My Goals

Welcome, fellow Bereans! (Don't know what I mean by that? You will after you read our chapter in Acts.) It is another new day of God's grace. He certainly renews his mercies every morning. To him be all glory, honor, and praise.

We Pray: Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is read, heard, or proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Read Numbers 27

Read Acts 17

In our reading today, Paul and Silas have three very different experiences. In Thessalonica they experience a great deal of trouble and faced strong opposition. They would have been dragged off and imprisoned if they were found. But being hidden from the authorities they were kept safe and then secretly sent away. We know their work there (though difficult) was fruitful. Paul would write letters to the church in Thessalonica. Obviously some had come to believe! It is my goal to be faithful in opposition.

In Berea they encountered a crowd that was open to their message. And they were open to the message because they were "examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (v. 11). They found that Paul and Silas were preaching a message that was consistent with Scripture (what we call the Old Testament). It was consistent and even more so, fulfilled it. Many in Berea came to believe. It is my goal always to be a Berean, that is, to be one who daily studies the Word of God.

In Athens they encounter another different crowd. They are open minded (maybe too open minded) philosophers. Some would spend the whole day listening to new ideas, views, thoughts, or expressions. Paul then has an opportunity to preach the Word. We see a very different kind of sermon from Paul (even if we only have a snippet of it, we can tell it is different). He starts with what he knows they will be comfortable with and accept. He "meets them where they are," so to speak. But he doesn't leave the message generic or wishy-washy. No! He gets to the need for repentance and the coming judgment. And he proclaims the message of Jesus who was raised from the dead. There is probably more Law here than Gospel. (They weren't yet ready for the Gospel, for they were still unrepentant). Paul mentions the resurrection not for comfort, but to wake sinners up to the reality that the Risen Lord triumphs over evil, and over evil people. Therefore we need to repent! Here again Paul's work is fruitful, and some come to believe in him. It is my goal to be able to reach out to all different kinds of people with the full message of salvation.

These are my goals. I pray they are yours too. We maybe can't speak like angels. We maybe can't preach like Paul. But we can tell the love of Jesus. We can say he died for all.

So, searching the Scriptures daily, being faithful even in opposition, and reaching out to all different kinds of people, may we be used mightily by our Mighty God.

Pray:

"Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth of Your Word. May it be 'a lamp to my feet and a light to my path'. May the Good News of Jesus Christ, the King of kings, continue to turn this world upside down, since it is the power by which we are saved. Guide Your people to engage the world with this message. Amen."

(prayer adapted from prayers in TLSB, p. 1871-1872).

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!