Theme: THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
DAY 16, Read Acts 14:21-28
GRACE FOR THE HARVEST
Key Verse: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24 NIV).
Among the many gifts Paul had was the grace for the harvest. Paul’s vision, passion and zeal for the harvest were unparalleled. He was an apostle to the Gentiles, and he accomplished much among them, bringing the message of salvation to them. He gave himself completely to see that the Gentiles experienced the message of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Read about his vision in Romans 15:15-22. In these few verses, Paul reconfirmed that he had the grace and calling to the Gentiles. He said he would not glory in his own achievements but in what God has achieved through him by signs and wonders. He claimed to have fully preached the gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum, that is, from the then headquarters of the New Testament Church at Jerusalem to modern day Albania. Then in verse 22, he revealed how his desire to complete the task of the harvest in the eastern Mediterranean had prevented him from making a trip to Rome.
In his typical style, wherever Paul went he made many disciples, strengthened the believers, ordained elders and planted churches. Thereafter, he moved to somewhere else. In addition to all these, Paul prayed for the Churches.
Paul threw himself into harvest fields not minding the risk to his life. “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:17-24). His message to all the churches he visited was on “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In Paul, we find an example of how the grace of God upon our lives should be channeled. His whole energy was channeled to winning souls for Christ. The outpouring of grace should inspire us to preach Christ and win souls into his kingdom and not just to seek for material comfort.
PRAYER: Father, quicken us with your passion so we can preach to our generation the unsearchable riches of Christ like Paul did.
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