Author: pastortravislv

Acts 4:27-28 – for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
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This portion of the prayers of the disciples teaches us more than about their faith and prayer life. Peter and James have just returned to the disciples from being questioned by the religious teachers. As they pray, expressing their confidence that God will accomplish his will, we see that they understood that God had long beforehand predestined exactly what would happen to Jesus.

Today is Good Friday, and so we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. Let us be very careful to remember that, as we look back on this horrible event, we do not think that men somehow thwarted the will of God. Though the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at the hands of the Roman government by the will of the Jews is, without question, the most grievous sin ever committed, it was not done against the sovereign will of God but in concert with it. God’s will is bigger even than the tragedy of a moment or a lifetime. God’s will is eternal. This is how God can work all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes (Romans 8:28). This is how God could demonstrate his love for us (Romans 5:8) while we proved our ultimate sinfulness.

Today, as you remember the Son of God’s death on the cross of Calvary for your sins, also remember that this was God’s eternal will and plan. God planned to show you his grace from before the beginning. God was not surprised by your sin, and he was not surprised by the solution to your sin. Jesus came to earth, paid your debt, and demonstrated the righteousness and glory of God for all to see (Romans 3:23-26).

Lord Jesus, I come to you this morning, and I praise you for what you accomplished on the cross. You demonstrated the justice and holiness of God. You showed the love and mercy of God. You paid for my sin debt, though you never sinned. You are truly glorious. I especially honor you, Lord, as I recognize that this is what you had predestined. You planned this forever. It shows how awesome you are. You have all knowledge. You know all things past, present, and future. Your glory is unfathomable.

Acts 4:11-12

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

It is interesting to me to read this very direct statement made by Peter to the Jewish priests. While all true Christians must believe that Jesus is the only way to be saved, I wonder how many of us would have had the boldness to say something so true in the face of such opposition. Even when we meet with people in the streets or on an airplane, it is so very tempting to try to seem tolerant, nice, and certainly not the radical fanatic. However, if we are going to be faithful to God and his word, we must not compromise the truth for the sake of the opinion of a stranger. Christianity is not tolerant. Let me say this again: Christianity is not tolerant. We are loving, and so we do not attack those who disagree with us or attempt to force converts by threat of violence (those who did so in the past were not evidencing true Christianity). However, neither do we allow anyone to believe anything other than what Peter said in this passage. We must tell the world that there is no other name by which they can be saved, forgiven of their sins, then the name of Jesus. And if there is no other name that saves than the name of our Lord, we must make it our passion to do all that we can to make sure the world knows his name.

Dear Lord, I recognize, without question, that there is no other name other than the name of Jesus whereby we can be saved. I place my entire trust in the finished work of Jesus for the salvation of my soul. I pray, Lord, that you will enable me to share the truth of the saving grace of Jesus with a lost world. Help me to take captive any tempting thoughts that would make me compromise the truth or shrink back from its telling. I reject living for the good opinions of others. I desire only to serve you, to please you, and to see others added to your kingdom. Grant me the courage to speak out boldly for the sake of your name, and even to do so today.

Acts 3:6

But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

This is the account of Peter healing a man who was begging for alms at one of the temple gates. Peter let the man know that he had no gold or silver to give, but he did have something better to give to him in the name of Jesus.

When I read this story, my first thought sometimes is to wish that I could do what Peter did there. How wonderful it would be to be able to speak to someone, in the name of Jesus, and see their disease go away or their body healed. It would be awesome to speak words to someone, in the power of God for the glory of God, and see their lives totally changed. Then I remember that this is exactly what God has called all of us to do. No, God has not gifted me to supernaturally physically heal people with a word; but he has called me to speak the words of healing for their souls. Maybe I can not bring healing to someone’s broken body, but God can bring life to dead souls. God has given me something worth far more than the ability to bring physical healing, he has given me, and all who know him, the words of life in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lord, I pray that you will remind me that, in the gospel, I have been given more than I could ever ask or imagine. Let me not be envious of the supernatural “Wow!” moments in the scripture. Instead, help me to see that you have given me something far more important. Please help me to share the gospel with all who need to hear it. Please help me to see lives changed and souls saved through the message of Jesus. Help me to be a tool in your hand, and to be a part of your work of growing your kingdom for your glory.

Acts 2:23-24

this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

This is a glorious testimony to Jesus. Though lawless men crucified him, death was powerless to hold him. Jesus lives!

If anything seems like it is too much to think that God would do, we ought never forget that no one would have thought that the dead could live again. Jesus shows us, however, that nothing is impossible with God. He died and lives even now. If our God can create the world from his words, and if our God can raise Jesus from the grave, our God can do anything he so chooses. So, the resurrection of Jesus is a testimony to his own power and to our own hope. Jesus has defeated death, he certainly can handle my struggles as well.

This New Blog

If you are checking this out and do not know me, my name is Travis Peterson, and I am the pastor of Christian International Church in Daejeon, South Korea. If you want to know more about this church, visit our web site at www.welcometodaejeon.org.

I’m glad that you have chosen to visit my new blog. I certainly want for you to find this interesting and perhaps helpful. My plan is to do a couple of things with this space.

· I intend to share thoughts from my own personal quiet times. Each day, I read a few passages in a “Bible-in-a-Year” reading plan. I tend to write regularly in my journal about these passages—specifically focusing on what seems to jump out to me in each passage. I will share many of those writings.

· I will share comments on recent important news stories, books, or articles I have read as well as sermons or conferences I have listened to. If there is a lesson I find that is worth recommending, I will share it here.

· I will share interesting things from life such as family stories, upcoming future plans, etc. So, if you are in my family, you should at least be able to keep up with us here.

I hope you enjoy this new attempt to communicate. If it is helpful, feel free to let me know. If not. . . well . . . you don’t really have to share that. Actually, I welcome your feedback, so feel free to let me know if something I write interests you.

God’s blessings to you all.