God Loves Everyone

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                  Acts 2:5 – 13

God Loves Everyone

by Robert T. Cooper

Some people find themselves deeply moved by patriotic songs such as “God Bless America” and “God Bless the U.S.A.” Some people realize that God loves the little children of the world, and so don’t want to single out the United States when asking for God’s blessings. There are even bumper stickers that say, “God Bless Everyone, No Exceptions.” Yet many in the first group are uncomfortable asking God to bless nations that publicly declare their desire to eradicate the United States and all Americans. What do we learn from the Bible?

1.      God doesn’t take sides.

When Joshua was getting ready to conquer the Promised Land, he experienced a theophany, a human manifestation of the pre-incarnate Christ. Joshua asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The Lord answered, “Neither.”

God has His own agenda and is working out His own purposes. It is normal for Him to use believers to carry out His plans, but He is not limited to believers. He sometimes uses unbelievers.

2.      Jesus died for everyone.

God so loved the world. The Gospel was to be taken to the uttermost part of the earth. We might argue about predestination and free will, but we need to take the message of the Savior to every individual on the planet. All need the opportunity to hear and accept the Plan of Salvation. Jonah prophesied to Israelites and to Ninevites (the sworn enemies of the Israelites) alike. We need to tell everyone about Jesus.

3.      Heaven will include some from every people group.

Eternity will consist of those from every tribe and tongue (language) and people and nation. There will be saved people of every ethnicity and dialect. No exceptions. We will join in a chorus of praise before the throne of our God.

Acts 2 talks about Jews being at Pentecost from every nation. There were 15 foreign language groups of Jews who heard the 120 sharing Christ, each person in his own heart language. Yet we know from elsewhere in Scripture that this was simply a foreshadowing of how God was going to win at least some folks from everywhere you can imagine.

So we don’t just take the Gospel to friendly countries or to those who love us in return. God loves everybody. We take the Good News to friend and foe alike.

Some pray for a different continent each day, praying for the people in every country, people of every language group, and people of every ethnicity. They pray for people to place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They include closed countries and hostile regimes. What do you think of praying like that?

Closer to home, to whom do you think God would have you to witness next?

Mealtime Stories

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                          Acts 1:4

Mealtime Stories

by Robert T. Cooper

Have you noticed how many of your family stories center around mealtime or around food? One of the earliest family stories about me has to do with me getting seconds on potatoes at lunch at school. Then there is the story about my dad and the raisin pie.

It’s been like that throughout history. We know about the time the Earl of Sandwich was playing cards. We know what Marie Antoinette thought about people eating cake. And a whole lot of Bible stories center around mealtime or around food as well.

Here we are in the first paragraph of Acts (well, the original manuscripts didn’t have paragraphs, but we are at the very beginning anyway) and Luke is about to quote something Jesus said in the 40 days between the Resurrection and the Ascension. He wants to help people remember which appearance during that period it was, and so he says that it was on one of the occasions when Jesus was eating with the Apostles. Like that is going to narrow it down a little! Not!

My point is this: Jesus did so much teaching at mealtimes because people learn well in that atmosphere. Think about it.

1.      People tend to be relaxed when they are eating, and so are more teachable.

2.      Because people are busy eating, they will chew and listen while you are making your points, especially if what you say is interesting to them.

3.      Because people are used to conversing at mealtimes, they will ask questions and have discussions as part of your lesson plan at a meal.

4.      You can build a structure where the lesson is the length of the meal, with a life-application assignment to get up and go do immediately following the meal.

So whether you are a parent, a teacher, a mentor, a student, a church member, a disciple, a team leader, or just an ordinary person, pay attention when you are at meals. You may be in a lesson situation. Take advantage of the opportunities to teach and to learn.

Question: What are some of your family stories that center around mealtime or around food? How can you apply this idea of sometimes making a mealtime a learning situation?