Thirty-Eighth Day of Lent

Thirty-Eighth Day of Lent

Thursday, April 13, 2017

[Paul] came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”

Acts 17:1b-3

Sometimes I read too quickly and miss something important in my haste! Such as here, when Paul came to Thessalonica. This was a Greek city, but there had to be at least a small Jewish community because there was a synagogue. The synagogue was his starting place in Thessalonica – to at least a small group of religious people who were accustomed to studying the Scriptures.

Sensitive to his surrounding and to the people, he took their Scripture and told them about the Messiah. He read to them about the promise of Christ – in their Old Testament documents. The New Testament didn’t exist.

It seems so simple. He immediately gave credibility to his message by using what was already familiar to support his message. I wonder if we could not learn to do that. I wonder if I could not learn to carefully listen to God’s leading, evaluate each opportunity, and simply and easily tell others the good news of Easter. No preaching. Just a simple discussion of the facts as presented in the Scriptures, beginning with what they already know.

Prayer: Father, I know that you want everyone to hear the Easter message. I know that you long for each of us to have a personal relationship with you. Help us learn to tell the Easter story with simplicity so that others may hear and believe. Amen.

And He Set His Face toward Jerusalem. . . .

A Lenten Devotional Guide
prepared for Homosassa United Methodist Church, Spring 2007,
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator