Cross My Heart Ministry

“…They called the apostles in and had them flogged…The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
Acts 5:40-41

The apostles were given a beating.  The flogging would have been “40 lashes minus one” according to Jewish rules.  The punishment was cruel, painful, and even given by order of the religious leaders—the Sanhedrin.

I would have offered, most likely, a variety of responses—loud protest, physical resistance, an attempt to rally others to protest on my behalf, and certainly cried to God, “Where are you?” But the disciples did none of these.  Their response was…..rejoicing…????!

They realized that they were never more like Jesus than when they were suffering. An eternal mindset, a heart set on heaven, an assurance of their salvation, the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit – surely all these led to a transformation from the inside out.  Only a genuine inward change could evoke such a powerful and unlikely outward response.

When all goes well, we can fake it – manufacture an outward veneer that fools others and perhaps even fools ourselves occasionally.  But when the pressure comes, the heat is turned up, and persecution becomes intense—then the real women of God are separated from the little girls.

Do I have what it takes to “woman up?”  Can I respond well to suffering for the name of Jesus?  Persecution on the outside reveals what’s present on the inside.  How do you and I respond to suffering?

A woman who lives sent may be called upon to suffer for His name.

Lord, I have led an easy life.  My 21^st century-western world offers little opportunity to face real suffering.  Whether it is physical, emotional, relational or some other type of suffering I may face for your name, I pray for strength to “woman up” and actually rejoice in the midst of it.

Live Sent Action Point: Pray for missionaries who are living sent right now in very difficult and dangerous situations.*  Ask God to provide an eternal perspective and the power of His presence to enable them to survive, thrive, and REJOICE in His name.

*If you would like to make praying for missionaries a regular part of your prayer life, consider subscribing to Missions Mosaic.  Details here:  http://wmu.com/index.php?q=adults/misc/missions-mosaic

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.  Acts 4:36-37

I never realized Barnabas’ name was really Joseph.  I am blessed in my life with several “Barnabas”-type friends.  I’ve actually referred to one or two as my personal “Barnabas” because of the special way each has of bringing encouragement when I need it most.

That must be why the apostles gave Barnabas a new name.  Because he practiced encouraging them, they gave him the name that means “Son of Encouragement” and it stuck.

At first reading, I didn’t understand why the author chose this particular context to specifically tell us what his name means.  What does selling a field and sharing the proceeds have to do with being an encourager?  After I thought about it for awhile, I decided it actually means a lot.

We usually think of encouragement as being done with words of affirmation.  (Or maybe, that’s just me and my own particular love language.)  But there are other ways to encourage—in fact, each of the love languages* (words of affirmation, meaningful touch, gifts, acts of service, and quality time) all are ways to bring encouragement to another.

In this instance Barnabas gave his land and the money it brought.  As we read on in the book of Acts, we will see Barnabas being an encourager in other areas, as well.  He made an investment of time (in partnership with Paul) with the Church at Antioch to encourage them in their faith. Later, we will see him use words to stick up for John Mark.

Each instance of being an encourager also involved a sacrifice.  As we encourage others, we give away something:  time, words, money, etc.

To be a woman who lives sent is to be a woman who encourages.  And to encourage another requires an element of sacrifice.

Lord, forgive me for selfishly holding on to my words, my stuff, my time.  Even the pronoun “my” makes me culpable! Enable me to give away something today that encourages others.

Live Sent Action Point:  Look over the five types of love languages.  Ask God to give you an opportunity to encourage someone today by giving in one of these five areas.

*The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”  Acts 4:29

The miraculous healing of the crippled man in Acts 3 led to Peter and John being hauled before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4.  These Sanhedrin guys meant business—they issued threats and, as the ruling religious authorities, they had the power to follow through.

When Peter and John were released, they joined their fellow believers and a prayer meeting broke out.  What would you expect them to pray for?  The logical answer would be protection.  I have prayed for several friends this summer who have traveled to far-away places on mission trips.  Always, I pray for protection.

But that’s not what the early believers asked for.  They acknowledged the threats, but in the very same sentence asked for boldness.  Their concern was not for their physical protection, but only for being used to bring glory to God.

And our great God seems to take particular delight in answering unselfish prayers.  Just two verses later, the believers had barely said “amen” and the prayer was answered: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (emphasis added). Acts 4:31

Lord, forgive me for being a coward.  Help me to be less concerned with my protection—whether it be physical protection or concern for what others think of me—and instead be consumed with a desire to make you known.  Give me great boldness to speak for You!

Live Sent Action Point:  Pray for boldness to speak for God.  Then speak the truth boldly, trusting Him with the results.

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:13

When Moses spent time with God, his face was radiant with God’s glory (see Exodus 34:29).  And just as a shining face brought astonishment to the Israelites, the courage of Peter and John also astonished the crowd in the first century.  Realizing there was nothing really special about the two, the people attributed it all to the company they had kept.  They had been with Jesus.

Surely, no greater praise could be given a woman of God than for a person in her day-to-day-life to note, “That girl has been with Jesus.”  What is it that gives us away?  For Peter and John, it was their courage.  Freedom from sin brings freedom to really live.  As the condemnation of sin is swept out of my life, it is replaced with a joyful peace that both compels and propels me to live and speak for Him.  Peter and John said it best, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”  Acts 4:20

Lord, thank you saving an ordinary girl like me.  Thank you that you delight in using the ordinary and unschooled.  I pray that as I spend time daily with you, it would show on my face, in my words, with my actions, and in how I spend my time. 

Live Sent Action Point:  Keep a daily appointment with Jesus.  Allow His courage to equip you to live sent, as He directs.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD…”  Acts 3:19

Forgiveness and refreshment.  Two great gifts that can only really come from God.  The world does try to offer counterfeits and substitutes –so cleverly designed that they give the appearance of the real thing. But just as a cubic zirconia is not a diamond, the refreshment offered by the world is a far cry from the genuine refreshment that comes only from God.

We want the gifts, but they come only after the command to repent and turn to God. Look at the order in the verse.

We do a disservice to unbelievers when we “market” Jesus with the lure of refreshment and the peace it brings without focusing first on the need for repentance.  Our coming to God is first and foremost because we are sinners in need of a savior.  Until I acknowledge my sin – and my inability and inadequacy to fix it – I will not see my need for a savior.

For the believer, life also brings opportunities for continual confession, repentance, turning, and cycling back to receive the forgiveness and refreshment that only God can provide.

Where is God calling you and me to repent and turn?

Lord Jesus, how I praise you that forgiveness and the refreshment that follows are there for the asking.  My sin seems so convoluted and so complicated in contrast to the simplicity of confession and forgiveness that you give so freely.  Stir up my heart today, convict me of any unconfessed sin, and restore to me the joy of being clean before You—all because of You.

Live Sent Action Point:  Ask God to reveal an unconfessed sin in your life.  Make the process of repent, (re)turn, and refresh a daily lifestyle.  Your lifestyle of freedom will draw others to the One who has set you free.

{Note from Laura:  This is day 10—I can hardly believe we are one-third of the way through our 30-day commitment to live sent.  Whether you have just joined us or whether you have been a faithful reader from day one, I want to say thank you for joining me in the journey through Acts and accepting the challenge to live sent.   Please consider posting your comments or reflections.  It’s difficult to make this a one-way conversation.  I would love your feedback!  Have you been challenged?  Have you been stirred to think or pray differently?  Have you tried any of the Live Sent Action Points?  What has been your favorite day of these first ten?  The blogging world is relatively new to me.  I’m much more accustomed to teaching to a roomful where I have feedback from faces I can see.  Your feedback will help this natural extrovert feel like she is having a real conversation with friends, rather than writing to the black hole of cyberspace.  And to those of you who have posted comments and shared on your facebook page or clicked, “like”—thank you for blessing me!}

“When he saw Peter and John…he asked them for money…..Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you….” Acts 3:3-6

The crippled beggar asked for what he thought he needed most:  money.  He positioned himself in the perfect place to ask–the entrance to the temple.  When Peter and John embraced the interruption, perhaps the crippled beggar expected a few coins.  It would have been easy for Peter and John to oblige and then make it to church on time.  But Peter, surely being led by the Spirit, boldly moved forward to offer much more.  “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk,” Peter said to the man.

What happened next unleashed not only physical change for this man but spiritual change, as well.  The miracle rippled out as a testimony to onlookers.  The man’s joy prompted praise to God that could not be contained.

Peter did not waste the opportunity.  He launched in to share the good news to the crowd, proclaiming, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.  It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”  Acts 3:16

Lord, forgive me for the self-righteous pride I have felt in offering a few coins or even buying a hamburger for a fellow human who asked for change.  Give me courage to push on through – to go beyond meeting the mere physical need to meet the greater spiritual need.

Live Sent Action Point:  Get together with a friend and practice sharing the gospel using the ABC’s of salvation or the Roman’s Road, or whatever works for you.  Look for an opportunity to feed a hungry mouth and then open your mouth and share the truth about Jesus.

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple…a man crippled from birth was being carried…”  Acts 3:1-2

Life is full.  No doubt about it.  The Christian woman’s to do list includes many items that honor God:  acts of service to her family, her church, and her community that may include VBS, nursery duty, a meal for the family with a new baby, and a zillion other things. The trouble is we are often so scheduled and the list is so long, there is no room to follow our heart and embrace those divine interruptions when they come.  Probably we don’t even recognize them as divine.

Peter and John were on their way to church when the encounter with the crippled man occurred.  They were willing to be diverted from their schedule to listen to the need of a man many would not make time for.  Church was not an excuse.

Lord, forgive me for seeing interruptions as annoying.  Pull back the curtain of eternity and give me a peek to see the divine in the midst of the day-to-day.  Enable me to recognize and then to embrace an interruption.

