Saturday after the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on November 5, 2022 by under
Scripture: Acts 13:26-41 (NKJV)
13:26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’
34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:
‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’
35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm:
‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’
36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’”
Devotion
“‘Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’”
Paul quoted the above words from the first chapter of Habakkuk verse 5. Habakkuk had asked the Lord for help from those who rejected him and persecuted him as God’s prophet. God heard his prayers. God would send the Chaldeans to handle Habakkuk’s persecutors.
Paul gave it to them straight up. He used these same words to get the attention of those who were the sons of Abraham, the Jews. Why? Because they rejected the prophets but even worse they persecuted and crucified the One whom God sent to save them from their sins! They killed him and laid him in a tomb, but God raised Him from the dead!
Paul was concerned for the Jews who had killed Jesus in total unbelief of who He was. The Jews rejected God’s Son. We know that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. So it is that God works his work of condemnation on those who will not believe. God works His Work of faith and salvation in those who believe in His Son, the One He has sent.
Prayer: Grant, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
