The Early church in a Roman world: Fire

The wind beats against the walls. Rain pours down the roof. During the storm, your fire goes out.

Unlike the 21st centaury, you don’t have matches or a lighter. You live in the 1st centaury in a Roman town. How are you going to re-light your fire?

In a Roman city their religion is the center of their culture. The Romans lived in constant fear of offending the gods and bringing down their wrath. Sacrifices and offerings were given daily to appease the gods.

In the mountain above the town, in a cave, there constantly burned a fire. The Romans believed that that fire was from the gods. If you needed fire, you would hike up to the cave with a torch, light it, and then go back to your home. The presents of the gods were with that fire. How wonderful it was to have the presents of the gods in your home!

But you’re a Christian. Are you going to climb up to that cave and accept the gods’ fire? Will you bring that fire into your home?

This is one of the daily challenges the early church faced as they tried to share the gospel of Christ.

Source: That the world may know: in the dust of the Rabbi

The Early Church in a Roman World: The Market Place

Imagine living in a Roman city where their religion is the center of their culture. The Romans lived in constant fear of offending the gods and bringing down their wrath. Sacrifices and offerings were given daily to appease the gods.

You are a Christian, and you believe Jesus is the only God. Imagine the culture clash. When we think of the challenges the early church faced, we think of them being thrown to the lions. Though this is true, they faced many other challenges on a daily level.

You come to the market to sell your grain, but before you can sell your goods, you must put incense on the altar of Zeus and pledge your allegiance to him. As a Christian, you can’t do that; only Christ is God. The officials will not allow you to sell your grain for fear of offending the gods.

Suddenly, your source of income is gone.

This is one of the daily challenges the early church faced as they tried to share the gospel of Christ.

Source: That the world may know: in the dust of the Rabbi

Forgotten?

An orphan girl living with her cousin. She works hard with her cousin to provide enough food for them to eat. Kidnapped from her home. Treated by the servants to make her physical body beautiful, to make her fit for her one night with the man who kidnapped her. She doesn’t want to give her body to any man but her husband, but if she refuses to sleep with him, she’ll be killed. She has no freedom, no way home, no way of escape.

At this point, one might say this young girl has been forgotten. The fateful tides of this world have swept this unfortunate girl into a horrible situation, a situation she has no control over. If you were in her shoes, you may think how could God allow this to happen?

God is faithful. He works all things together for those who love Him. He can take the fateful tides of this world and bend them to accomplish His will.

Some may say this girl’s story is over, but God used this girl to save His people from slaughter.

This is the story of Esher.

"religious" man

A story I heard from Bill Jack at TeenPact.

An atheist radio broadcaster was interviewing a Christian on his show. The Atheist kept drilling the Christian with questions about the existence of God. The Christian defended his beliefs and all the proof that there was a god.

After about 15 minutes of this, the Christian said to the Atheist,
“So tell me, why don’t you believe in God? What proof do you have?”

Then something you don’t want on the radio happened; dead air.

After a long silence, the atheist gave a nervous giggle and said,
“I don’t know. I just believe.”

“You just believe?” the Christian said. “I’ve been giving you all the reasons for my beliefs, and you just believe? You are the most religious man I know.”

To Miss the Mark

We often define sin as doing something wrong. Though this statement is true, the full definition of sin covers much more.

The definition of the word sin is to miss the mark. The mark of what?

I enjoy target shooting with my rifle. The goal, of course, is to hit the target. To hit the target, I must be very focused, line the target up, hold still, pull the trigger gently, etc. Now, it miss the target is a whole lot easier. I could barely miss the target, or I could be shooting the other direction! Either way, it’s a miss.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) notice this verse didn’t say “we’ve been wrong” but “fallen short”

So if sin means to miss the mark, what mark are we shooting at? What’s the target? God’s standard and His will.

Whenever we disobey or do something outside God’s will, we sin. Sin is not only doing something wrong; it’s not doing what God commands.

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins”—James 4:17

Sin is going against God’s commands, whether it be lying or not loving our neighbor. Think about it. Every time we choose not to be kind, or loving, or be Generous, we are sinning. It’s easy to think “I’m not doing anything wrong!” but are you doing what’s right?

Being loved

"How bold one gets when one is sure of being loved."