April 20, 2008
Scripture
Scripture
I’d like to read a verse in Mark 10: “He came to give His life a ransom for many,” (v. 45); “For this cause came I unto this hour, Father glorify Thy name” (John 17:27 & 28).
Hymn 332 – Christ the Saviour of sinners came
Prayer
We’ll continue in Acts; we’re still following Paul and Silas’ second journey. Last time, we saw how they got out of jail at Philippi. Today we’ll look at ch. 17. After leaving Philippi, Paul went to Thessalonica, where he preached for a number of weeks. He and Silas explained how Christ had to suffer for our sins. Read Luke 24:46; there was no one else that could do it. He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, all for us. Paul opened the scriptures and showed them how it happened. As he preached, some believed and some did not. Those who didn’t believe stirred up the city, causing a huge uproar. Because of this, v. 10, they couldn’t stay long, and had to flee the city. But there were many that were saved in Thessalonica; and soon after Paul wrote the epistles to the Thessalonians to them. Paul moved on to Berea, teaching wherever he went. The Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians; they searched through the scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching was true. Read II Timothy 2:15. We also should study the Word of God to know His truth and discover how He wants us to live. And many in Berea believed as well, v. 12. But the Thessalonians who were after Paul found out where he was and came to stir up the people again. Paul immediately left and went to Athens, telling Silas and Timothy to follow him soon. This chapter has some precious verses; let us remember how Christ suffered for us. May we also never stop searching the scriptures.
Last week we looked at how the devil is like a roaring lion, among other things. Interestingly, in the story of the prophet of Bethel (I Kings 13), we can see the devil as both a roaring lion and as an angel of light. The older prophet inviting the younger one to dinner typifies Satan as an angel of light. When the lion attacks the prophet as he returns, we see Satan as a roaring lion. Those Peter was writing to were going through trials and affliction. Some of them may have wondered, “Why me? No one else has to suffer this way.” Peter encourages them by reminding them that even those in the world go through times of trial as well.
As we near the end of this epistle, Peter mentions grace twice, in vv. 10 & 12. We think of grace as God’s favour, demonstrated by salvation. but it is more than that. God’s grace goes beyond salvation; it has an aspect that helps us through our trials. When Paul had a thorn in the flesh, he asked God three times to remove it. God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (II Corinthians 12:9). That was not saving grace, but sustaining grace. We sometimes think of grace as the opposite of law. Titus 2:11–14 is a good passage on grace. V. 11 gives us the salvation aspect; v. 12–14 shows the daily aspect, and tells us about grace and its blessings along the way. The Gage Canadian Dictionary defines grace as follows: “God’s free, undeserving favour and love for human kind; the influence of God operating in humans to improve or strengthen them.” That’s a pretty good definition for a secular dictionary. The Morrish Bible Dictionary makes a distinction between grace and mercy: Grace magnifies the giver, while mercy contemplates the need of the gift. Then, “the God of all grace” truely magnifies Him; God is grace, and that shone through even under the law. Where sin abounded, grace overabounded.
Also in this verse we have glory. Normally we connect glory and suffering; the suffering is in this verse as well. But we need the grace to sustain us through the suffering. Suffering helps us grow; but the glory will always be greater than the suffering. It is hard to understand the suffering sometimes, but it is impossible to understand how wonderful the glory will be until we get there. Suffering is just for a little while; glory will be for eternity!
Hymn 13 – Grace! ‘tis a charming sound,
Prayer