Being Glad

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

BEING GLAD

Acts 13:42-48

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

NIV

It is always good to urge others to continue in the grace of God. That is what we are all called to do when we are told to encourage one another and build each other up. In this case, it was Paul acting in a sense as an evangelist, who is one of the gifts of the Spirit to the church. However, the gospel can bring division among some. Because Paul and Barnabas first went to the synagogue to speak to the Jews and the devout converts to Judaism, everything was fine; in fact, they were invited back the next Sabbath to speak more about Jesus. But when the people of the city, the Gentiles, came to listen to Paul and Barnabas, the Jews became jealous and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Talk about the "Us four and no more" mentality! Although the Jews wanted to hear more, they had not accepted Jesus as their Messiah; in fact, we are told they rejected the word of God. Paul and Barnabas were sent to the Jews in the first place; that was their calling. They were to be a light for the Gentiles. We are also supposed to be a light to the Gentiles, or the world. If we are considered to be followers of Jesus, and we love to tell the story, we should be telling it to those who have yet to decide to follow Jesus, those of the world. Most likely, we have not been called to be evangelists, but we should be witnesses to what has happened in our lives. We should also learn to speak boldly, as we are not ashamed of the gospel. There is this other concept we should take notice of regarding the Jews, whom Paul accused of not thinking they were worthy of eternal life. That was because they were stuck in the law of Moses and could not see the truth of the gospel that salvation was a free gift of God. However, the Gentiles were glad and honored the word of the Lord. All who were put in a certain order to arrange or ordained, appointed, for eternal life believed. Does this mean God chose some to believe and some not to believe? Would that mean God determines who will be saved and who will perish? Of course, not, he desires all to be saved, that no one should perish. The intent of this language was to say that all who believed were appointed to eternal life. God ordains believers to eternal life; He places us in the order of his divine will. Thank you, Lord. We heard the message, were glad, and believed. There is something about being glad. If we're glad, then our faces should show it, as should our lives. Jesus is the reason we are glad.