Live Sent Action Point: Pray over your to do list for today, asking God to give you wisdom to know what is a priority, what can wait, and what just doesn’t need done at all.  Ask Him for eyes to see and welcome the divine appointment that is not recorded on today’s calendar.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer….And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:42, 47b

The early believers loved one another.  They studied, laughed, ate, and prayed together. (The scripture doesn’t exactly say “laugh,” but I’ve never experienced real fellowship without laughter, so I’m thinking that surely comes under the “fellowship” umbrella.)

As they came together in genuine sharing of life, amazing things happened.  Awe, wonders, miracles.  As they took care of each other (physically and spiritually), hearts were glad and God was praised.  The interaction of God’s people was a living testimony to others.  When on-lookers saw this authentic love being lived out, they were drawn to it.  The believers did their part, as they opened their homes, shared a meal, and took care of each other. 

And God did what only HE could do:  He saved the unbelievers.  It says people were DAILY being saved.  Amazing!  Could our loving one another unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in such a way that believers would be added to our number daily? 

Lord, forgive me for my failure to love on my fellow believers.  Fill me with the desire to see and meet the needs of others with joy. 

Live Sent Action Point:  Acts 2:46b says, “…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”  Invite a fellow believer to your home to share a meal.  Whether pizza from a box, hamburgers on the grill, scrambled eggs, or your mother’s pot roast —the menu is less important than the hospitality of an open heart and an open home.

“…God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36

Peter’s words cut to the heart of 1^st century listeners then and they cut to the heart of 21^st century listeners today.  Jesus is the Christ and Jesus is Lord. 

For many years, He was my Christ –my Savior.  That relationship happened in a moment.  A snapshot in time.  The light of revelation broke through and understanding of the gravity of sin came, revealing a life found wanting, lacking.  It illuminated my need for a Savior.  I opened my heart to Him and in that moment, He became the Christ who saves. My fate for eternity was sealed from that moment on.  Hallelujah!

But the yielding to Him as my Lord has been a process and one that continues to unfold.  If salvation is a snapshot, sanctification (a big churchy word for growing in Christ) is a video—a series of life events and circumstances leading me to yield more and more, to pry my selfish fingers off my “rights,” my desires, my wants.  And in the upside-down-logic of God’s ways, this yielding actually brings freedom.  My freedom from the bondage of sin leaves me with real freedom.  I am free to live for the one who died for me.  The baggage that sin brought is cast off; the condemnation is gone and replaced with the lightness and joy of serving my Jesus.  I’ve replaced the have-to (legalism), I’ve rejected the don’t-have-to (liberalism), and I’m free to live a life of want-to and even delight-to.  He has become – and is continuously becoming – my LORD. 

A live-sent woman knows Jesus as Savior, and grows and lives for Him and in Him as LORD.

Jesus, thank you for being my Savior.  Fill me with the want-to to live for you as LORD. Thank you for dying for me.  Show me how to live for You!

Live Sent Action Point:  Ask Jesus to reveal one area of life where you are holding on to the old you.  Pray for courage to yield to Him in that choice, right, or desire—making Him LORD in that specific area of life.

The before-the-Holy-Spirit Peter was consumed with fear, concerned about the implications of being identified with Jesus.  The after-the-Holy-Spirit Peter stands with courage and boldness.  He speaks the truth to those gathered on the day of Pentecost. Gone is the fear that consumed him around the fire just a few weeks before. 

Not only is he no longer ashamed, he is no longer confused.  The Holy Spirit has enabled Peter to “connect the dots.”  He quotes Old Testament scripture.  He understands that Jesus is the Messiah, the fulfillment of the prophecy.  Peter gets it:  Jesus brings a spiritual kingdom. 

Jesus is the theme of Peter’s passionate, Spirit-led sermon.  He holds back nothing when he exhorts: “…this Jesus…you crucified and killed….God raised him up…” (Acts 2:23-24).  He offers assurance from the Old Testament prophecy: “…everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21 quoting Joel 2:32.)

The Holy Spirit uses Peter’s words to bring conviction.  The listeners were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37).  The awareness of sin does that.  The overwhelming, sickening, conviction of sin makes our need for a Savior painfully evident.  They asked, “What shall we do?”  I imagine it was more like a wail.  Sin brings despair, guilt, and self condemnation.  The answer then is the same answer for us today: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ …” (Acts 2:38)

Three thousand accepted Christ that day. Three thousand lives were changed.  Three thousand found freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin.  Three thousand found a new life in Jesus Christ.

Peter’s words brought hope and new life to those listening.  If God could use a coward like Peter, I think He could also use the likes of you and me.  Whether He is calling us to speak the truth to 3000, 300, 3, or just 1, we go in the same power, the same Holy Spirit. 

Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit that enables me to do through you what I could never do on my own.  To whom shall I speak the truth today?

Live Sent Action Point:  Ask God to give you the name of one person who needs freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin.  Pray for an open door to share the life-changing truth of Jesus and for courage to walk through the door when it opens.