Making My Grace for All Clear
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, As I have shared with you before, I want all people saved and brought into My family of grace. I don’t want any distinctions to divide My people. I don’t want people left out because they are not the so-called “privileged” race, class, pedigree, or gender. I want all people to be saved. Few stories in the Bible tell this more directly than the conversion of Cornelius — a Roman Centurion — and his household. I had to convince Peter in a dream to be ready to go with Cornelius’ servants when they called. I had to show Peter that it was important for him to be with these Gentiles socially. Then, through sending the Holy Spirit to Cornelius and his household, I had to show Peter that I accepted them. The gift of the Spirit showed Peter he should baptize Cornelius and his household and receive them into full fellowship. As recorded in today’s Scripture, I also used Peter to show skeptical Jews that I had selected Cornelius and his household to become My disciples and members of My family just like Jewish disciples. I used visions, the direction of heavenly messengers, the timing of people coming to Peter’s house, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to convince Peter. I wanted to make sure that Cornelius and his household heard My message, received baptism, and were joined into full fellowship with My Jewish brothers and sisters. Peter needed to know with certainty that My work to bring salvation to non-Jews wasn’t an accident. This inclusion of Gentiles is My divine will. Peter received My message. Notice what Peter says: It is clear to me now that God plays no favorites, that God accepts every person whatever his or her culture or ethnic background, that God welcomes all who revere Him and do right. Can anyone give any good reason not to… wash these people through baptism as fellow disciples? After all, it’s obvious they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did on the Day of Pentecost. I want you to share My good news with all people! Verses to Live Notice all the different “miraculous” ways I worked to make sure everyone knew that Cornelius’ kindnesses and prayers had been heard and that My grace was for all people: Cornelius, a Roman Centurion and a member of a unit called the Italian Cohort, lived in Caesarea. Cornelius was an outsider, but he was a devout man — a God- fearing fellow with a God-fearing family. He consistently and generously gave to the poor, and he practiced constant prayer to God. About three o’clock one afternoon, he had a vision of a messenger of God. Messenger of God: Cornelius! Cornelius (terrified): What is it, sir? Messenger of God: God has heard your prayers, and He has seen your kindness to the poor. God has taken notice of you. Send men south to Joppa, to the house of a tanner named Simon. Ask to speak to a guest of his named Simon, but also called Peter. You’ll find this house near the waterfront. After the messenger departed, Cornelius immediately called two of his slaves and a soldier under his command — an especially devout soldier. He told them the whole story and sent them to Joppa. Just as these men were nearing Joppa about noon the next day, Peter went up on the flat rooftop of Simon the tanner’s house. He planned to pray, but he soon grew hungry. While his lunch was being prepared, Peter had a vision of his own — a vision that linked his present hunger with what was about to happen: A rift opened in the sky, and a wide container — something like a huge sheet suspended by its four corners — descended through the torn opening toward the ground. This container teemed with four-footed animals, creatures that crawl, and birds — pigs, bats, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and vultures. A Voice: Get up, Peter! Kill! Eat! Peter: No way, Lord! These animals are forbidden in the dietary laws of the Hebrew Scriptures! I’ve never eaten nonkosher foods like these before — not once in my life! A Voice: If God calls something permissible and clean, you must not call it forbidden and dirty! Peter saw this vision three times; but the third time, the container of animals flew up through the rift in the sky, the rift healed, and Peter was confused and unsettled as he tried to make sense of this strange vision. At that very moment, Peter heard the voices of Cornelius’s delegation, who had asked for directions to Simon’s house, coming from the front gate. Delegation: Is there a man named Simon, also called Peter, staying at this house? Peter’s mind was still racing about the vision when the voice of the Holy Spirit broke through his churning thoughts. Holy Spirit: The three men who are searching for you have been sent by Me. So get up! Go with them. Don’t hesitate or argue. Peter rushed downstairs to the men. Peter: I’m the one you’re seeking. Can you tell me why you’ve come? Delegation: We’ve been sent by our commander and master, Cornelius. He is a Centurion, and he is a good, honest man who worships your God. All the Jewish people speak well of him. A holy messenger told him to send for you, so you would come to his home and he could hear your message. Peter extended hospitality to them and gave them lodging overnight. When they departed together the next morning, Peter brought some believers from Joppa. They arrived in Caesarea the next afternoon just before three o’clock. Cornelius had anticipated their arrival and had assembled his relatives and close friends to welcome them. When Peter and Cornelius met, Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet in worship, but Peter helped him up. Peter: Stand up, man! I am just a human being! They talked and entered the
