S - Acts
11:19-21 (ESV): "Now those who were scattered because of
the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus
and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of
them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the
Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with
them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord."
O - The
first followers of Jesus to "go into all the world" were not sent out
by a religious group or even in some thought out, prayed about or organized
way. They followed the instruction of
Jesus regarding persecution: "When they persecute you in
one town, flee to the next … (Matthew 10:23 ESV)." Their going was not due
to a prophetic word or spiritual strategy put together by the Apostles in
Jerusalem. They were scattered. The result, however, was spectacular: "a
great number believed and turned to the Lord." Those who believed were not
confined to the religious culture of the Jews. As intended, the message from
heaven was not limited to any one religion/culture. What was this message? The
message, the Gospel, was and still, is a person. They presented "the Lord
Jesus." They didn't offer creeds or historic events. They weren't trying
to convert anyone to or from a particular religion. Instead they spoke to
everyone concerning the Lord Jesus. Heaven didn't send a plan to earth. A
person was sent who is the message. "“For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only son … (John 3:16 ESV)." According to Jesus there is only one
way to the Father and that is through him (John 14:6); and there are currently
7.2 billion ways to Jesus.
A - I
don't think these verses are forbidding us to think or plan or send out. I do
think they must cause us to rethink many of the assumptions our own culture has
groomed us in (literally to repent, i.e. to pursue and accept an ongoing
transformation in our thinking to not be conformed to the pattern of this world).
We're not saved by a plan. We're not adopted by God as his dearly loved
children by what Jesus said or by what we think he said. The Scriptures do not
save anyone and they do not bring us eternal life (John 5:39-40). We receive
eternal life from Jesus. We are transformed by Jesus; the person not the
concept. I will spend the rest of my life repenting … learning to think, speak,
act and love like Jesus.
P - God
who loves the whole world,
Thank you for sending Jesus
and for calling us all to an ongoing transformation as dearly loved children. I
admit there is so much about your ways that I do not understand and many things
you allow that I do not like. Nevertheless, I am grateful to know the person of
Jesus and that you are literally working everything, even bad things, for good.
Thank you that life is a person and that your message, your good news, to the
whole world is a person. When I see and hear him I see and hear you! I welcome
everything that is already in your heart to do in me and through me. I do love
you back.
I am saying this to you in
Jesus' name,
Steve
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