10/6/26
Acts 13:45 NASB95 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming.
Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel to the Jews on the Sabbath, and in verse 42 the Jews begged them to speak more. They asked, "Please come back on the next Sabbath and do this again." The Jews no doubt went out with excitement and told other Jews about what they had heard. However, Paul and Barnabas continued to share during the week with anyone who would listen, and they went out with excitement and told everyone. So when the Jews came the next week, excited to hear more good news, they saw a crowd of Gentiles who had come to hear the same message. Instead of celebrating this wonderful gift with the crowd, they began to contradict the good news they had so readily accepted the week before. Rather than share in the graciousness of God, they chose to give up His gift and hinder others from receiving it by blaspheming (denying that God is God).
This sounds absolutely ridiculous. To think that man would have such jealousy and hatred for his fellow man as to choose his own demise rather than celebrate everyone's life. However, we see it in Churches still today. Maybe we have even experienced it. It could be that we have even taken a hand in it.
Just think back a few years. Do you remember seeing or hearing someone speak badly of another good church because they were seeing growth while yours was not? Then ask yourself whether it was me. Have you left, or seen others leave a church because it was changing and reaching different people than you? Did they or you then contradict and disgrace the Church publicly after leaving? Do you know, or are you a person who speaks bad about someone who shares the Gospel because they do it differently than you?
We are not much or any different than the Jews Paul was dealing with. We look at the world through our lifestyle glasses, and everyone who has a different tint than we do, we believe they are undeserving. If we stop this and look at the world through the lens of God's Truth in His Word, which provides the Way to Eternal Life, then we will notice everyone looks the same. Everyone looks filthy in the dirt of sin. However, we must not stop by seeing the world as dirty in sin. We must look in the mirror and realize how filthy we are. Then and only then will we truly celebrate the cleansing of anyone and everyone by the blood of Jesus through the sharing of the gospel!
Take off your lifestyle-tinted glasses and look through the lens of God's word and celebrate. Because the person who just came into the church is no dirtier than you.
God calls us to celebrate not just our salvation but the salvation of everyone. It doesn't matter how they look; it just matters if they know Jesus. It doesn't matter how you look; it just matters if you know Jesus. It doesn't matter how I look; it just matters if I know Jesus! There are many different tribes, tongues, and nations, each having different lifestyles that still follow Jesus. As long as it follows Jesus. He will lead them in the only way.
Revelation 7:9 NASB95 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
Don't be jealous of their seeking God; be zealous that they are seeking God!
Love, Brother Scott