what I learned today

Reading in Acts today - it was obvious the disciples had some of the same struggles that we do. It is difficult to picture them as truly human at times, but their struggles were so much like mine!

The verses talked about the struggle the disciples had accepting Saul, at least at first. This was a guy who had been very publicly connected to the killing of Christians. And yes, he had a conversion and came to the Lord, but, wouldn't you be nervous and suspicious if you had to be with Paul knowing what kind of life he had very recently been living?

Beth Moore points out in her "John" book, that "John had recently lost his beloved brother James to martyrdom. " Not at the hands of Paul, but, if John's loss was still fresh and people 'like' Paul had taken his brothers life I would imagine he was very cautious to connect with Paul.

Isn't it weird to think about the disciples in this way. Human - suspicious about someone claiming to be different who came out of the worst, most evil background and now proclaimed the name of the Lord! Proclaimed it loudly! The disciples had many of the same weaknesses and sins in their lives as we do.

We need to forgive those who have wronged us or who have lead lifestyles that have hurt others we love. We also need to believe in the powerful redemptive power of Jesus to change lives, really change them!

I learned today that I need to accept people just as they are - even when I worry they may not truly be changed...after all who am I to judge? The Lord knows I don't want to be judged by others...

what I learned today

I was reading in Acts and reading a chapter in a Beth Moore book where she mentioned something I never thought about before.

Peter and John were followers of Jesus and they continued in their Jewish practices even after Jesus fulfilled all the prophecy's and became Messiah. Their Jewish rituals became alive - not just practices that represented something else. They no longer had to follow the letter of the law but they continued to. Jesus allowed them to continue enjoying their Jewish heritage - but it had nothing to do with their eternity that was determined by Christ's sacrifice.

My first thought was man, I would have quit going to the Jewish rituals immediately and enjoyed my new found freedom in Christ! But I also love traditions.

We all have traditions and a past. Good or bad. It is what made us who we are. It ultimately made us so desperate as to realize we had nothing without God, or led us toward Him with parents or friends that were Godly influences. Either way He called us and either way we now are known to Him as sons or daughters .

Have you ever done something over and over, year in and year out just because that's the way it's always been done? I can only imagine how excited the disciples had to be as they saw Jesus take the place of all those rituals they had participated in since childhood! How cool!