May 5
How do we know that Jesus rose from the dead? The Lord would not leave us in any doubt. “He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days” (Acts 1:3). Writing circa 56 ad, Paul lists some of the witnesses who saw the risen Christ (and that doesn’t include the meetings with women, their testimony not being valid in a first century court of law), including the statement that over 500 saw Him all at once. Who would deny the corroborating testimony of so many? And many of the witnesses would seal their testimony in their own...
Read MoreMay 4
No one can calculate the suffering and death that swept through Angola during its 27-year civil war, as forces from around the world battled for control of that country’s natural resources. It is estimated that 1.5 million died, many of them believers. Church elders were systematically killed to destabilize the communities. One missionary who returned to his field of labor after the slaughter could find only one surviving elder from hundreds of local churches. The youngest of seven elders, he had been kept last to be executed in hopes that he would recant. But when the sixth elder dropped at...
Read MoreMay 3
George Goodman writes: An appeal should only be made when the Spirit has evidently been convicting the hearers, and then in such sober and wise terms as will leave no doubt as to the step to be taken. We are not without precedent in Scripture. Perhaps the appeal par excellence is, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20). The instruction given by Peter at Pentecost is another excellent example. “With many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this...
Read MoreMay 2
H.A. Ironside tells of addressing a “Mission to Israel” in San Francisco in 1898. At the end, an elderly Jew said: “This is Passover week among you, my Jewish brethren; and I was thinking how you will be observing it. You will attend the synagogue services, and carry out the directions of the Talmud; but you forget that you have everything but that which Jehovah required first of all. He did not say, ‘When I see the leaven put away, or when I see you eat the motsah, or the lamb, or go to the synagogue;’ but, ‘When I see the blood I will pass over you.’ You can substitute nothing for this....
Read MoreMay 1
One of the most important lessons in the book of Acts is this: there’s room for everyone on the team. Not all could preach like Peter, but Peter first had to be brought to Jesus, and was, by his otherwise retiring brother, Andrew. Matthew arranged a dinner for the local tax office and invited Someone Else to share the gospel with his guests. Dorcas did good works in the community, and won friends for the gospel. The man born blind couldn’t argue with his detractors, but he could say, “I was blind; now I see.” The demoniac was sent back into his hometown to “tell what great things God has...
Read MoreApril 30
How can you believe a Bible that is full of contradictions? Josh McDowell writes: “Certain passages at first glance appear to be contradictory, but further investigation will show that this is not the case.” McDowell points out that different descriptions may be complementary, not contradictory (see one or two blind men, Mt 9:27; Mk 10:46). Also there are translation issues: did the men at Saul’s conversion hear the voice from heaven or not? (Acts 9:7, genitive; 22:9, accusative). They heard the sound, but couldn’t distinguish the words. McDowell concludes: “Some difficulties in Scripture...
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