Not Passive Observers but Active Participants
- Doubt is a matter of the mind.
- Unbelief is a matter of the will.
- Rejecting the truth of Jesus is a choice we make.
The real reason people reject Jesus is not because they have no evidence or no proof; rather, they reject because they do not want to change.
The people will not fully grasp the reality of their eternity because they are stubborn, because they will not trust and turn to the Lord.
They simply, day-after-day, reject His message, saying—
‘Just leave things as they are.’
Those are the words the unbelievers speak and the thoughts running through the hearts and minds of those who—
‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive;
Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ (The Book of Isaiah 6: 9b NASB)
Of late, I have found myself involved in two Bible study groups, and ironically, both groups are studying The Acts of the Apostles. In one group, we are running ahead, looking at chapter 20. This week, and in the other group, we are running behind, looking at chapters 13 & 14.
On Wednesday, while talking with one of my daughters, we were discussing the reading of a certain book, one we both possess. I told her how I read the prologue and then I turned and read the last chapter. She replied: “Mom, why do you do that? It ruins the story.”
Years ago, I would have agreed with her thinking, but now, years later, I disagree for in reading the “last chapter” of the book, I see the conclusion, the purpose of the story, the important truth to be gained. So, in response, I asked my own question: “Why would I not want to know how the story ends so that I can better understand the events that will lead to the end, to the conclusion, and to the whole purpose in writing the story?”
This morning, I found myself turning and reading two biblical passages:
- The Gospel According to Matthew 13 &
- The Acts of the Apostles 28.
In reading how Jesus was teaching His disciples about His reason for teaching in parables, Jesus said—
“In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 13: 14-16 NASB)
‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM,’
“But blessed are your eyes,
because they see;
and your ears,
because they hear.”
Then, I found myself following the words of Jesus with the reading of the final chapter in the book of The Acts of the Apostles. The conclusion I found—our work (Christians) is not finished because Jesus has not yet raptured His church!
- See with me how The Acts of the Apostles concludes.
- See the conclusion, the purpose of the narrative, the important truth to be gained.
See how God’s People are to Not Be Passive Observers but Active Participants with Him!
“Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles;
(The Acts of the Apostles 28: 28-31 NASB)
they will also listen.
[When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]
And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and
was welcoming all who came to him,”
[The apostle Paul stayed two years in Rome,
living in a house alone, but under arrest,
with soldiers guarding him, and continually, Paul was—]
“preaching the kingdom of God and
teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ
with all openness,
unhindered.”
We come today, reminded—
- May we not be passive observers in this world. Help us be fully, on-mission, ‘sent’ people of God. May we activity participate in telling HIS STORY to those people who surround us.
- Help us not read The Acts of the Apostles as a book of evangelism, or of church leadership, or even as a book focused on missions. Help us read and be reminded how we are to be caught up in God’s work, in His story. Share the Gospel—God’s Good News—unhindered, regardless of the obstacles and regardless of the opposition.
“Then I said,
(The Book of Isaiah 6: 11-13 NASB)
“Lord, how long?”
And He answered,
“Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant,
Houses are without people
And the land is utterly desolate,
The LORD has removed men far away,
And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
Yet there will be a tenth portion in it,
And it will again be subject to burning,
Like a terebinth or an oak
Whose stump remains when it is felled.
The holy seed is its stump.”
We know how the church comprises God’s People, God’s Witnesses to His powerful work of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. Thus, despite wherever we look inside the Bible, we see how it bleeds Jesus!
So, in closing, we pray—
Father,
- We know the narrative ends abruptly because Your Story is not finished; it continues even still today.
- We know how we cannot live for Christ all alone; this Christian life is only possible through the presence of God’s Holy Spirit alive in us.
May we allow Christ to live & to work in us. As we commit ourselves to live for Jesus, we enter a new dimension of Christian living; we actively participate with Him as people are snatched from Satan’s grip.
Just as Jesus promised, His people are empowered in ways never imagined BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALIVE WITHIN THEM!
What an amazing, victorious partnership, a dynamic Christian life.
- Thank You Lord Jesus for coming after us, for persistently knocking at our heart’s door.
- Thank You, Lord Jesus for dying on Calvary’s cross and raising to new life so that we may live eternally with You.
Thank You, Father God, for Your Amazing Gift of Salvation.
- Forgive us Father for failing to live for You.
- Forgive us Father for passively walking through previous days.
- Lead us Lord to actively walk, participating in Your ongoing narrative.
In Jesus’ holy name, we pray, asking these things. Amen.