The Urgency of the Message

Acts 17:13-17

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹³ When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. ¹⁴ The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. ¹⁵ The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:%2013%20-%2017&version=NIV1984)

The Thessalonians could not mind their own business.  They were jealous people and did not want the message of Christ to spread.  I would have thought the Bereans would have been wise enough to see right through the Thessalonians but some of them listened anyway which caused Paul to have to leave the city.  He was escorted out of the city, probably because they had to hide in somehow in order to sneak him out.  Since he was probably the one doing most of the talking he was the one that had to leave.  I believe the other two stayed back to quietly mentor and guide those who had received the Word of God with joy. 

As Paul looked over the city of Athens he saw all the falseness that these people had been living around.  He could not help but want to let them know the truth.  There was no way he was going to wait for his fellow helpers to share the Gospel but rather began speaking in the Synagogue and the marketplace regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Note that Paul spoke not only in the Synagogue but went to the marketplace.  It is our responsibility to not only share in the church but also in the marketplace.  Today our churches are filled more with those who claim to believe in the resurrection of Christ but our marketplace is full of those who do not practice what they learned on Sunday or they were not in church at all.  Yet where do we put most of our emphasis in ministry?

As you Seek Him today, ask Him to use you wherever He places you in this world.  Do not wait for others to come beside you; all that you need is the guidance of the Lord.  It is urgent that we get the message of Jesus Christ out to all people just as much today as it was in the time of Paul.  Do not wait on others but spread the word but observe and share where He has called you, the Church or the marketplace.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila