Goodbook messages arrive every Monday, Thursday, and
Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the reading in our
lives. We are reading through the book of Acts. For additional Scripture
reading, you can follow the Advanced Track.Reading: Acts 17:1-3
(Advanced Track: 2 Kings 16-17)
1 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.
Application:
As part of their missionary journey, Paul and his companions started with the Jewish people. Paul did his best to explain that Jesus was the Messiah (Anointed One) that God had promised the Jewish people would come. Long before Jesus, messengers of God prophesied that a Messiah would come who would save and deliver the people of God.
It is amazing how many prophecies were fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. Some say over 400! For instance, the other day I read this in the book of Micah: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth,” (Micah 5:2-4).
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but we know he existed from ancient times and was part of creating the world (See Luke 2 and Colossians 1:15-20). When he came, Jesus said that he is the “Good Shepherd” here to lead God’s people (John 10:14-18).
For more of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled, you can visit this website: Messianic Prophecies.
Why do all these ancient prophecies matter to us today? Well, here are a few reasons. 1) Grace. God had a plan from the very beginning to save His people, even though they turned away from God. In Jesus grace came down for them and for us … for you! 2) Faithfulness. When God makes a promise, God keeps it. God is true to God’s Word. Today we can place our trust in God’s Word because God is faithful and true. If God makes a promise, God keeps it. Reading the Bible helps us to know and live in God’s promises.
1) Jesus came so that we might experience the grace of God. Whether for the first time or a new day, receive his love, forgiveness, healing, strength, and new life.
2) Trust and follow God knowing that God is true to God’s Word and keeps His promises.
Share your thoughts, questions, and ideas about how to apply this…
No comments:
Post a Comment