emotions. You might think you can, but people really can do exactly what they want to do. They can refuse to take your directions. They might suffer severe consequences as a result, but they can choose to accept those consequences instead of doing what you say. When you think about it, you really have control of very little. And you can make promises only about the things that you can really control. So…
Jesus really makes sense when He says don’t make oaths. You might not be able to keep them and then your reputation suffers for it. You’ve heard the addage, “Let your word be your bond.” Today, we need hundred-page contracts because as a society too many of us have proven our word is not our bond anymore. Jesus says if you’re going to follow Him, you better start letting your word mean as much as those contracts again. He’s serious about keeping promises. Look at the promises He’s kept. They start in Genesis when He promised Man would crush the serpant’s head. He looked ahead to the cross and saw His victory over sin as He gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for us.
God has never broken a promise He has made. His word is full of them. Some He’s completed for His chosen people. Some are waiting for those who follow Him. Some await the end of time when He comes to take His bride home with Him for eternity. But God has and will never break His promises. We wants us to follow in His footsteps and do the same. “Simply let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and let your ‘no’ be ‘no.’”
1 Chronicles 16:7-36 7 That day, at the end of the parade, David gave this first song of thanks to Asaph and his brothers:
8 Give thanks to the Eternal, and call out to Him.
Teach the people His deeds. 9 Sing to Him! Sing praises to Him!
Talk about all His wonders. 10 Brag about His holy name;
let your heart rejoice in following the Eternal. 11 Always follow the Eternal,
His strength and His face. 12 Remember the wonders which He did,
and the judgments which He spoke. 13 Seed of Israel, you are His servants;
sons of Jacob, you are His chosen. 14 He is the Eternal One, your God.
His judgments fill the earth. 15 Always remember His covenant,
the word He commanded to 1,000 generations 16 Which is His covenant with Abraham
and His pledge to Isaac, 17 His statute with Jacob
and His covenant with Israel forever: 18 “I will give the land of Canaan to you,
a territory as your inheritance.” 19 When He promised this, you were a diminished few,
mere strangers in the land. 20 You went from nation to nation
and from one kingdom to another, 21 But He did not let those nations oppress you.
He reproved the kings: 22 “Do not strike My anointed people
or do evil to My prophets.” 23 Now, sing to the Eternal, all the earth!
Announce the good news of His salvation each and every day! 24 Enlighten the nations to His splendor;
describe His wondrous acts to all people! 25 For the Eternal is great indeed and praiseworthy,
feared and reverenced above all gods. 26 For all gods are worthless idols,
but the Eternal plotted the vast heavens. 27 Honor and majesty precede Him;
strength and beauty infuse His holy sanctuary. 28 Give all credit to the Eternal, families of the world!
Credit Him with honor and strength! 29 Credit Him with the glory worthy of His magnificent name;
gather your sacrifice, and present it before Him.
Bow down to the Eternal, adorned in holiness. 30 Fear Him, all the earth.
For the earth is firmly rooted; it cannot move. 31 Heavens, be glad; earth, rejoice.
Say to the nations, “The Eternal One reigns.” 32 The sea roars, as do its creatures.
The field rejoices, as do its crops. 33 Then will the forest and its trees cry out
before the Eternal, for He comes to judge the earth. 34 Give testimony about the Eternal because He is good;
His loyal love lasts forever. 35 Say, “Save us, God of our salvation.
Gather us and free us from the nations
To thank Your holy name,
to boast in Your praise.” 36 Blessed is the Eternal One, God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting. People: So may it be! We will praise the Eternal.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
David wrote a beautiful song of praise to Me when the tabernacle moved to its new home in Jerusalem. It ends with the words “Blessed is the Eternal One, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” and all the people gathered around the palace and future home of My Temple that day declared, “So may it be! We will praise the Eternal.”
Only one problem, they forgot their promise to praise Me. Before too long, many of them turned their attentions to other things and other gods and forgot to keep their attention on Me. I think they truly believed they would follow their king and praise Me for the good things I did for them. But they soon listened to other voices around them and swapped temporary pleasures for My eternal riches.
The same happens today with people around the world. It’s easy to make promises and declare you will always praise Me. But when trouble comes, too many run the other way. Or something shiny passes by, appeals to the senses, and off you go chasing the things that will ultimately disappear thinking they will bring happiness. They don’t.
