Thought for May 4th 'Since you judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life Acts 13 vs46'

“… JUDGE YOURSELVES UNWORTHY” May 4
Our chapter today (10) in Acts is most thought provoking. The message of the Gospel is now spreading and what
is most fascinating is all the different reactions Paul and Barnabas experienced as they travelled. What is also
significant is the extent to which they quoted from the Old Testament – but that was their Bible. Our chapter contains
no less than 7 quotations from the Old Testament made in the speech at Antioch in Pisidia. The Old Testament is
God’s word just as much as the New Testament.
Their initial preaching was to Jewish communities, for they visited them first as they travelled from place to place
and supported their message about Jesus with all these quotations from the Old Testament. Evidently the Jews, and
sadly it is the same today, only read their Bible selectively – but God’s word must be read in totality.
“Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since
you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” [v.46,47]
There is some comparison in this in what has happened over the last 50 years. Belief in God and his word has shrunk
alarmingly in the ‘western’ world. – and so those who earnestly believe his word have turned to other races such as
India, where, for example, there are now about 100 congregations – and growing each year – but we know of none in
India 40 years ago – or Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal or Bangladesh for that matter.
How many today are not taking the word of God seriously? Or maybe only taking it selectively in an endeavor to
try to prove, for example, that they go to heaven when they die, or that “grace” is ever abounding so they do not have
to really strive against sin. If they are not taking God’s word seriously – and ‘thirstily’ into their hearts, they are, to
quote Paul and Barnabas, starting to “judge themselves unworthy of eternal life”
Let us make sure we are among those who accepted and obeyed the message and “began rejoicing and glorifying
the word of the Lord …” [v.48]