Judge Others
 
        Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.  Romans 2:1
 
    The sin that leads to the most unhappy results is the cold, critical, unforgiving spirit that characterizes Pharisaism.  When the religious experience is devoid of love, Jesus is not there; the sunshine of His presence is not there.  No busy activity or Christlike zeal can supply the lack.  There may be a wonderful keenness of perception to discover the defects of others; but to everyone who indulges this spirit, Jesus says, "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."  He who is guilty of wrong, is the first to suspect wrong.  By condemning another he is trying to conceal or excuse the evil of his own heart.  It was through sin that men gained the knowledge of evil; no sooner had the first pair sinned than they began to accuse each other; and this is what human nature will inevitably do when uncontrolled by the grace of Christ.
 
    When men indulge this accusing spirit, they are not satisfied with pointing out what they suppose to be a defect in their brother.  If milder means fail of making him do what they think ought to be done, they will resort to compulsion. (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 126)
 
Reflection:  Most people judge others to make themselves look better.  Leave the judging to God, and allow Him to do the necessary work in your own life.

Live by Faith
 
        For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  Romans 1:17
 
    In his epistle to the Romans, Paul set forth the great principle of the gospel.  He stated his position on the question which were agitating the Jewish and the Gentile churches, and showed that the hopes and promises which had once belonged especially to the Jews were now offered to the Gentiles also.
 
    With great clearness and power the apostle presented the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ.  He hoped that other churches also might be helped by the instruction sent to the Christians at Rome; but how dimly could he foresee the far-reaching influence of his words!  Through all the ages the great truth of justification by faith has stood as a mighty beacon to guide repentant sinners into the way of life.  It was this light that scattered the darkness which enveloped Luther's mind and revealed to him the power of the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin.  The same light has guided thousands of sin-burdened souls to the true Source of pardon and peace.  For the epistle to the church at Rome, every Christian has reason to thank God.
 
    In this letter Paul gave free expression to his burden in behalf of the Jews.  Ever since his conversion, he had longed to help his Jewish brethren to gain a clear understanding of the gospel message.  "My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is," he declared, "that they might be saved." (Acts of the Apostles, 373, 374)
 
Reflection:  Faith is not a happy flight of feeling; it is simply taking God at His word--believing He will fulfill His promises because He said He would.

 Stephen
 
        And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.  Acts 6:8
 
    Stephen, the foremost of the seven deacons, was a man of deep piety and broad faith....He was very active in the cause of Christ and boldly proclaimed his faith....Not only did he speak in the power of the Holy Spirit, but it was plain that he was a student of the prophecies and learned in all matters of the law.  He ably defended the truths that he advocated and utterly defeated his opponents.  To him was the promise fulfilled, "Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist" (Luke 21:14, 15).
 
     As the priests and rulers saw the power that attended the preaching of Stephen, they were filled with bitter hatred.  Instead of yielding to the evidence that he presented, they determined to silence his voice by putting him to death.  On several occasions they had bribed the Roman authorities to pass over without comment instances where the Jews had taken the law into their own hands and had tried, condemned, and executed prisoners in accordance with their national custom.  The enemies of Stephen did not doubt that they could again pursue such a course without danger to themselves. (The Acts of the Apostles, 97, 98)
 
Reflection:  What an example Stephen is to us today.  He knew his Savior, and stood firmly for Him even though it cost him his life.

Tongues of Fire
 
        And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Acts 2:3, 4
 
    The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled.  This was an emblem of the gift them bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted.  The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which the apostles would labor and the power that would attend their work.
 
    There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  During the dispersion the Jews had been scattered to almost every part of the inhabited world, and in their exile they had learned to speak various languages.  Many of these Jews were on this occasion in Jerusalem, attending the religious festivals then in progress.  Every known tongue was represented by those assembled.  This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles.  The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime.  They could now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages of those for whom they were laboring.  This miraculous gift was a strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of heaven.  From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure, simple, and accurate, whether they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign language. (The Acts of the Apostles, 39)
 
Reflection:  In your service for God, do you lack a necessary skill?  Pray about it.  Ask God about His will concerning this; ask Him to supply your deficiency.

