READ ACTS 21:18-28

Acts 21:18-21, "...Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.  20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs."

It is remarkable to think of how God used the early church at Jerusalem to spread the Gospel throughout the region and for thousands to come to faith in Christ.  This demonstrates how zealous those who believed were about sharing the Gospel with others.  Jesus is the greatest person to have ever come to this earth, and He came for the purpose of redeeming us from our sins.  He declared this purpose in Matthew 20:28, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."  

The Apostle Paul was also used by God to see a great number of both Jews and Gentiles come to faith in Christ.  Paul was willing to suffer for the cause of others coming to faith in Christ.  He stated in Acts 20:24,"...neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."  Also, in Acts 21:13, speaking to the company of believers who protested his going to Jerusalem, he said, "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."  It is this type of commitment that the church needs to recapture.  We have lost our zeal to see others come to faith in Christ.  We are comfortable knowing that we ourselves are redeemed, but we don't possess the burden necessary to move us to witness to others as we should.

May I encourage you today, to compassionately and prayerfully speak to others about their need to trust Christ as Saviour?  Would it not be amazing for us to see churches engaging the masses with the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Life is short, and opportunities are passing us by. May we live life daily with an urgency to share the gospel with those who do not presently know Christ as their Savior.

Why not commit to being a Christian who shares your faith daily!

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  To what would you attribute the explosion of believers in the early church?

2.  Does it surprise you that the Jewish believers wanted to cling to their previous religious practices?  What can we do to help people to practice and believe the Bible alone?

3. Take time to evaluate Paul’s commitment to sharing the Gospel.

4.  In light of Paul’s commitment to sharing the Gospel, what can you do to develop a similar commitment?