Greater Things
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, Even after I ascended back to the Father, the work of My apostles reminded people that My power and presence were still at work. I was calling Saul to turn from being the persecutor of My people to becoming the great proclaimer of My message, especially to Gentiles. I was also at work in the ministry of Peter to reach both Jewish people and non-Jewish people. Saul’s conversion brought peace to My persecuted disciples. Peter’s ministry also brought the true fullness of life — real peace, true shalom — to My people. When you read about the two events (the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha) from the ministry of Peter in the verses below, you should be reminded of My miracles when I was physically on earth. The healing of Aeneas should remind you of those I healed who were paralyzed (Luke 5:17-26). Peter makes it clear that I actually healed Aeneas: Peter: Aeneas, Jesus the Anointed heals you. Get up! Now you can make your own bed! And immediately — he got up! All the local residents — both of Lydda and nearby Sharon — saw Aeneas healthy and strong again, so they turned to the Lord. The raising of Tabitha (also called Dorcas) has language similar to two people I raised from the dead: the son of the widow at Nain (Luke 7:11-16) and Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:40-56). I want you to understand that My now being at the Father’s side doesn’t mean I have quit My ministry with you, to you, and through you. I promised you this: I tell you the truth: whoever believes in Me will be able to do what I have done, but they will do even greater things, because I will return to be with the Father. Whatever you ask for in My name, I will do it so that the Father will get glory from the Son. (John 14:12-13) What you see happening is that as My disciples were scattered by the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution that broke out with his stoning, My power and presence went with them. I was present with them and powerful through them through the Holy Spirit. Instead of My work remaining confined to just the familiar areas of My earthly ministry — Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and Galilee — I was working through My disciples in many places around the world. So please, dear disciple, don’t think I AM detached from your struggles, hardships, pains, and sorrows because I AM now in heaven. Your problems touch Me. I care about you. I work through your problems. Sometimes I even do astounding things to bring the Father glory in the middle of them. Please know that wherever My people call on My name in prayer and honor Me as Lord in praise and in their lives, I AM present and powerful. In fact, I AM actually doing more through My people than I could when I was limited to one place at one time while I was present in My earthly ministry (John 14:12-13; John 16:5-11). So believe that I AM with you and will do greater things through you than I did when I was in My earthly ministry! Verses to Live As you read these stories from Peter’s ministry, listen to how they sound like My earthly ministry and realize I AM still among you and working through you to bring grace, healing, and hope! And so the church enjoyed a period of peace and growth throughout the regions of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. The disciples lived in deep reverence for the Lord, they experienced the strong comfort of the Holy Spirit, and their numbers increased. Peter hadn’t been idle during all this time. He was having a number of amazing experiences of his own, traveling from group to group and visiting the various communities of believers. Once he came to a town called Lydda, a border town between Samaria and Judea, and met with God’s special people there. He visited a man named Aeneas. This poor fellow had been paralyzed for eight years, unable to leave his bed. Peter: Aeneas, Jesus the Anointed heals you. Get up! Now you can make your own bed! And immediately — he got up! All the local residents — both of Lydda and nearby Sharon — saw Aeneas healthy and strong again, so they turned to the Lord. In a nearby coastal city, Joppa, there lived a disciple whose Aramaic name was Tabitha, or Dorcas in Greek. She was a good woman — devotedly doing good and giving to the poor. While Peter was in Lydda, she fell sick and died. Her fellow disciples washed her body and laid her in an upstairs room. They had heard Peter was nearby, so two of them went with an urgent message, “Please come to Joppa as soon as possible.” Peter went with them and immediately entered the room where the corpse had been placed. It was quite a scene — the widows of the community were crowded in the room, weeping, showing the various items of clothing that Dorcas had made for them. Peter asked them to leave the room; then he got on his knees. He prayed for a while and then turned to her body. Peter: Tabitha, get up! She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. Giving her his hand, Peter lifted her up. Then he called in the other disciples — including the widows — and reintroduced them to their beloved friend. The news of this miracle spread throughout the city, and many believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time as the guest of Simon, a tanner by profession. (Acts 9:31-43) Response in Prayer O Father, I pray in the mighty name of Jesus that You use me to be a blessing to others. I want to bring healing, hope, and tender care. May all I touch with grace know
A Servant Who Changes Everything
