SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/4/2018
6:47 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-2 “Courage”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts
17:1-2a, 10
Message of the
verses: “1 Now when they had
traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where
there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to
them,… 10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea,
and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.”
We begin today’s SD by looking at Romans 9:1-3, and then
10:1 to show the kind of burning desire that Paul had to see his fellow Jewish “family”
saved. “1 I am telling the truth in
Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that
I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I
myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my
kinsmen according to the flesh, 10: 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer
to God for them is for their salvation.”
I suppose that this gives us a pretty good idea as to why Paul would
always go into the synagogue when he first got to a town where the Lord was
leading him to witness. Now matter Jews
of Gentiles, Paul never lost his passion for the souls of people, including his
own people in the flesh.
As we look back at Paul’s first missionary journey we can
remember that Paul got into a lot of trouble because of his love for the Jewish
people as they not only would not listen to his plea for them to become
believers, but after they did not want to be saved they would go out and try
and stop Paul from witnessing to the Gentiles.
This had to be heart breaking for Paul because of his love for the
Jewish people. I mentioned in an earlier
SD that it was reported by our Pastor who led a group of believers to Israel
that this same kind of thing is still going on in Israel, as it is hard for
believers who are Jewish to even get work in Israel at this time. In our study of Revelation we find out that
this will all change because of the awful judgments that will come upon not
only Israel, but the whole world, and then it will happen as Paul writes to the
Romans that “all Israel will be saved.”
Now when Paul gets to Thessalonica we see that nothing
has changed as according to verse ten Paul has to leave there and then go to
Berea at night for fear of the Jews.
Berea was located some fifty miles away from Thessalonica, and was a
much less important city than Thessalonica.
John MacArthur writes that the Roman writer Cicero described Berea as “off
the beaten track.” When he got there
Paul immediately went into the synagogue to preach to the Jews as according to
1 Corinthians 9:16 we read “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast
of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” John MacArthur writes that “such courage is
the result of several spiritual virtues.
“First, courage is built on faith—trusting God. David also knew the importance of that truth. Often troubled and pursued by his enemies, he
nevertheless repeatedly proclaimed his absolute trust in God. In Psalm 27 he said:
‘The LORD is my light and my
salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I
dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my
enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3
Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war
arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident (1-3).’”
We will look at the next
spiritual virtue in our next SD.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “The parable of the prodigal
son” (Luke 15:22-24).
Today’s Bible
question: “Who said ‘Give therefore thy
servant an understanding heart to judge thy people?”
Answer in our next SD.
5/4/2018 7:10 AM
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