Closer Day By Day

Bible Passage:  Acts 28

We are coming to the end of the 2nd month of Bible reading and the end of the 2nd book this year.  Unlike what aQuillofGod thought, I am not going to sum up Paul’s life and work today… but instead I want to draw us back to think about what the subtheme was all about this month…. “It’s About the Church”.

Reading through today’s passage gave me a glimpse of what the Church can be and should be…

It’s To Serve and Not To Be Served

A servant lifestyle characterised Paul’s ministry (what the you know…. I AM going to talk about Paul (: ).

Whether he was working to support himself (Acts 20:17-35) so that he will not be a burden to others, or as now (in Acts 28), he went about gathering firewood, and also in the letters of Paul where he would work day and night, praying for and serving the household of God - the servant nature of Paul is so clearly evident.

This very same nature that was in Jesus was also found in Paul.

What about the Church today?  What about us?

I want to highlight what Paul was doing in Acts 28:3.  Paul was also gathering brushwood for the fire.

A simple act.  Not a great deed.

Many a times, when we talk about serving God, we would consider only the ‘highly visible’ works such as speaking a sermon, interpreting, leading hymns or bible studies, teaching RE classes or being in Committees as really serving God.

But from the example of Paul and many others in the Bible, our deeds do not have to unusual or outstanding.

Our willingness to serve in little things opens doors in ways we might never dream.

Paul did not, on account of his apostleship and also the pioneer in setting up many churches, take himself out of the ‘mundane’, ‘trivial tasks’ that some of us would reject.

After all, if Jesus, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)… who are we to wait to be served and not serve others?

So as members of this Church, we must learn to serve - even in the smallest of things.

It’s About Building Up One Another

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

1 Thess 5:11

In previous passages, quite a few of the Bible blog writers have written about the need to be like Barnabas… and encourage one another.

This lesson again comes through strongly in Acts 28:11-16.

Paul must have felt drained as he approached the end of his long trek to Rome on foot.  When he saw the Roman Christians who had walked all the way to meet him, he thanked God and was encouraged.  Their long walk from Rome was a sacrificial expression of kindness and good will.

Similarly, we we “go out of our way” to welcome, affirm, or assist fellow believers, our actions cheer them.

I think I can speak for others… but I also speak a lot for myself that support or encouragement from fellow Christians is something that always build me up in my faith.

A note or e-card of appreciation.  A dinner invitation.  A text message.  An offer of assistance.  A simple pat on the back.

Little actions.  Little thoughts.

But they mean a great deal to a person involved in a lonely battle for God.

How many of us thank the preachers? Give them words of encouragement?  Show them that we care?

What about the ministers?  The teachers?  Or those you think are the stronger ones in Church?

Each of us can be Christ’s hands and feet to fellow believers.

Who might need you?  What could you do?  Where might small acts of love be appreciated?

That is what the Church is supposed to be… encouraging and building one another up.  In that way, we can be strong and able to withstand the attacks of Satan, save souls and make sure that none is left behind.

It’s About Continuing The Story

Have you ever thought why was it that Luke ended Acts so abruptly?  In the final part of Acts 28, he summarised what had happened throughout the second and final section of the book, focusing on the impact of the gospel on the Gentiles (Acts 11:19-28:31).

Somehow as I turned to the last page, I have this image of Paul chained to a soldier, busily “unchaining” the gospel as he shared it with many people who came to him (I know, I know - he was under house arrest and him being chained to a soldier may not be true - but it makes for a nice imagery (: ).

So what do you think of the abrupt ending?

I was thinking and it came to me…

The end of Acts or Paul’s missionary work does not mark the end of the work of the Holy Spirit!

No!

The abrupt ending leaves us with the challenge and opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to write the next chapter in the Book of Acts today in and through us!

Think about it for a moment…..

Are you getting excited now? Do you realise what this means?

We are part of God’s great plan to be His witnesses not just in Jerusalem.  Not just in Judea.  Nor just in Samaria.

When we receive His power from on high, we are to be His testimonies to the ends of the world.  We are to continue the work of making disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of Jesus!

That is what the Church is ALL about!

An appropriate prayer right now would be… “What can I do for you, Lord?”

What are the next sections of the “Acts of the Holy Spirit through the followers of Christ” that God wants to write based on our life?

The answer lies with the Church today.  And a lot of the answer depends on us.

May God grant His mercy and grace upon us as we struggle to live up to the legacy Paul has left for us.  And pray that we can indeed be part of this wonderful story of His Church.