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, A large part of the history of faith is written by people who are not considered the greatest servants of faith. However, the Father and I know these precious servants and their great faith. When you think of the most significant of My apostles, you most likely think of Peter, My apostle to the Jews, and Paul, My apostle to the Gentiles. This choice is true at one level. However, at another level and from the point of view of heaven, without Andrew’s loving faithfulness to his brother, who would have led hard-headed Peter to Me (John 1:40-42)? As for Paul, who in Jewish circles was known as Saul, there was the great and daring Ananias in Damascus. This faithful servant risked everything to go to the house of Judas on Straight Boulevard to lead the “fuming, raging, hateful man who wanted to kill every last one of the Lord‘s disciples” in his response to My call to become My disciple. Behind every great moment and every great movement of My grace are people like Andrew and Ananias. My birth was prefaced by the servant heart of My mother, Mary, who was willing to accept all the ostracism and rejection of being pregnant before marriage with the following words: Here I am, the Lord‘s humble servant. As you have said, let it be done to me. (Luke 1:38) And remember, the first ones to experience My resurrection were some women who came to serve Me even though they were convinced I was dead, so they weren’t motivated by thinking that I could do anything for them in return (Luke 24:1-7). Imagine the courage of My servant, Ananias. Think of the faith he mustered to go to that house to share My good news with the man who had come to Damascus to imprison and persecute him. However, his obedience to My call led to Saul’s conversion. Yes, many were not nearly as courageous as Ananias and refused to fellowship Saul, who would later become known as the great apostle Paul. But, Ananias was My servant who led Saul along his way to the conversion of “My instrument to bring My name far and wide — to outsiders, to kings, and to the people of Israel as well.” Verses to Live As you see the evidence of early persecution in this story, I want you to think about your brothers and sisters in difficult places. These precious disciples are facing ostracism, persecution, and martyrdom for their faith. Yes, many of them pray for deliverance from such hard times. However, still more pray that their persecutors will be like the persecutor Saul, who became the apostle later known as Paul. Support them with your prayers and your financial support. Even more, be bold in faith and serve those who do not know Me so that they too can become part of My family of grace! Back to Saul — this fuming, raging, hateful man who wanted to kill every last one of the Lord’s disciples: he went to the high priest in Jerusalem for authorization to purge all the synagogues in Damascus of followers of the way of Jesus. His plan was to arrest and chain any of Jesus’ followers — women as well as men — and transport them back to Jerusalem. He traveled north toward Damascus with a group of companions. Imagine this: Suddenly a light flashes from the sky around Saul, and he falls to the ground at the sound of a voice. Saul: Lord, Who are You? The Lord: I am Jesus. I am the One you are attacking. Get up. Enter the city. You will learn there what you are to do. His other traveling companions just stand there, paralyzed, speechless because they, too, heard the voice; but there is nobody in sight. Saul rises to his feet, his eyes wide open, but he can’t see a thing. So his companions lead their blind friend by the hand and take him into Damascus. He waits for three days — completely blind — and does not eat a bite or drink a drop of anything. Meanwhile, in Damascus a disciple named Ananias had a vision in which the Lord Jesus spoke to him. The Lord: Ananias. Ananias: Here I am, Lord. The Lord: Get up and go to Straight Boulevard. Go to the house of Judas, and inquire about a man from Tarsus, Saul by name. He is praying to Me at this very instant. He has had a vision — a vision of a man by your name who will come, lay hands on him, and heal his eyesight. Ananias: Lord, I know whom You’re talking about. I’ve heard rumors about this fellow. He’s an evil man and has caused great harm for Your special people in Jerusalem. I’ve heard that he has been authorized by the religious authorities to come here and chain everyone who associates with Your name. The Lord: Yes, but you must go! I have chosen him to be My instrument to bring My name far and wide — to outsiders, to kings, and to the people of Israel as well. I have much to show him, including how much he must suffer for My name. So Ananias went and entered the house where Saul was staying. He laid his hands on Saul and called to him. Ananias: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on your way here, sent me so you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see. So he got up, received … baptism identifying him as a disciple, ate some food (remember, he had not eaten for three days), and regained his strength. He spent a lot of time with the disciples in Damascus over the next several days. Then he went into the very synagogues he had intended to purge,
Daily Prayer for July 9
