When people become enraged, they speak with little forethought and even less consideration for how God would view their spoken thoughts. In Acts 13:48-49, the Jews’ anger was fueled by envy. Envy hurts your testimony, hurts those around you, and hurts the work of the gospel. However, envy does the most damage to the one who embraces it and reveals the most of that person.
You and I can never do enough to satisfy God’s judgment for our own sin. God has already done that. We focus on DOING to earn God’s favor, but God wants us to focus on what He has already DONE. Your sin has already been judged through punishment laid on Jesus Christ at the cross. He took your judgment, in your place, and willingly gave Himself for you. Jesus paid an unimaginable cost for you!
Notice how Paul addressed his audience with their background in mind. So, instead of beginning with Jesus as the Messiah, which would have the Jews in a defensive position at the start, he provides a review of their history. Since they are not defensive, they are listening to understand what he says.
Do we tend to side-step ministry that is right in front of us? Busy schedules, comfort zones, and plain old selfishness tend to claim the top reasons for such ministry inactivity. It is easy to state we would serve God (when we believe He will not call us to foreign missions). So, the question is worth asking. Are we truly willing to serve God around the world…or even just right where we are?
We can talk about a deeper relationship with Jesus. We can study about a deeper relationship with Jesus. We can even theorize about a deeper relationship with Jesus. However, there comes a point when we must actually pursue living a deeper relationship with Jesus with the advantage of an experienced, more mature Christian guiding us along the way.
Faith increases through genuine relationship with God. Faith is not grown in the lion’s den, but rather practiced in the lion’s den. Faith increases in the small daily choices of Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, Bible study, teachableness, and a surrendered heart. Yet we sometimes are okay with little relationship with God during times of comfort and wonder why we struggle in crisis.
