Wow, I don't know about anyone else, but I find Proverbs hard to read in bigger chunks. Almost each verse seems to need to be re-read and pondered. It takes me so long! But there are some excellent and applicable nuggets in the Proverbs passages each day. There were quite a few that stood out to me, but this one more than the others:
Proverbs 17:1 - Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
To me, this speaks to how much more important are our relationships and our spiritual health than our possessions or our physical beings. You can have the most beautiful meal, or home, or car, or furnishings (or all of the above), but it is impossible to be satisfied by these things, or even enjoy them, if we are at odds with the people around us or even just personally feeling distressed or worried or upset about something, or holding onto a grudge and not forgiving someone.
I don't know if any of you have read or remember "The Mark of the Lion" series from the mid-90's by Francine Rivers. The stories take place about 40 years after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. I'm re-reading them right now and I can't put them down. Through the characters and their stories, she tells the story of salvation and weaves it into the story in such a way that it is clear and unmistakable, and yet not cheesy or preachy. She talks about the emptiness and futility of spending one's life amassing wealth and possessions. She also talks about all the sinful attitudes, temptations and immorality in Rome and Ephesus in those days that are still going on in our society today. Things such as abortion, homosexuality, adultery, promiscuity and others are all woven into the story in order to present a Christian viewpoint on them that is completely applicable in today's society. If you're looking for something good to read on your next camping trip or something, I recommend them! Just a little warning, though... be prepared to have your toes stepped on a little with regards to serving with joy, sharing the Good News with others, following God's will, turning away from temptation, or watering down the gospel to make it more palatable.
Anyway, moving along to Acts, we come to Peter's sermon. Isn't it unbelievable that 3,000 people became Christians after hearing him speak? Of course, their hearts had to be prepared and their eyes and ears opened by God in order for this to happen, but still... how incredible!
Peter's Sermon at Pentacost, part of a study by Bob Deffinbaugh, has the following to say:
First, let us take note of the serious consequences of rejecting Jesus as Lord and Christ. Those whom Peter addressed were Jews,13 many of whom were devout Jews,14 but they had also joined with those who called for the crucifixion of Jesus.15 Peter warned these Jews that the day of God’s wrath was near and that they would be the objects of that wrath. Just as Joel spoke of Gentiles enduring the wrath of God (chapter 3), so Peter warned his Jewish audience about this same wrath. God does not show partiality. Those who reject Jesus as the Messiah, Lord, and Christ will suffer divine wrath, a wrath that is drawing near.
Some today seem to think that one’s decision about who Jesus is and what He has done is a rather academic matter, with few implications. Not so! The day of the Lord is a day of restoration for Israel, and of blessing for those who have trusted in Jesus as Messiah. But the “day of the Lord” is a day of wrath for all who have rejected Him as Messiah. Determining who Jesus is and whether you will submit to Him, and receive His salvation, is the most important decision you will ever make. Do not take this matter lightly. And since the “day of the Lord” is near, don’t delay. Trust in Jesus as the One who died in your place, bearing the penalty for your sins, and you will experience the forgiveness of your sins and the blessed hope of eternity in His presence.
Second, for those who want only a serendipity gospel of happy thoughts and of a God who is too kind to condemn any, take a good look at our text again. The God who offers men forgiveness for their sins and an eternity of bliss in His presence is also the God who takes the rejection of His blessed Son seriously. The gospel is indeed good news to those who accept it, but it is bad news to those who reject it. Like it or not, divine judgment is a prominent theme in the Bible, and one we dare not ignore.
When Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32, he includes both the good news and the bad news. Let us not miss the point at which Peter ends his citation from Joel:
“‘And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Acts 2:21).
All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. This is the good news. So what hinders you from doing so? Call upon Him who is both Lord and Christ; call upon Him who died in your place and who was raised from the dead for salvation. If you do, you will be saved.
Third, I have to smile as I read Acts 2 and Peter’s sermon because I don’t believe that Peter saw the full implications of this text in Joel. Joel was a Jewish book, written to Jews, and particularly to Jews living in or near Jerusalem. Thus it was most appropriate for those gathered at Pentecost, to whom Peter preached. But Peter had not yet been enlightened concerning the extent to which God would save Gentiles, or on what basis. That will come in Acts chapters 10 and 11. It would be further clarified in Acts 15. Peter preached a text from a Jewish book (Joel) to a Jewish audience, warning them of impending judgment and offering them salvation in the name of Jesus. Little did he know or see that this same text from Joel 2 would later be cited by Paul:
11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:11-13, emphasis mine).
How often our knowledge of God’s Word is only partial. How often God’s plans and purposes exceed our own thoughts.
When Joel promised that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on “all people” (Acts 2:17; citing Joel 2:28), he meant “all people,” and not just Jewish people. When he wrote that “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved,” he meant everyone, and not just Jews. The warning of judgment and the promise of salvation that Peter proclaimed to the Jews we now have proclaimed to us (Gentiles), because of the rejection of the Jews (Romans 11:11-12, 30-32).
Have a wonderful Thursday and a wonderful weekend!
4 comments:
Thanks for the great post Miriam. I agree about re-reading portions of Proverbs! It takes me forever to get through these chapters because I always have to stop and absorb everything. As for the passage in Acts, I love how God weaves plans together and at one moment you think something happens a certain way for one reason and then much later God reveals a totally different plan and it all makes even more sense.
That's an interesting point about Peter probably not realizing the full scope of what he was preaching.
I have the same problem with Proverbs! I guess because none of the verses really link together in a theme ~ they're just seemingly random thoughts that came to his mind as he was writing them down!
Proverbs is definitely a book that's easier to study in smaller sections!
Very interesting point about Peter's sermon!! Amazing how God works.
I agree that Proverbs is tough to read through and truly process. I followed a Bible reading plan for awhile that had an old testament section, a new testament section, a psalm and a proverb and I liked the little nugget of 1 or two verses from Proverbs because it was easier to concentrate on just one idea.
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