"The Right Presentation" (Acts 16:4-5)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/12/2018 7:03 AM

My Worship Time                                                                        Focus:  “The Right Presentation”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 16:4-5

            Message of the verses:  4 Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. 5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.”

            I have to believe that as Paul, Silas, and Timothy began to pass through the cities that there was a great deal of relief, especially with Paul and Silas, relief that they could tell people in these cities the complete truth of salvation.  As we continue to look at verse four we see the reason of relief that they must have had as they were “delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.”  This of course was that salvation was by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ who provided the salvation as He suffered and died upon the cross, was buried and was in the grave for three days, and then because God was satisfied with the payment of sin that He had paid was raised from the dead.  That is the truth of salvation, one has to understand that they are a sinner and then believe that Christ suffered and died for your sins and then invite the Lord into your life to receive the forgiveness of your sins, the free gift of salvation.  Just believing that Jesus is who He says He is, is not enough for James tells us that the demons believe that Jesus is the Messiah and they certainly will not spend eternity in heaven, but in hell.  Salvation has to be a personal thing, something that each person who is saved understands that Christ did what He did to provide salvation for each person who believes.  God has no grandchildren, only children.

            John MacArthur concludes his short commentary on these two verses by writing “Luke’s summary statement (cf. 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:31) shows the healthy effect of sound biblical evangelism and discipleship.  He notes that ‘the churches were being strengthened in faith, and were increasing in number daily.’  The goal of evangelism is not to rack up huge numbers of converts.  Yet it is true that strong churches, established in the faith, will increase in number.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have always believed that what I am to do in my spiritual walk with the Lord is to read His Word each day, to study His Word each day, to pray to the Lord each day, and to be ready to tell those He brings into my life the truth of the gospel, the hope that lies within me.  I also believe that God has given me works to do for the cause of Christ, and that according to Ephesians 2:10, He set these works aside for me to do in eternity past:  “10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to continue to lead me into doing the works that He has chosen for me to do each and every day in order to bring glory to my Lord. 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “First” (1 Corinthians 16:2).

Today’s Bible question:  “Peter would deny Jesus three times before what else would happen?”

Answer in our next SD.

4/12/2018 7:29 AM