GraceNotes - A Daily Devotional from Jim Stephens GraceNotes To Me Today at 9:13 AM GN Header for email Im Sending You Jim Stephens 10-26-14 Reading: Job 16-17; Acts 24-26 Scripture: 17 Im sending you off... 18 to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. Im sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me. (Acts 26:17-18 MSG) I wonder how many times Paul told this story of his encounter with the risen Christ on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus. I wonder in how many settings and in how many countries he repeated the story of his conversion from Jesus-hater to faithful follower of Jesus. Paul was a church-planter, a theologian, a miracle-worker, a leader-developer, and a problem solver for the churches. But here, before King Agrippa, he once again spells out his evangelistic call and message in the simple story of his own conversion to faith in Jesus Christ. The evangelistic component of the faith-life is summed up right here: Be a witness to an encounter with the risen Jesus Christ. Show the difference between dark and light so people can choose light. Show the difference between Satan and God so people can choose God. Present Gods offer of sins forgiven. Invite people into the family so they can begin real living. Paul told the story of his journey from darkness to light and from being used by Satan to being used by God. People could see the difference Christ made in Pauls life. Then he presented the offer: Sins forgiven, invitation into Gods family, real life. The Good News message is still that simple: Story of life-change, people can see the difference between dark and light, offer the forgiveness of sins, invite into Gods family. Prayer: Father, Please help me to live so that people can see the difference between light and dark. Help me to be clear on the simplicity of the message. Help me to be faithful to declare the offer and the invitation. Amen.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:08:57 +0000