Something Greater

Suffering Servant Acts 9:15 What has gone before... Saul seemed near to death. Struck down with blindness, confronted by a man he'd thought long dead by crucifixion, his Jewish life of rigid righteousness and violent religious rule seemed gone in an instant. All he could do was pray. Meanwhile, God was preparing Ananias to go to Saul, to heal his blindness and commission him to be a witness for Jesus. And to suffer. Moving on... "The Lord said to him, - Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." Acts 9:15-16 (ESV) SUFFER: pascho "PAS-kho" (to experience a sensation or impression, usually painful) Much of the Book of Acts is an account of how Saul suffered as a Christian. Jews plotted to kill him early in his ministry (9:23). Fellow Christians suspected him of being a spy (9:26). He was persecuted a...

Saved to Serve Acts 9:8 What has gone before... Saul, "breathing threats and murder", traveled to Damascus to rout Jewish Christians. His mind and heart were engorged with lust for violent, crushing punishment of people he regarded as traitors to Judaism, idolaters of a false god. The writer of the Book of Acts described Christians as ones "belonging to the Way", reminding all of us to see our life as a road, with many changes in terrain and direction, but leading to a greatly desired destination. Midway on his chosen road of retribution, Saul was brought to his knees with physical blindness and spiritual clarity. The Jesus he had sought to grind into forgotten history was suddenly very real, and very persuasive. Moving on... Blind, perhaps confused, probably frightened and emotionally spent, Saul seemed near death: "Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into ...

Aspiration and Desire 1 Timothy 3:3 What has gone before... An overseer must be hospitable , one who is fond of guests, one who enjoys meeting new and different sorts of people, regarding new acquaintances as new friends. In the same breath, Paul cautions Christians to avoid grumbling , grudgingly attempting to show hospitality to others while inwardly complaining of the cost or discomfort. Hospitality is sharing with others what God has given us. Entertaining others at our home, or together at a restaurant, can easily connect with another characteristic of the ideal overseer: one who teaches others . More than being willing to teach others, Paul describes an overseer as one who is competent to teach, one who himself loves to learn and joys in helping others to learn. Teaching is to be more than a duty...it is to be a lifelong calling. Moving on... Following the seven broad categories of character qualities introduced in verse 2, Paul now lists specific behaviors ...

Above Reproach And Well Thought Of 1 Timothy 3:2 What has gone before... Paul exalts the " office of overseer ", which means spiritual health inspector. "Office of overseer" is often translated as " visitation ". The first " episcopate ", or group of church overseers, were probably the apostles, called by Jesus. Paul commended those who "aspire" or stretch out after and set their hearts upon the office of overseer, describing the work as a "noble task", something " beautifully good ". Moving on... Paul describes the the ideal overseer . The passage reads like a job-hunter's resume, listing knowledge, skills and abilities essential for the "noble task" of inspecting and protecting Christian churches. "An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quar...