Amazing Gift, Wonderful Opportunity, Great Responsibility

Traveling along with Paul, we have witnessed the ups and downs, the joy and the fear.  We have been there for the introductions and now we are witnessing the good-byes.

Acts 20:25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.”

As Paul hurries to Jerusalem the good-byes become richer and sweeter -

Acts 20:36-38  And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Then even in Tyre, a church family that Paul and his team have just met -

Acts 21:5  When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city.  And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.

Paul’s ministry had a way of knitting hearts together.  We see the love of the church so vividly here in Acts.   It is an example that has run clear throughout the history of the early church in Acts.  They are our example.  They are our heritage.  We are not disconnected.  We are not spectators.  We are their legacy.  We have inherited this love.

What we have been given is rich and everlasting.  The family of God is longer lasting than any other relationship we have.  A relationship founded on the grace of Jesus Christ.  We can meet a Christian from any culture, from any place and immediately have a bond and friendship like no other.  There is a day soon coming when we will all sit at a feast of Grace.  We will all sit together entering eternity, sitting before our glorious loving Saviour Jesus Christ.  What an amazing celebration of grace and love.  (I can’t wait!)

That rich love, our everlasting life,  doesn’t wait for the sweet bye and bye, it begins at the point of salvation.  Believer’s you are now part of the  family of God.  The richest, the largest, the most loving gracious family ever.  You are accepted, affirmed, secure, and connected.  You are loved.  You are not alone and never will be.  We are co-heirs with Christ.  We belong.

We belong to a family described with names that reveal a connection that is tight, deep, strong, and intimate.  Names like the “Family of God”, “Co-heirs with Christ”, “The Body of Christ”, and “The Bride of Christ”.  No names that sanitize or disconnect.  We are not the corporation.  We are not the monolith.  We are intimately connected to believing hearts from generations of time.  We will sit in fellowship with the heroes of our faith.

With this amazing gift comes a wonderful opportunity.  We can be a blessing to this family.  We can strengthen our family.  We can help others grow. We can see that others are brought in.  We can raise up younger believers and build up the church.  Amazingly, we are invited to be a part of this work.  Where will you jump in?

There are brothers who are struggling.  There are sisters in despair.  You can bring strength and grace.  You can be a game changer.  There are needs you can meet that no one else can touch.  There are people who need you.  Ministry that has been set aside for you.

What an amazing gift, what a wonderful opportunity, what a great responsibility.

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