Reading through Acts is always refreshing to me, I love when I get there in my one year Bible reading! This year the thing I am most struck by is the acceptance of the Gentiles into the family of God.
Now, I am very thankful for this fact, I wouldn't be saved without it but the smoothness of the transition in just a few chapters of the Bible leaves me in awe of how much Christ had touched the hearts of those He had called.
I mean these were Israelites, those chosen by God from almost the beginning of time. They were His special people and while that included being priests to all nations, you don't see them harping on that theme a lot. The Pharisees, Saduccees and other religious leaders were the ones who were fighting so hard to keep their uniqueness provided by the Law that they murdered their Savior.
But here's the deal, the first several thousand Christians were all Jews. Many were religious leaders. This fits with their outlook on life, they're still the chosen ones, they're still the people who's God is The Lord and who sent His son as Messiah.
Then the Gentiles get involved. God starts pouring out salvation revelation accompanied by His Holy Spirit. And do you know what the gut reaction is of the Jewish believers?! They REJOICE.
The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles—
all those I have called to be mine.
The Lord has spoken— (Acts 15:3, 9, 17 NLT)
I LOVE THIS and I want to be like this. Empty of pride and full of love rejoicing when what God has spoken occurs.
I'm not always that way, I often selfishly wonder when Gods going to move in my life when everything seems to be going a friend's way. In those moments, I seem to completely forget that Christ paid it all on the cross, I deserve nothing (worse than nothing) and received everything.
He was the difference maker in the Jewish believers' lives. He was the reason their gut reaction was joy and not pride. May it be so in our lives! I want to know Him like that and rejoice with others always.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Now, I am very thankful for this fact, I wouldn't be saved without it but the smoothness of the transition in just a few chapters of the Bible leaves me in awe of how much Christ had touched the hearts of those He had called.
I mean these were Israelites, those chosen by God from almost the beginning of time. They were His special people and while that included being priests to all nations, you don't see them harping on that theme a lot. The Pharisees, Saduccees and other religious leaders were the ones who were fighting so hard to keep their uniqueness provided by the Law that they murdered their Savior.
But here's the deal, the first several thousand Christians were all Jews. Many were religious leaders. This fits with their outlook on life, they're still the chosen ones, they're still the people who's God is The Lord and who sent His son as Messiah.
Then the Gentiles get involved. God starts pouring out salvation revelation accompanied by His Holy Spirit. And do you know what the gut reaction is of the Jewish believers?! They REJOICE.
The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles—
all those I have called to be mine.
The Lord has spoken— (Acts 15:3, 9, 17 NLT)
I LOVE THIS and I want to be like this. Empty of pride and full of love rejoicing when what God has spoken occurs.
I'm not always that way, I often selfishly wonder when Gods going to move in my life when everything seems to be going a friend's way. In those moments, I seem to completely forget that Christ paid it all on the cross, I deserve nothing (worse than nothing) and received everything.
He was the difference maker in the Jewish believers' lives. He was the reason their gut reaction was joy and not pride. May it be so in our lives! I want to know Him like that and rejoice with others always.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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