Contrasting Responses

Faith in Action

The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faith in Jesus

Acts 13:44-49 The Message (MS
44-45 When the next Sabbath came around, practically the whole city showed up to hear the Word of God. Some of the Jews, seeing the crowds, went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene.
46-47 But Paul and Barnabas didn’t back down. Standing their ground they said, “It was required that God’s Word be spoken first of all to you, the Jews. But seeing that you want no part of it—you’ve made it quite clear that you have no taste or inclination for eternal life—the door is open to all the outsiders. And we’re on our way through it, following orders, doing what God commanded when he said,
I’ve set you up
    as light to all nations.
You’ll proclaim salvation
    to the four winds and seven seas!”
48-49 When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God—they honored God’s Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region.

For Reflection

Those Gentiles who stood outside the gate believed deeply in God.  As outsiders, rejected by the religion which both attracted them and deny their entry, they understood the meaning of salvation in a way the Jews could not.  They were prepared to hear Paul's message. The Gentiles put their trust in God. The Jews put their trust in their religion.  Where do you place your trust, in your perception of your religion or in the way of Christ? 

Pray

Pray that you will trust in the living God.  Pray that you will witness to the power of the Holy Spirit and let your faith guide your action.
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