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:14–17a, NIV Lord our God, you are our Father, and we human beings know that our innermost hearts belong to you. Hold us firmly through your Spirit, we pray, so that we do not live on the level of our lower natures but remain true to the calling you have given us, the high calling to what is eternal. May all our experiences work in us for good, bringing us the joyful certainty that you rule us with your Spirit, that you further the good everywhere in the world and make more and more people sensitive to what is good, right, and perfect. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Daring to Follow the Call E. Stanley Jones, Barbara Brown Taylor, Teresa of Ávila, Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King Jr., Eberhard Arnold, Meister Eckhart, Leonardo Boff, C. S. Lewis, Hermas, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer Insights on the Sermon on the Mount from a wealth of traditions. Read now What My First Psychiatric Patient Taught Me Abraham M. Nussbaum Sharon could hardly leave the house. She showed me the wonder and limits of therapy. Read now An Animated Film That Asks Questions Casey Kleczek Gints Zilbalodis’s film Flow is a work of art my young family could wrestle with as well as enjoy. Read now Desire, Use, Repeat James Mumford An addict looks for a way out. Read now A Disabled Savior Devan Stahl The wounds of a resurrected God help us live with ours. Read now
Today’s Verse – James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. —James 5:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… So many hearts, hopes, and homes are broken by sin. This brokenness infects our culture and invades our lives. God has provided both a deterrent to sin and a means of forgiveness for guilt: the honest and genuine confession of our sin to another and receiving their prayer for our forgiveness as a blessing from God. At the heart of confession is a passion to see sin for what it is in the eyes of God and to be anguished for our participation in it. No wonder God wants us to come to him for our healing from sin and its damage. No wonder God grants such power to the prayer of a righteous person interceding for one led to confess sin. So, let’s confess our sin and leave it behind while trusting God to cleanse, redeem, and restore us. My Prayer… O loving Father, God of holiness and grace, please forgive me for my sin… (List specific sins you need to confess before God.) Please lead me, dear Father, to a group of your children with whom I can lay down my burden of sin through confession and receive their prayer for my forgiveness. I believe this process of confession and prayer will bring me forgiveness and give me greater confidence in the power of your grace and the might of your Spirit to help me overcome besetting sin in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Freedom and Forgiveness
Note from Jesus Dear Believer, The verses you read today are from Paul’s sermon in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. As a rabbi trained by the respected Gamaliel (Acts 5:34; Acts 22:3), Paul would have been readily invited to speak after the readings from what you call the Old Testament — “passages from the Law and the Prophets.” Paul’s message to these devoted Jewish followers of “I AM” — the English translation for the covenant name for Us (Father, Son, and Spirit) given to the Hebrew people through Moses (Exodus 3:14-15) — was very similar to the sermon Peter preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22-41). Paul’s sermon stressed something very important that Peter’s sermon also included, but did not emphasize in quite the same way. Notice these words from the preaching of My servant, Paul: So you must realize, my brothers, that through this resurrected man forgiveness of sins is assured to you. Through Jesus, everyone who believes is set free from all sins — sins which the law of Moses could not release you from. This message was the essence of Paul’s ministry, especially to Jews — to emphasize that I came as the fulfillment of God’s promises in “the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 5:17). Through my sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection, I brought liberation from sin, liberation that no other sacrifice or act of obedience could bring! When I called Paul on the road to Damascus, this truth was one of the things I called him to preach to both Jews and non-Jews. When I appeared to him on the road, Paul asked Who it was that was appearing to him. As Paul explained later in his defense before King Agrippa, I replied: I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. Get up now, and stand upright on your feet. I have appeared to you for a reason. I am appointing you to serve Me. You are to tell My story and how you have now seen Me, and you are to continue to tell the story in the future. I will rescue you from your Jewish opponents and from the outsiders — for it is to the outsiders I am sending you. It will be your mission to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. This is so that they may receive forgiveness of all their sins and have a place among those who are set apart for a holy purpose through having faith in Me. (Acts 26:15-18) The cities where Paul preached on the trip you are reading about in Acts made up a region that was often called Galatia. He would soon need to write the letter of Galatians to remind those folks not to compromise on the good news he had shared with them. Listen to his strong words: Frankly I am stunned. I cannot believe that you have abandoned God so quickly — even after He called you through the grace of the Anointed One — and have fallen for a different gospel. Actually there is only one true gospel of the Anointed, and you — because of divisive prodding by others — are accepting a distorted version which is not the gospel at all! No matter the source of the false gospel, even if it is preached by us or a heavenly messenger, ignore it. May those who add to or subtract from the gospel of Jesus be eternally