A Message Accepted

[Christ4Ever]

After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they're doing." Acts 15:36 CSB

Like a doctor checking up on patients, the apostle Paul wanted to return to some of the places he had visited on his mission trips. A spiritual checkup was in order. He hadn’t made the trip sooner, likely because the people needed time for the message of the Lord to seep into their hearts and souls. The people had received the seed of God’s message. The trip would allow Paul’s team to see how those seeds had grown.

This would be yet another example of how thinking impacted decision-making. You see, thinking alone never really gets to the heart of the message God shared, because humans can always rationalize their personal choices while dismissing God’s importance. However, if thinking moved the heart to respond with the faith needed to accept the message, then change within the spirit will be the outcome.

You need to know you’re not alone in your faith and that growth is the outcome as you learn how to live your life of faith.

Prayer: It’s a big decision to follow You, Father. Help me be willing to share my heart, mind, and spirit and allow You to use what words You can use to encourage others to keep thinking about You.

 

[Curtis]

Not only did Paul want to know how his followers were doing whom he had ministered to, but his followers also wanted proof that Jesus Christ was speaking through him. He tells them to examine themselves to see if they were truly living by faith, and that Jesus Christ was truly living inside them.
That would give them the answer they were looking for.

2Co 13:3 I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you.
2Co 13:4 Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
2Co 13:6 As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.