Today’s Readings
Context
In the Great Commission, Jesus told the disciples to go and to make disciples of all nations. In Acts 1:8 he made it clear that they would be witnesses in Jerusalem - their home, the city they lived in. They would also be witnesses in Judea and Samaria - the ancient nation of Israel, their own country. But Jesus also told them that they were to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.
There was one problem with being witnesses to the ends of the earth - the people at the ends of the earth were Gentiles and they just didn't care much about them.
God sent Jesus to the cross to redeem individuals. He loves each of us individually so much he gave his Son to die for us. But the Bible also tells us that God sent Jesus to redeem One Body out of all the nations on earth. Rev 5:9-10 records the song of praise of the 24 elders - representing the church.
There was one problem with being witnesses to the ends of the earth - the people at the ends of the earth were Gentiles and they just didn't care much about them.
God sent Jesus to the cross to redeem individuals. He loves each of us individually so much he gave his Son to die for us. But the Bible also tells us that God sent Jesus to redeem One Body out of all the nations on earth. Rev 5:9-10 records the song of praise of the 24 elders - representing the church.
"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Jesus will receive heavenly praise for ransoming a people from every tribe and language and people and nation on earth and uniting them into one "kingdom."
The problem is that even the newly empowered Apostles didn't seem to catch the heart of God for the people of the whole world. Acts shows their sacrifice and bold testimony among the Jews, but they never made even the smallest effort to reach beyond their city.
God allowed persecution in Jerusalem that scattered the church into Samaria, through Philip. Then he saved Saul of Tarsus and called him to be an Apostle to the Gentiles and raised up the church in Antioch to be the sending church. Even then, those in Jerusalem often resisted the spread of the gospel among the Gentiles.
The lesson here? It is the easiest thing, even for godly, Christ-loving, Jesus-devoted, gospel-faithful people to develop an inward focus. Even the great Jerusalem church fell prey to it and God had to take extreme measures to break down the barriers and take the gospel to the ends of the earth.
God loves America and he loves Americans. But he loves the world just as much - Russians, Chinese, Africans. And Muslims. Yes, God loves Muslims as much as he loves Americans. The early church allowed its prejudice to overwhelm its godly purpose. We must never allow that. We must never allow racial or political prejudice to interfere with the purposes of God in Jesus Christ - to use us to be witness not only in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, but to the ends of the earth.
Devotional - For Me and Mine
"I've got to do for me and mine."
Those are the words that are repeated in that great cinematic classic, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" It reveals the unfortunate heart that so many, even those in the church have; an unfortunate attitude that assumes that while God loves everyone, we are his favorites! He loves us (white?) Americans just a little more than he loves anyone else.
Have you ever read a passage of scripture for the 100th time and then seen something you had never seen before? I don't know exactly how many times I'd read Acts 11, but it had likely been dozens of times. I've read it, studied it, and preached it. But recently as I was studying it again I noticed verse 19 for the very first time. I don't know if someone just added that verse recently or if I'd just missed it before.
Think and Pray
Those are the words that are repeated in that great cinematic classic, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" It reveals the unfortunate heart that so many, even those in the church have; an unfortunate attitude that assumes that while God loves everyone, we are his favorites! He loves us (white?) Americans just a little more than he loves anyone else.
Have you ever read a passage of scripture for the 100th time and then seen something you had never seen before? I don't know exactly how many times I'd read Acts 11, but it had likely been dozens of times. I've read it, studied it, and preached it. But recently as I was studying it again I noticed verse 19 for the very first time. I don't know if someone just added that verse recently or if I'd just missed it before.
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
The believers scattered in Acts 8, after Stephen was stoned to death, scattered and shared the gospel. I knew that part. I'd preach about that. "From great persecution came the spread of the gospel." But what I'd never noticed were the last five words of that passage.
"...to no one except Jews."
Jesus couldn't have been clearer that the gospel was for the world. His command in the Great Commission was plain and his purpose in Acts 1:8 could not have been clearer - "...to the ends of the earth." The gospel was meant to go everywhere and be preached to everyone. Jew. Gentile. Man. Woman. Rich. Poor. Slave. Free. Everyone. They got most of that in the early church, but they absolutely ignored the part about "to the ends of the earth." Even when they were kicked out of the city of Jerusalem by persecution and they went out to share the gospel, they only went and told their countrymen, their fellow Jews.
The fact that the Gentiles were dying without Christ and they couldn't care less. Their hearts were passionate that all of the JEWS would come to Christ. The Gentiles could just go to hell. Literally. How could someone love Jesus that much and yet not care that Gentiles were without Christ? It is one of the great mysteries of Christian history.
Racism is absolutely contrary to Christianity. Jesus died to break down racial barriers and to unite us in one church, in one Body. Racism, discrimination, segregation - they divide what Christ has united and it is an insult to the Cross, an offense to the Blood of Christ.
- When we are content to stay in our little circle of friends and family and ignore the lostness of the world, we offend the blood of Christ.
- When we fail to care about the lost and dying world, we offend the blood of Christ.
- When we look at people as worthless, useless, or beyond redemption, we offend the blood of Christ.
- When we care more about the death and destruction of Muslims than their salvation, we offend the blood of Christ.
- When we judge other races as less worthy or valuable, we offend the blood of Christ.
- When we advocate racial superiority we offend the blood of Christ.
Jesus died to redeem individuals.
He also died to tear down human walls and bring those individuals into one body, united in grace.
Father, help me to be faithful to your Great Commission and the purposes you established in Acts 1:8....to the ends of the earth!
Are you fully invested in God's mission to bring Christ's name to the ends of the earth?
Is your life a part of God's great worldwide purpose?
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