DEVOTION
THE ACTS OF THE
APOSTLES
LISTEN
Acts 3:17-26
17 "Now, brothers, I know
that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God
fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ
would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped
out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send
the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus. 21 He must remain in
heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long
ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise
up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to
everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be
completely cut off from among his people.'
24 "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have
spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of
the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your
offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent
him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked
ways."
NIV
We looked at this portion and considered
the wonderful truth that our sins have been wiped out. There is another truth
that we also need to deal with. Peter quoted what Moses said, "The Lord your
God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you
must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will
be completely cut off from his people." Peter was warning the people that
if they did not accept Jesus and everything he said, they would not see the
kingdom of God, for they would be cut off, separated, and be on the outside
without ever being able to get inside. The question before us is whether we
listen to everything Jesus said. We have our Bibles, and we read most of them;
some aim to read through the Bible in a year. When a believer has used that reading plan for over fifty years, they have read the Bible through
fifty times. The question that would still be before them is whether they are
listening to everything Jesus said. If we listen to what Jesus said, our lives will reflect his
teaching. There is another thought that Jesus said every word within the
complete Bible. That the men who penned the words were inspired, and indeed
they were, as all scripture God breathed and is profitable for rebuking,
correcting, teaching, and training in righteousness, so that we will be thoroughly
equipped for every good work. So then we should not just read the word, but
listen to it, invest in it, and digest it so that we not just hear it, but
listen. We want God to listen to our prayers, our requests; should we not
listen to him? If we do not give an audience to his every word, understanding what
he is saying to us, and learning from the mouth of the teacher of all truth, we
will be cut off. That is a harsh thought, but it is the truth. Let us listen,
let us learn, let us comprehend, let us reflect the words spoken into our
hearts. Then we can be assured we will not be cut off.
