Closer Day By Day

Bible Passage:  Acts 24

Paul is standing before he Roman governor Felix.  The famine that the prophet Agabus had predicted had come to pass (see Acts 11:28), and the believers in Judea were suffering.  The prophet Agabus had also told Paul that he would be severly persecuted in Jerusalem, but Paul had been determined to enter the city, even if it meant death (see Acts 21:10-14 in connection with 24:17).

In the previous chapters we have read that Paul had gone throughout Macedonia and Asia Minor and the believers there had generously offered money to help their fellow brethren in Jerusalmem who were in great suffering.  So Paul had come to Jerusalem to dispense the gifts and aids during the famine (see 2 Cor 8:1-6; 9:1-6).

In his actions, Paul was motivating the churches to imitate Christ, just as he himself imitated Christ (2 Cor 8:7-8).

In today’s passage, what impressed upon me deeply was that although Paul had been given an important mission to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, he was willing to die in order to bring alms to the poor and needy!

But more than that… the work of Paul and fellow brethren from Antioch to bring the collection to relieve the hunger and needy, helped to bring the churches of the region together in unity.

If you have read the previous chapters and also in today’s chapter, you will know that when the members from Antioch brought the offerings to Jerusalem, they did not just pass the offerings to the church in Jerusalm and leave.  They actually stayed in Jerusalem through the famine and acted as providers and distributors - encouraging and comforting the distressed.

So in Paul’s second visit to Jerusalem, we can see that the development of the churches was such that there was unity amongst members from far distant places.

If the group of people from Antioch merely handed over the money to the leaders in Jerusalem for distribution and went off, then they would not have established any bonds with the people they are helping.  And they would not have felt and undestood what they fellow brethren are going through.

Standing in the position of the members in Jerusalem, although they would gratefully receive the donations, they would not feel so connected with the members of Antioch if the members from Antioch did not go to Jerusalem and be with them in their suffering. A great part of the effect of the generous offerings would be lost.

I was thinking about this when I heard the annoucement about Pr Simon Chin, Pr Peter Shee, Sis Wai Leng and Sis Qing Qing are going to the state bordering India and Myanmar to visit some members from Myanmar who are working in India.

In Church…. it is very easy to think that we are participating in divine work by making offerings and praying for the work that is to be done.

Now I am not sayinbg offerings and prayers are not important.  They are very important and necessary.

But just think about it….

Singapore is in charge of the the Myanmar Ministry.  It is very easy to just send donations over and I am sure the money will be put to good use.  But the efforts of our faithful preachers and members who visits Myanmar very often, to stay with them, eat with them, worship with them etc…I believe these are the things that move the members in Myanmar much much more than just the monetary or other helps that we can send to them.

With what our members who have gone there regularly do, they have helped to build a bond between the churches in our two countries.. even though for most of us… we have no idea where the country is and what it is like over there.

Just something for us to think about today….

• How does giving to others in need create a bond between the giver and the receiver?
• How do the personal interactions between the caring individuals and those in need relieve sufferings as much as the actual gifts?

Let’s remember to pray for this work in this coming week when they will be there for 10 days.