Common Ground?

Reading: Acts 13:17-26

 

In the reading of this passage from Acts, I am struck again by two things: First, the great faithfulness of God toward His chosen people, and second, the poor memory of the Israelites. In these verses, Paul enumerates many ways the Lord cared for His people – from choosing them in the first place, to prospering them in Egypt, from putting up with them in the wilderness (Paul’s words in verse 18 in NASB translation!), to getting them safely to the Promised Land.  How could these people so easily forget His care for them and resort to complaining and self-pity?

 

God’s ultimate goal was to bring to and through Israel the Savior of the world (as promised through the Old Testament prophets).  These words of the prophets were read every Sabbath, yet the “people of Jerusalem and their rulers (13:27)” missed the fulfillment of the promised Savior in Jesus, whom they condemned.  There are plenty of things the prophets said about the coming Savior that were clues to His identity.  Jesus himself used the scriptures to show who he was to two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus: “and beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:27).”  With all the evidence God so faithfully provided, how could the Jews miss recognizing their Messiah? 

 

In focusing on these questions about the Israelites, I am struck again by two things:  First, the great faithfulness of God toward me, and second, my poor memory.  There are many things I can enumerate throughout my life that show how God has cared for me.  How can I so easily forget His care for me and resort to complaining and self-pity?

 

God’s ultimate goal for my life is to bring me to himself through Jesus.  He provides his word to teach me who he is.  One way it comes to me is every Sunday as it is read in church.  There are times that I can listen and be unaffected by God’s word.  It’s not that I haven’t believed in Jesus, but perhaps I miss out on many blessings when I don’t allow listening to go beyond my ears.

With all the evidence God so faithfully provided, how could I miss recognizing all God has for me to live the abundant life?

 

Someone once said that when you are pointing your finger at someone else, there are four other fingers pointing back at you.  Hum…perhaps I might have more in common with the Israelites than I want to admit!  Lord, keep my memory focused on your faithfulness, and my mind set on the blessing of You.