Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 17
Tuesday

HANDLE
WITH CARE

READ:
Acts 20:32
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I commend you to God
and to the word of His
grace, which is able to
build you up.
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While visiting Jakarta, Indonesia, for a Bible conference, I was invited to speak in a church there. Before the first of two services that Sunday morning, one of the elders asked me to give him my Bible. He explained that the elders were responsible for the biblical reliability of the teaching the congregation received, and that he would return my Bible to me in front of the congregation. It was a tangible way of showing the church family that the leadership was entrusting the ministry of the Word to me on that day.

This practice was both sobering and encouraging. It reminded me that the privilege of presenting the truths of the Bible to people is not one to be taken lightly. It also was encouraging to see the degree to which these Indonesian elders took seriously their responsibility for the care of the flock.

In Acts 20, we read that Paul met with the elders of the church at Ephesus. In his charge to these leaders, the apostle warned them of the danger of false teachers (vv.28-29) and the responsibility of the chruch leadership to help the congregation grow in the Word of God (v.32).

No matter what our calling is, let's handle the Word with care. When we do, God's people will grow. __Bill Crowder
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~O God, in whom our trust we place.~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~We thank You for Your Word of grace;~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Help us its precepts to obey.~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Till we shall live in endless day. __Hass~~~~~~~~
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The Spirit of God uses the Word of God
to change the people of God.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Acts 20:27-32*************

27 For I have not shunned
to declare to you the
whole counsel of God.

28 Therefore take heed to
yourselves and to all the
flock, among which the
Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to shepherd the
church of God which He
purchased with His own
blood. 29 For I know this,
that after my departure
savage wolves will come
in among you, not sparing
the flock. 30 Also from
among yourselves men will
rise up, speaking perverse
things, to draw away the
disciples after themselves.

31 Therfore watch, and
remember that for three
years I did not cease to
warn everyone night and
day with tears.

32 So now, brethren, I
commend you to God and
to the word of His grace,
which is able to build
you up and give you an
inheritance among all those
who are sanctified.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"The whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) means the entire revealed
plan of God, The Greek word translated "counsel" is bouda and
connotes counsel, purpose, design, determination, decree, and
secret thoughts. Paul was given divine revelation of God's purposes
in Christ. The same word is used in Ephesians 1:11, "In Him also we
have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the
purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of
His will." __HDF

Source: Greek and English Lexicon to the New Testament by T. S. Green