One Accord
 
        And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  Acts 2:1
 
    As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief.  As they called to remembrance the words that Christ had spoken to them before His death they understood more fully their meaning.  Truths which had passed from their memory were again brought to their minds, and these they repeated to one another.  They reproached themselves for their misapprehension of the Saviour.  Like a procession, scene after scene of His wonderful life passed before them.  As they meditated upon His pure, holy life they felt that no toil would be too hard, no sacrifice too great, if only they could bear witness in their lives to the loveliness of Christ's character.  Oh, if they could but have the past three years to live over, they thought, how differently they would act!  If they could only see the Master again, how earnestly they would strive to show Him how deeply they loved Him, and how sincerely they sorrowed for having ever grieved Him by a word or an act of unbelief!  But they determined that, so far as possible, they would atone for their unbelief by bravely confessing Him before the world. (The Acts of the Apostles, 36)
 
Reflection:  That same spirit of "one accord" has to be in place before we can be true witnesses for Christ.  We have to stop the struggles among ourselves, even among our church family and be of one accord and finish the work.

Christ's Ascension
 
        And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  Acts 1:9
 
    Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity.  The disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him.  The same Jesus who had walked and talked and prayed with them; who had broken bread with them; who had been with them in their boats on the lake; and who had that very day toiled with them up the ascent of Olivet,--the same Jesus had now gone to share His Father's throne.  And the angels had assured them that the very One whom they had seen go up into heaven, would come again even as He had ascended.  He will come "with clouds; and every eye shall see Him."  "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise."  "The Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory" (Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 25:31).  Thus will be fulfilled the Lord's own promise to His disciples: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3).  Well might the disciples rejoice in the hope of their Lord's return. (The Desire of Ages, 832)
 
Reflection:  We may also have the same joy the disciples had in the promise of their Savior's soon return.  Today spend some time thinking of the preparation that is taking place.  Christ himself is preparing heaven just for you.  Your mansion is going to be handcrafted by our loving Savior.

The Gospel Commission
 
        But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  Acts 1:8
 
    Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the disciples were to receive a marvelous power.  Their testimony was to be confirmed by signs and wonders.  Miracles would be wrought, not only by the apostles, but by those who received their message.  Jesus said, "In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17, 18)....
 
    Thus Christ gave His disciples their commission.  He made full provision for the prosecution of the work, and took upon Himself the responsibility for its success.  So long as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not fail.  Go to all nations, He bade them.  Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe, but know that My presence will be there.  Labor in faith and confidence, for the time will never come when I will forsake you.
 
    The Saviour's commission to the disciples included all the believers.  It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time.  It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of saving souls depends alone on the ordained minister. (The Desire of Ages, 821, 822)
 
Reflection:  What can you do today to bring someone to Jesus?

Feed My Sheep
 
        He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?  Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?  And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.  Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  John 21:17
 
    The question that Christ had put to Peter was significant.  He mentioned only one condition of discipleship and service.  "Lovest thou Me?"  He said.  This is the essential qualification.  Though Peter might possess every other, yet without the love of Christ he could not be a faithful shepherd over the Lord's flock.
 
    Before His death, Jesus had said to him, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards."  To this Peter had replied, "Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now?  I will lay down my life for Thy sake" (John 13:36, 37).  When he said this, he little knew to what heights and depths Christ's feet would lead the way.  Peter had failed when the test came, but again he was to have opportunity to prove his love for Christ....Jesus said, "When thou wast young thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  This spake He, signifying by what death he should glorify God." (The Desire of Ages, 815)
 
Reflection:  Jesus was crucified and had risen when He went to Peter and said, "Feed My sheep."  When these words were spoken Peter was fishing.  Peter went back to the work he had before he met the Savior.  Jesus was really saying, "I told you three and a half years ago to be fishers of men.  Get out of the boat and feed my sheep."  The same command is given to us.  Today find some way to feed His sheep.

 Receive the Holy Spirit
 
        And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.  John 20:22
 
    Before He left His disciples, Christ "breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22).  Again He said, "Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you" (Luke 24:49).  But not until after the ascension was the gift received in its fullness.  Not until through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered themselves fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit received.  Then in a special sense the goods of heaven were committed to the followers of Christ.  "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men" (Ephesians 4:8).  "Unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ," the Spirit "dividing to every man severally as He will" (Ephesians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 12:11).  The gifts are already ours in Christ, but their actual possession depends upon our reception of the Spirit of God.
 
    The promise of the Spirit is not appreciated as it should be.  Its fulfillment is not realized as it might be.  It is the absence of the Spirit that makes the gospel ministry so powerless.  Learning, talents, eloquence, every natural or acquired endowment, may be possessed; but without the presence of the Spirit of God, no heart will be touched, no sinner be won to Christ.  On the other hand, if they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts. (Christ's Object Lessons, 327, 328)
 
Reflection:  Christ wants to give you the gift of the Holy Spirit; make yourself available today.