The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul spoke to the people in the synagogue in Antioch about Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, and said, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets”, and in chapter thirteen and verse forty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish”, where we read:
Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
The verse begins, “Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish:” Luke began with the word, “Behold” which means “lo, look and consider”, “you despisers” or “you, people who were contemners, mockers and scoffers”, “and wonder” which means “and marvel and admire”, “and perish” or “and snatch out of sight, destroy, consume, disfigure and put out of view”. Luke shared how “Paul” instructed the people in the synagogue to “consider” what the prophets declared because they referred to people as “mockers, ones who who marvel and those destined to be destroyed”. (See Proverbs 1:24-32)
The verse continues, “... for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.” Luke added the words, “for I work a work” which means “because, since and on account that I, God the Heavenly Father, labor, exercise, perform and commit business, employment and that which any one is occupied” “in your days” which means “within your sunrises to sunsets or time period allotted”, “a work which you shall in no wise believe” or “a business, employment and that which any one is occupied that you people will never and in no way think to be true, be persuaded of or put confidence in”. Luke shared how “Paul” reminded the people in the synagogue how God the Heavenly Father declared He would perform a “work” in which they would have no confidence or belief.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” wanted the people in the synagogue to know the “prophets” declared the will and purpose of God to bring about a “word” that people would have difficulty in believing. No one was resurrected from the dead under their own power, (although Jesus raised others from the dead. See John 11 and Luke 7), and God was going to raise Jesus from the dead to demonstrate His power over death, hell and the grave. “The wages of sin is death , but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (See Romans 6:23) God loves people, and because their sins keep them separated from a relationship with Him, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross as the “appeasing sacrifice” for those sins. He raised Him from the dead three days after His death, and now every person who puts their faith and trust in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and inherit everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words understand and respond to the invitation of God Almighty to live with Him forever.
Next time Luke shares how, “the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them”, 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