Proclaiming Jesus With Patience - Acts 26:28-29

S. Acts 26:28-29 “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, ‘Short time or long, I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

O. Paul was faithful in not only sharing his conversion story, but in teaching Christian doctrine faithfully (salvation, justification, faith, etc.). It did not seem to matter if it took a short time or a long time. His desire was that those whom he shared would ultimately come to know Christ.

I think Paul understood the concept that I have read, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are Christian lives.” Some people need more time to process or think about what they have heard. Conversion doesn’t always happen immediately. Paul was willing to take whatever time was necessary for people to come to know Christ Jesus as Savior.

A. I must be willing to allow my readers and listeners time to process and think about the things I share from God’s word. I must also understand that at times, I’m just planting a seed thought and the harvest of a person’s soul may come later under the ministry of another.

P. Thank you Father for this word today. I desire to be faithful, constant and consistent in sharing your word with others. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to faithfully carry out my calling as a proclaimer of your love and grace granting me wisdom to know that sometimes it takes time and I maybe called to plant seeds for others to follow up on. In Jesus name!

Doing Everything Short of Sin to Connect People To Jesus Christ - Acts 21:20

S. Acts 21:20 (NIV)

“..When they heard this (Paul’s Gentile ministry report)(, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, “You see brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law (of Moses).”

O. Paul was dedicated to the mission of proclaiming the Grace of God to Gentiles, yet his heart was for his own people, the Jews (Romans 9:1-5).

Thousands of Jews came to know Christ, perhaps because of Paul’s missionary journeys. Whenever he would go to reach Gentiles, he often made sure to visit the local Jewish synagogue and strike up a conversation with local Jews about Jesus.

Paul wanted to reach as many people for Christ. He, being a Jew, was willing to observe Jewish ceremonies if it meant more people placing their faith in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 9:20-22).

As Pastor Craig Groeshel often says, “we’ll do anything just short of sin, to reach people for Jesus Christ.”

A. Again, God has spoken very clearly to me of my call to reach and teach as many people as I can for Jesus Christ. I will not allow differences that we have on other issues of life dissuade me from living out my high calling to proclaim Jesus Christ and God’s amazing grace to all that I’m able to.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to more opportunities to share your great love for others by proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord to all that I am able to. In Jesus’ name!

The Building and Blessings of God's Word - Acts 20:32 NIV

S. Acts 20:32 (NIV)

“Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

O. Paul is teaching the Ephesians elders (local pastors) to guard the flock (the church) against false teachers who would rise up. These pastors were to be on their guard to protect the truth of God’s word from error.

Paul commits them to the Lord and to the word (logos) of His grace which he states “can build them up and give them an inheritance.”

Regularly reading God’s word will do these two things: First it will build you up. The word meaning is like that of building a house. God’s word builds you up. You (spirit/soul) are protected from the outside elements in that you are surrounded by God’s word. His word is like a place to live. It protects you or builds you up. It allows you to grow and mature.

Secondly, it will give you an inheritance. The word meaning here is that you will receive a share of the blessings of eternity. When we share God’s word with others, we participate in the eternal rewards and blessings of others. As others receive God’s word and come to know Christ, we have a share in those eternal blessings.

A. I have been blessed these past 45 years of knowing Christ and for the past 41 years of faithfully reading His word. I have experienced greater blessing as as pastor for the past 26 years in sharing His word with others. I encourage you to daily read God’s word, journal it and then share it with others. That’s one of the reasons for this 30 day S.O.A.P. challenge.

P. Thank you Father for your Word today. Thank you that your word builds us up, protecting us from error and that we have an eternal reward and blessing in this work. Thank you in Jesus name!