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. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do you know people who always have something positive to say about everyone. While they are bringing up the most favorable things about everyone, they are making themselves look good at the same time.

In Romans 14:19 Paul says, “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”

Of course everyone has areas that can be improved, but why bring this up to others.

The 8th commandment says, “Thou shall not bear false witness (lie) about thy neighbor.” I like Martin Luther’s words in the Small Catechism explanation of this Commandment. Regarding our neighbor, we should, “defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.”

Wouldn’t it be great if we treated each other in this manner regularly.

Dear Lord, you tell us that after loving you, the second greatest command is to love our neighbor. Help us remember that speaking well of others is part of this love for them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

As we grow in our faith it becomes easy to start building our pride in what a good person we are. Beware! The devil uses this good thing, our good deeds, and tempts us to turn it into pride in our selves or judgment of those not “as good as we are.”

Paul says in Romans 3:20 “therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works” verse 23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” So no matter how “good” we are, it doesn’t make us any better to God. Faith in Jesus, who saved us, is the only thing that makes a difference.

I like to look at it as a sequence of 1) apologize (repent) for ourselves 2) accept the forgiveness and Salvation from Jesus 3) Do good as a response to the love from God.

Our righteousness doesn’t come from being good, it comes from being forgiven.

Dear Lord, we are sorry for doing wrong. We know that without your forgiveness we are doomed. Thank you for seeing us as righteous because of Jesus our Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I think one of the most significant reasons for the lack of success or resolution of long-standing issues in personal relationships, organizations, communities, or frankly countries, is that people cannot let go of their complaints about things that happened a long time in the past. Although one party may have wronged the other, the conflict cannot be overcome until the one who was wronged can let it go, and get over it.

People may say, “I am not going to be happy until the wrong doer…. apologizes, goes to jail, pays a fine, etc” However, often the person who was wronged, doesn’t even know what he or she wants, they are just mad, and they seem to want to stay that way.

The problem with this thinking is that it gives up control of our thoughts and feelings. What if that punishment or consequence never occurs? Should they be sour forever? Who is actually being punished for the wrong in that case. Staying upset just keeps us miserable.

Proverbs 17:9 says, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”

“Getting over it,” by forgiving those who wronged us, is like opening the floodgates to the progress that only can occur when God’s love works through us.

Dear Lord, It is so easy to carry a grudge around, angry at someone for some old fault they may have committed, but this only hurts ourselves. So help us forgive these faults, let them go, get over them, so that we may feel your love, move forward and prosper. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Did you know that there is much more evidence for the Bible’s authenticity than any other ancient text. We have copies of New Testament manuscripts that were hand written within 100 years of the events, and have over 20,000 copies of original ancient texts. They have been found in Africa, Europe and the Middle East with very little variation (99.5% consistency). In contrast, there are less than 1000 ancient copies of Homer’s Illiad, and they were written over 500 years after Homer first wrote it. The assurance of the Bible’s validity is well beyond any other ancient text. In modern times, over 100 million Bibles are sold each year, and it is estimated over 5 billion have been printed.

Paul wrote the letter to Timothy that we read as 2 Timothy around 67 AD while Paul was in prison in Rome. He said in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.” What a great gift the Bible is for us.

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the Bible to guide, inspire, motivate, and educate us. Help us to read it regularly to help bring us closer to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.