Luke the physician wrote, “in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how the disciples, “determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea” where we read:
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability,
determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
The verse begins, “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, ...” Luke began with the words, “then the disciples” which means “at that time the students, pupils and attendants”, “every man” or “each, all, the whole and everyone of the people both male and female” “according to his ability” which means “in proportion as, in the degree that and inasmuch as” the following. Luke shared how every one of the “students and pupils” of Jesus did the following.
The verse continues, “... determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:” Luke added the words, “determined to send relief” which means “appointed, decreed and dispatch service, ministering and execution of food” “unto the brethren” or “toward the fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection” “which dwelt in Judaea” which means “who lived, abode and made their habitation in Judaea which means he shall be praised and refers to to the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea”. Luke shared how the “disciples” of Jesus decided to “provide food” to relieve their fellow believers who lived in “Judaea”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “disciples” of Jesus cared for one another. The “believers” in “Judaea” were in need of food, and the followers of Jesus decided to “provide relief” to them. God wants to have a “family” of “believers”, and when a person believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. They become a part of the “family” of God, and they are to help to meet each others' needs when they arrive. Let all who read these words yield themselves to Jesus and become a part of the family of God who love and care for one another as they “send relief” when the needs arise.
Next time Luke shares how the disciples, “sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment