A willing mind
When we read the book of Acts, we will get to see and understand the sovereignty of God's plan of salvation where the Gospel message is preached TO THE JEWS FIRST, and then to the Gentiles. Paul drove this fact home when He wrote in Romans 1:16 that the gospel is the power of God UNTO SALVATION to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile.
While reading through the book of Acts, I find it truly amazing to see how powerfully the apostle Paul was used by God in his ministry. We all know that Paul was a Pharisee who was above many by being well-learned of Scriptures and the Jewish traditions! In fact, he even described himself as MORE exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers and that he beyond measure persecuted the church of God! (see Galatians 1).
But when the apostle Paul met Jesus and HEARD HIS WORD on that road to Damascus, his life was RADICALLY CHANGED! I love how the apostle wrote this in Galatians 1:11-12,
When we read the book of Acts, we will get to see and understand the sovereignty of God's plan of salvation where the Gospel message is preached TO THE JEWS FIRST, and then to the Gentiles. Paul drove this fact home when He wrote in Romans 1:16 that the gospel is the power of God UNTO SALVATION to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile.
While reading through the book of Acts, I find it truly amazing to see how powerfully the apostle Paul was used by God in his ministry. We all know that Paul was a Pharisee who was above many by being well-learned of Scriptures and the Jewish traditions! In fact, he even described himself as MORE exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers and that he beyond measure persecuted the church of God! (see Galatians 1).
But when the apostle Paul met Jesus and HEARD HIS WORD on that road to Damascus, his life was RADICALLY CHANGED! I love how the apostle wrote this in Galatians 1:11-12,
| ||
The Greek root for the English word "received" in the above verse is (paralambanó), which means to take, admit, acknowledge, receive... it is to take or receive by showing strong personal initiative.
Now "initiative" is defined as the ability to act on your own: the ability to act and make decisions without the help or advice of other people. That goes exactly with what the apostle Paul explained to his receiving the gospel by the revelation of Jesus Christ. He was not taught by any human being about the TRUTH but was taught by GOD Himself.
This is how we encounter the REAL GOSPEL MESSAGE. We can only get to know HIS TRUTH when we listen to HIS WORD and not man's word. Many can come our way teaching us about God BUT we MUST come to a point in our lives when MUST USE OUR OWN STRONG PERSONAL INITIATIVE to search Scriptures and decide to receive the gospel message for our own personal salvation!
Just like the apostle Paul, it is only through a willing mind that the gospel may be RECEIVED by a person. It takes a strong PERSONAL DECISION to acknowledge the message of the gospel and believe in it for salvation.
Eagerness is to Readiness of Mind
One of the things I always like to go back to read in the book of Acts is Paul's missionary journeys. One particular journey he made that I really love is that to Berea. And of all the places he's been to and the people that he's encountered, there wasn't anyone else he's commended more than he did the Bereans.
| |||
Take note of how the apostle Paul pointed out his commendation for the Bereans as compared to those in Thessalonica. He described those Jews in Berea as MORE NOBLE because they RECEIVED THE WORD WILL ALL READINESS IN MIND!
The word "received" here is (dechomai) in Greek which means to receive in a welcoming way. And it is very interesting that the phrase "readiness in mind" is (prothumia) in Greek and means eagerness, or ready-willingness.
I don't know about you, but I think there is a point here that's been driven in-- we are to RECEIVE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IN A WELCOMING WAY, HAVING OUR MINDS READY WILL ALL EAGERNESS TO ACCEPT ITS TRUTH IN OUR LIVES!
What have you done with the gospel message shared to you by someone? Do you resist it? Do you fight with it with doctrines of your belief? OR Do you WILLINGLY accept and receive it gladly with all readiness of mind?
Beloved, time is running out. There's just a few grains of sand remaining until GRACE becomes unavailable and WRATH & GOD's JUDGMENT is poured out. SEEK THE LORD and HIS TRUTH in HIS WORD.
Listen to the message of the gospel... that message that tells you that you are a sinner before the Almighty Father and that there is NOTHING you can ever do to save yourself. You deserve eternal punishment for your sins in hell for all eternity! BUT God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son and whoever REPENTS (turn from your evil ways) and BELIEVES IN HIM and His completed work on that cross on Calvary WILL BE SAVED!
Read your Bibles... SEEK HIM and HIS TRUTH there... HE ALONE SAVES.
I enjoyed reading your post today. I myself have gone back and re-read the book of Acts and I am amazed at how I see Peter speaking with such boldness all because the Holy Spirit filled him. Many times we look at Peter as being the scared one all because when they was on the boat he was afraid of the storms and he thought Jesus was a ghost. But even though he was afraid God still filled him with the Holy Spirit that when he spoke thousands became saved.. AMEN.
ReplyDelete