July 22nd Read Acts 18:1–11, 23–28 Act 18:24-28 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. (25) He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. (26) He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (27) And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, (28) for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. What were the Scriptures that Apollos was competent in? Why it was the Old Testament. And it was from the Old Testament that Apollos argued and refuted the Jews in public that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. Now it appears he knew much about Jesus but did not know Jesus fully. So Pricscilla and Aquila explained the way of God more accurately to him. Oh, the humility of Apollos that he would corrected and taught the Word of God concerning Jesus more fully. With that teaching he was even better at proving Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. We too, who are Christians, need to be like Apollos. We need to search the Old Testament looking for Jesus. Like Apollos we need help and the Lord has caused his apostles and disciples to leave for us a witness in the New Testament a manner for looking for Jesus in the Old Testament. Most notably, we can look to the book of Hebrews which many scholars believe was written by Apollos for he does a masterful job showing Jesus in the Old Testament in that book. Indeed, we should be studying the Old Testament exactly for this reason, that we may show others that Jesus is the Christ so they too may believe and be baptized like the ruler of the synagogue and his whole household. If you are using the Old Testament for other purposes, you are probably not using it correctly. Look for Jesus. Jesus himself said, everything written in Moses, the writings and the prophets was written about me. Learn to know Jesus more fully like Apollos by reading your Old Testament. Lord Jesus Christ, you unveiled the Old Testament for us that we may see how your Father in heaven has arraigned for our salvation through your work. Always remove the scales from our eyes that when we read the Old Testament we may see you and proclaim you to those who do not know you. Amen.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:01:52 +0000
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