Sunday May 11, 2025
YOU REJECT JESUS, WHEN YOU REJECT SCRIPTURES
44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:44–48 (ESV)
In his commentary on Acts 13:47; Dr. Charles Stanley wrote, “Paul and Barnabas confronted the Jews with the verse from Isaiah 49:6 to remind them that they were to encourage the Gentiles to know the Lord, not turn them away from his salvation and blessings. The same goes for us as believers – we were never meant to shut ourselves off completely from unbelievers; we are to be a light to them (Matthew 15:14-16). We must always lead others to him, and by our conduct and testimony glorify him.”
Brethren, I call this ‘Christianity complacency’. The attitude of the Jewish leaders still takes place within the Christian community today. Jealousy, as was stated in verse 45 of the reading is usually the root cause of all this. It is happening between men of God and also between fellow believers. We allow the devil to fill our hearts with jealousy such that we miss out on important messages God is bringing to us. But the truth is that, by your actions, you rather reject Jesus who is the living word and not the bearer of the message or messenger. To make it simpler, what you are actually doing is rejecting the message and then the messenger.
Matthew 10:40–42 (ESV) tells us; “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”. Back in Senior High School, our Senior House Master used to say this; “Even if a mad man calls you, turn and listen to him, because he might have an important message for you, never look down on him because you see them as mad”. Saint Paul will put it this way “some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 (NIV).
Brothers and Sisters, inasmuch as we need to be mindful of false prophets and doctrines, we should also be mindful of rejecting the truth of God’s word which is coming to us. How would you know this? I say, check your attitude and your heart when the message or messenger comes to you. I have shared before that, I used not to listen to other preachers nor even visit any other church. But as I begun to yearn more of Him, the Spirit of God begun to open my eyes and ears to other great messages and mysteries I was blind to. This has not caused me to leave my mother Church “the Catholic Church” but rather enhanced my faith in God. Fellowshipping with all believers no matter their denomination is what Jesus prayed for to the Father for us. Jesus said “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21 (NIV))
In conclusion, I remind you of the attitude of the gentiles in verse 48. “when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” When you refuse to accept a message meant for you or despise the messenger, others will receive him and the message by faith and they will enjoy the blessings meant for you. I can assure you, it will increase your jealousy, therefore be mindful in your Christian pilgrimage.
Shalom and Peace to you.
Maurice Luther
Founder, The Christian Migrant Network
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