As we think about the fork in the road that was put forth to the people in Paul’s sermon in Acts 13, here’s a great question with which to direct our thoughts: When the message comes to us, what do we do with it? I’m not referring to a one-time acceptance of the gospel message that came to us at our conversion. I’m referring to the weekly preaching of the Word that reaches our ears. Perhaps we can supply 3 general categories of responses. The first is…
–“I’m kind of indifferent. I’m just waiting for Christ to improve my life and I’m hoping he will like me coming to church and give me what I want; or at the very least remove this pesky guilt from the conscience that derives from living a self-centered life.”
OR…
–“That’s nice and informative. I learned something interesting thing today.”
OR…
–“I’m so grateful for Christ’s teachings through which I can die to my flesh and live for his purposes. I know I need my mind renewed in God’s word in order to turn from the sinful thinking and living I am inclined towards.” True faith always leads to this response in some measure.
We must be careful how we listen beloved because those first two categories are equally dangerous as they are prevalent. Hearing the message is an essential piece of growth in Christ, but just showing up to church potentially has the same effect as a student just showing up to his or her high school classes. There is no guarantee that anything positive will happen unless great effort is put forth in response to what is being taught. Here are the words of Jesus from Mark 4:24…“Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”