Monday, June 26 – Acts 17:2-3
2 And according to Paul’s custom, he visited them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”
In Acts 17 we learn that Paul visited Thessalonica, and for three straight weeks he went to the temple and preached on one topic. This wasn’t unusual, though—everywhere Paul went, he visited the temple and preached on this same topic. That’s because this topic is the center of all of Scripture—the one truth on which every other truth hinges.
The center of the Bible is the gospel—the good news about Jesus that tells us God saves us by grace and makes us able to obey Him from the heart. Explaining and giving evidence to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us a deeper relationship with God’s Word than mere comprehension does. In fact, there aren’t enough words to describe the power and benefit of the gospel message in the lives of those who treasure it. The gospel is the foundational truth of everything else and will always be. The story of Jesus clearly reveals who God is and how He wants us to live. We proclaim Christ because He can take us deeper with God than we could imagine and change us in ways we aren’t even aware we need.
The Bible isn’t only a book for study or a fascinating story. It is both of those things but so much more. It explains and gives evidence to the abundant life we receive in Christ. As such, the power, inspiration, and truth of God’s Word demand careful study, heartfelt adoration, and dedicated application.
- What was Paul’s central message every time he preached? Why?
- What if you don’t treasure and desire God’s Word like Paul did? How can you develop that type of attitude?
- Thank God for the people who have treasured His Word to the point that it has spilled over into your life as they have explained and given evidence to the gospel of Jesus. Ask Him to increase your desire and opportunity to similarly give evidence to the gospel.
