I'd like to defer my thoughts and opinions this morning to yours. We haven't done this yet, but the beauty of this post will be what you comment (probably is most of the time!). So what are you reading? What are you thinking? What have you discovered?
I went back and reread the entire first 15 chapters just to get a feel for the flow of events. What I noticed was that everywhere the gospel was preached, many believed and were saved, but just as many were antagonized by the gospel and reacted negatively, to the point of even murdering (Stephen), attempting to murder (Paul) those that presented it, throwing them in jail and flogging them(Peter/John).
ReplyDeleteI think many of us (myself included) want to only present the gospel in 'safe' circumstances. Circumstances where we know it will be well received. We even prejudge someone's reactions before they even occur. We worry about offending someone with our beliefs or maybe think they won't like us. Well, after rereading the first 15 chapters,the truth is the gospel is offensive to many. And we are called to count the costs.
Christ said in Matthew 10:33-37--"Matthew 10:33-37 (TNIV) "But whoever publicly disowns me I will disown before my Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— your enemies will be the members of your own household.' Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Jesus knew how divisive he would be. He knew he would even tear families apart. Do we really get this? I am thinking about my owen family and see the truth in this. Struggling within myself this morning over this.