Sometimes the promises are “foxhole” promises. “Get me out of this, God, and I’ll follow you forever.” And you do, for a while. Then My intervention is forgotten and so is your promise. Sometimes you make promises with the intercession for others. “Save my son or daughter.” And I do. But you forget your promise and live like you want. The Israelites were not alone in their abandonment of Me. It happens everyday in the lives of far too many who call themselves by My name.
Long ago I told you not to make oaths and vows, but rather to just let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. But I also expect you to abide by your word in the same way I abide by Mine. Learn from the destruction of Israel because of their failure to live up to their promises to Me. It was their abandonment of the covenant between us that caused their nation to crumble under the enemies I allowed to come into their land.
I will always keep My promises to you, but when you read My word, you’ll find most of My promises come with conditions. If you obey Me… If you follow Me… If you do My will… My love is unconditional, My promises are not.
Today’s background scripture comes from Genesis 33.
Sometimes your past catches up with you and you are afraid. That’s the position in which Jacob found himself when he approached his homeland after escaping from his father-in-law, Laban. He cheated his brother, Esau, out of his birthright, blessing, and inheritance and now saw him for the first time since those events…coming toward him with 400 men.
If that was the last remembrance of your brother, you might feel the same way Jacob did. If the last time you saw someone you stole from them and now you saw them with what constituted a small army, you might be scared, too. But a transformation happened in those convening years for both Jacob and Esau. We don’t hear much about Esau in the ensuing years except as enemies of Israel, but he too can claim his heritage from Abraham. And I promised all nations on earth would be blessed by Abraham.
Esau grew into a mighty nation. As long as he and his children followed by teaching, they prospered. Unfortunately, they didn’t do so long and blamed Israel for their demise. They pointed to Jacob, the schemer, as the cause of their troubles and became bitter enemies of Israel throughout their history.
I keep My promises and kept Jacob safe. I kept My promises with Esau as long as he and his descendants followed Me. Most of My promises come as a covenant. I will keep My end of the covenant, but expect you to keep your end also. I give you many opportunities to come back to Me when you err, just as I did Abraham, Esau, and Jacob. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants trusted Me and became the line of My chosen people. Esau’s descendants chose a different path.
You must choose, also. Will you choose Me or your own path? If you choose My path, you might come across things from your past that look fearful at times, but I will be with you. I will never leave you or forsake you. You need not fear your past, present, or future when you put your trust in Me.
Today’s Scripture
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Genesis 33 Set – Genesis 33; Luke 13 Go! – Genesis 31-33; Luke 13
Genesis 33
Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and 400 men were with him. Jacob quickly divided the children among Leah and Rachel and their two servants. 2 He put the female servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on ahead of them, and he bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet him. He embraced Jacob, kissed his neck, and they both cried. 5 Esau looked up and saw the women and children.
Esau: Who are these people with you?
Jacob: These are the children God has graciously given your servant.
6 Then the female servants came closer, along with their children, and they bowed down. 7 Leah did likewise; she and her children approached and bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward, and they bowed down as well.
Esau: 8 What was your intent in sending all of your men and herds ahead of you?
Jacob: I hope to find favor with you, my master.
Esau: 9 I have enough, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.
Jacob: 10 No, please. If I have found favor with you after all these years, please accept the gifts I offer. Seeing your face again is like seeing the face of God, so graciously and warmly have you welcomed me. 11 Please accept the blessing I bring. God has graciously provided for me and my family. I have everything I could want.
Jacob kept insisting that Esau accept the gift. Finally he did.
Esau: 12 Now let’s be on our way, and I will walk on ahead of you.
Jacob: 13 My master knows that the children are very small and the nursing flocks and herds are under my care. If they are driven too hard for even one day, I’m afraid I’ll lose all the flocks. 14 Please, my master, go on ahead of me, and I will keep on at a slower pace—the pace of the animals up ahead and the children—until I come to you in Seir.
Esau: 15 Let me leave some of my people to accompany you.
Jacob: Why go to all that trouble? You have done enough already. Just let me find favor with my master.
16 Esau agreed and set out that day to go back to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed instead to Succoth, and he built himself a house there and put up some shelters for his cattle. That’s why this place is called Succoth, which means “shelters.”
18 At last Jacob came to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan. Overall it had been a safe and peaceful journey from Paddan-aram. He camped outside of the city 19 and purchased the land on which he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor (who was Shechem’s father) for one hundred pieces of money. 20 And there also he built an altar he called El-Elohe-Israel, which means “God, the God of Israel.”
