TIME: Goodbook 01-15-13

Goodbook messages arrive every Tuesday 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 18:18a

Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time...

Application:

Paul spent time with people.  This is an element of Paul’s ministry that I missed when reading through Acts before.  I have always focused on Paul’s many travels and missionary trips.  I thought of him as hopping around from place to place like an itinerant preacher.  But that was not the kind of minister Paul was.  Paul spent time with people.  We already read about Paul staying with the people in Corinth for a year and a half.  Now he continues to spend more time with them.

Paul spent time with people.  As a result, he developed some really powerful relationships – relationships that would mean a lot to him in the months and years to come.  Many of the people he developed relationships with would take care of his needs as he traveled.  When Paul was later arrested and imprisoned, many of his friends would come to care for him.

Paul spent time with people.  I wonder if this is becoming a lost art.  In our fast-paced society, we often zip from this thing to that thing.  We are so busy that we don’t have “time.”  Our relationships sometimes happen via social media posts or text messages.  Family time becomes quick updates in passing.

Paul spent time with people.  Time is what we need to build deep, quality relationships with people.  It is how we connect with other human beings on a personal and spiritual level.  Jesus spent time with people.  He spent time with the disciples he was training and preparing for ministry.  He spent time with the people he was trying to reach with the Good News.  He spent time with people others did not want to spend time with – the sick, the outcast, the sinner, etc.

What about us?  Are we spending time with people - not just a little time, but some time?  Are we spending significant time with family members?  Are we spending significant time with the people we are seeking to develop?  Are we spending significant time with people far from God whom we are trying to reach?  If the answer is no, then we need to change something or we may lose the opportunity.

Is there a significant relationship in your life that needs time?  Is there someone who really needs you to spend time with them?  Who do you need to spend time with?

1) Carve out time this week to spend with them.

Share your comments and application ideas...