Sometimes the whole process of witnessing and explaining Salvation gets complicated by long sermons, books, and discussions, but Peter makes it clear in Acts 2 speaking to a crowd who gathered after the disciples received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

The crowd asks, what are we to do? In Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

We often use the expression “blocking and tackling” to describe the basics of an activity. What Peter is describing is the “blocking and tackling” of Christianity, that we all need to practice; repent of our sins, turn to God, and trust in Jesus Christ for our forgiveness.

Dear Lord, your plan is an amazing mystery in many ways that we cannot understand, but at the same time it is simple when we focus on the basics. Help us follow the basics, and send us your Spirit so that we may become closer to you. I Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I think we all occasionally have the need to choose between two seemingly equal alternatives, taking a new job, which college, house, which applicant to hire, or which contractor even.

Acts 1:24-26 tells the story of the process the disciples used to select a replacement for Judas, who killed himself after betraying Jesus, which we can use as a model for making our decisions.

Acts 1:23-26 writes, “So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas also known as Justus and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.”

Though the disciples decision was much more important than many decisions we may need to make in life, I believe the process is the same. With those who should be part of the process, your family, spouse, or church board, we identify the alternatives, pray and listen for guidance, then choose. Then we should move forward in faith, trusting that God will help us stay on the right path.

Dear Lord, as the disciples prayed, “you know every heart,” including our own. Help us remember to come to you for guidance with our decisions in life, trusting your guidance. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

I have heard it said, “coincidences are God’s appointment book.

Have you noticed that when you are keeping your priorities right, keeping your focus on God and his will, things that seem like random circumstances bring us into contact with someone who is just the right connection for something on which we are working; or we run accross someone who needs just the experience or expertise that we have.

Acts 8 tells the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian. After Jesus had risen, and ascended, the disciples become inspired by the Holy Spirit to split up and begin telling the good news to people everywhere. Phillip goes to Samaria and while there he is led to help an Ethiopian official understand some prophesies in Isaiah. Philip uses this opportunity to tell the Ethiopian the Good News about Jesus.

Acts 8:29 says, “The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” and verses 34-38, “The Ethiopian asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.”

It is interesting to note that Ethiopia has a population of about 100 million people today, and the population is over 60% Christian. Could this have been a result of this witness by Philip?

Dear Lord, You are always working through us and others to complete your plan. Help us realize your work in the coincidences that occur in our lives, and look for the reason, and our role in the plan. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You have probably seen movies, where one person wronged another and it started a “cold war” between them, where neither will talk to the other. Until they can put that bad experience behind them, they cannot complete some important objective that is critical to both of them. Ultimately it comes down to one of the characters apologizing, in order to become “right” with the other, and the other granting forgiveness.

This is the type of relationship man has with God. Paul writes in Romans 3:24,25, “..assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.”

People are in a “cold war” with God, separated from him until we believe that Jesus was raised by God from the dead. Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and our belief in him, makes us “right” with God, so that we can finish the story and live in and with God eternally.

Dear Lord, though it may seem to some that we have to do the work of to become right with you. Really, you have done all the work to make us right. We must only accept this righteousness you offer. Help us to accept your gift, and remember it regularly in prayer, reading scripture, attending church, and receiving your holy communion. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There is a story written in John chapter 8 where a crowd was going to stone a woman for adultery, which was the law at that time. Jesus tells the crowd, “Let the one who has not sinned cast the first stone’ ” and the crowd of people all went away.

Jesus then told the woman in John 8:11 “Go and sin no more.”

There are many messages we can take away from this story, but the one I want to highlight is that at any point, we can make a change in our lives and start on a new path. “Your past doesn’t determine your future,” is a way I have heard it said.

I think that message is as relevant for someone living a “good” life as it is for someone who has a “troubled” life. We can all make a change in our lives, if we choose to; and when we do, God is always there to support us to change and follow his will. The most important change any of us can make is to accept the forgiveness and Salvation Jesus provides.

Dear Lord, thank you for the message you give us in this story that, no matter where we are in life, or what we have done in the past, we can change. Your forgiveness and Salvation is always waiting for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.