cursed! Listen again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than what you have accepted, may he find himself cursed! (Galatians 1:6-9) Apart from Me, there is no gospel, no true good news that liberates from law, sin, and death. I AM the One Whom Paul passionately preached as Messiah, Savior, Son of God, and Lord! Verses to Live I hope you realize as you read the verses below, and in a few days when we go through the letter to the Galatians, that My gospel is different from any other religion. It is based on grace — the freedom and forgiveness that come from trusting and sharing in My death, burial, and resurrection. This grace sets you free from the law, sin, and death (Romans 6:1-23). It is a revolutionary message. It is not another religious message about trying to be good enough to get into heaven. It is a radical message that calls you to abandon your futile attempts to save yourself. It invites you to accept My sacrifice and My grace. It calls you to live for Me with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength out of appreciation for the salvation you have received. It calls you to love your neighbors as yourself because you want them to share in this grace. Paul and his entourage boarded a ship and set sail from Paphos. They traveled north to Perga in Pamphylia. John Mark, however, abandoned the mission and returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas continued from Perga to Pisidian Antioch; and on the Sabbath, they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the regular reading of the Hebrew Scriptures — including passages from the Law and the Prophets — the synagogue leaders sent a message to them: “Brothers, if you would like to give us some exhortation, please do so.” Paul rose to his feet, offered a gesture of greeting, and began his message. Paul: Israelites and other God-fearing people, please hear me. The God of the Israelites chose our ancestors and helped them become a large population while they were living in Egypt many years ago. He displayed His great power by leading them out of that powerful nation. For about 40 years, He endured their constant complaining in the wilderness. He opened up some land for them in Canaan by destroying the seven nations living there, and that land became their inheritance for about 450 years. They had tribal leaders through the time of the prophet
08 Jul 2025
In the most difficult moments of our journey on earth, we should learn to believe that it is well. The situation may look dire, but let us remember to trust in God. That takes humility and faith. The next step is casting all our anxiety on Him. 1 Peter 5:6-7.
Daily Prayer for July 8
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17–18, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven and on earth, we are thankful that you have a people to whom you say, “You are mine.” Grant that we too may belong to this people. Strengthen us in the faith that we belong to you, so that we can come to know your rule and your justice. Protect us on all the paths we follow during our time on earth. The times are evil, but come what may, every single one of us has in his heart the certainty, “We are yours.” You have long watched over us and kept us safe. Again and again we affirm, “We are yours, Lord our God, through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough What My First Psychiatric Patient Taught Me Abraham M. Nussbaum Sharon could hardly leave the house. She showed me the wonder and limits of therapy. Read now An Animated Film That Asks Questions Casey Kleczek Gints Zilbalodis’s film Flow is a work of art my young family could wrestle with as well as enjoy. Read now Desire, Use, Repeat James Mumford An addict looks for a way out. Read now A Disabled Savior Devan Stahl The wounds of a resurrected God help us live with ours. Read now What Families with Autistic Children Know Sam Tomlin For parents of neurodiverse children, church and school can be another hurdle. Read now
Today’s Verse – Ezekiel 38:23
And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD. —Ezekiel 38:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “They will know that I am the LORD,” is a familiar refrain in Ezekiel’s prophecies. In today’s verse, this promise should have been horrifying for his people because of their rebellious, sinful, and wicked behaviors. God is holy. The people who claim him as their God have always been called to reflect his character. Their lives must magnify God! If not, God will make sure it is done at their expense. God will be known as God, the I AM, the great LORD and Creator. In our day, when so many profane the name of God and use it so glibly in their reactions and frustration, God’s message should be a sober reminder that even the name of God is holy (Exodus 20:7), and he will act to ensure the nations know he is LORD, awesome in holiness! My Prayer… Please forgive us, God, for not reverencing you as we ought and as you deserve. We bow in humble anguish at how the people of our time and culture disregard the holiness of your name. Please send a wave of renewal among your people that stirs us to honor you and respect your holiness with greater passion and a more profound sense of awe. You are holy, righteous, majestic, mighty, and gracious. Help us display our allegiance to you and reverence for you. In Jesus’ name, we pray you receive the honor you deserve among us so the nations can know that you are LORD. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
07 Jul 2025
If you are unsure, trust in God. If you are worried, talk to God. If you are scared, believe in God. If you are at peace, thank God. Proverbs 3:3-8.