A Growing Heart
Authors sometimes begin their books with a prologue that sets the stage for what is to come. Luke outlines the book of Acts in one verse in the first chapter: “But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 AMP)
Most Bible scholars agree that the book of Acts can be divided this way:
1 - The church is established in Jerusalem - Chapters 1-7
2 - The church extends to Judea and Samaria - Chapters 8-12
3 – The church expands to take the gospel to the ends of the earth - Chapters 13-28
As believers, our lives might be outlined in a similar way. As teeny children or as baby believers, our “Jerusalem” is our own little family or our church family. As we grow as children and as believers, our Jerusalem should extend to “Judea and Samaria” and include our neighborhood, our school, our workplace, our town. And as we become more mature in our faith, our heart should expand to include those who need to know Christ in the uttermost parts of the earth – perhaps people whose faces we may never see this side of heaven.
An amazing thing about the believer’s growing heart is that as our circles of concern widen to include the broader world, that heart never leaves behind “Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria.” A mom of a dozen children loves them all with a mother’s heart, but admits that “her favorite” is the one that needs her at a particular moment. In similar fashion, the believer has a heart and a concern for lost people wherever they might be, but might admit their favorite is the one right in front of them that needs the light of Christ at that particular moment.
Just as Jesus passed the torch to the Holy Spirit when He ascended to the Father, likewise those who have gone before us have passed the torch to us – to do our part to make Christ known to our world.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us... (Hebrews 12:1)
By Judy Shrout
Most Bible scholars agree that the book of Acts can be divided this way:
1 - The church is established in Jerusalem - Chapters 1-7
2 - The church extends to Judea and Samaria - Chapters 8-12
3 – The church expands to take the gospel to the ends of the earth - Chapters 13-28
As believers, our lives might be outlined in a similar way. As teeny children or as baby believers, our “Jerusalem” is our own little family or our church family. As we grow as children and as believers, our Jerusalem should extend to “Judea and Samaria” and include our neighborhood, our school, our workplace, our town. And as we become more mature in our faith, our heart should expand to include those who need to know Christ in the uttermost parts of the earth – perhaps people whose faces we may never see this side of heaven.
An amazing thing about the believer’s growing heart is that as our circles of concern widen to include the broader world, that heart never leaves behind “Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria.” A mom of a dozen children loves them all with a mother’s heart, but admits that “her favorite” is the one that needs her at a particular moment. In similar fashion, the believer has a heart and a concern for lost people wherever they might be, but might admit their favorite is the one right in front of them that needs the light of Christ at that particular moment.
Just as Jesus passed the torch to the Holy Spirit when He ascended to the Father, likewise those who have gone before us have passed the torch to us – to do our part to make Christ known to our world.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us... (Hebrews 12:1)
By Judy Shrout
Recent
Archive
2022
January
New Year's Day 2022All Things NewA New NormalA Renewed MindA New MissionA New BeginningSpring is Coming...God's Not DeadHis Presence As I Pray With Other BelieversHis Presence As I Fill My Heart and Mind with His WordHis Presence As I WorshipHis Presence As I WriteHim AloneGoodbyesOur Friend and So Much MoreTrust Your Gut...The Flooding of the Holy SpritLiving By the SpiritDon't Just Stand ThereThe Futility of Human EffortThe Will of God for YouThe Internal Battle for ControlEvery Good Tree Bears Good FruitAchieving Victory Over SinIlluminating Properties of SnowSearching
February
MapsThe AdvocatesPainting the PictureThree In OneFebruary Scripture Memory VerseWelcome to the Book of Acts!A Growing HeartThere's Something You Need to Understand!Let's Flip a Coin - Or Do You Have a Better Idea?Are We There Yet?Growing in the ChallengesA Day to RememberA Historical RealityA Life TransformedA Message that Convicts and SavesA Gospel that GathersPain with a PurposeThe Early Church - AccountableThe Early Church - God Living In UsThe Early Church - BoldnessThe Early Church - GenerosityThe Early Church - ServingThe IntroductionThe Starting Lineup
March
On the DefenseNot in My House!We Have a Barn Burner!Drop the Rock!Scripture Memory Verse for MarchThe Glory of God's RedemptionSalvation Comes from GodEncountering ChristChanged Hearts and LivesCompleting the Unfinished WorkPsalm 131Something Came UpUnoffendableSpeaking Our LanguageTo Love or Not to LoveShake It UpPsalm 131Sola GratiaFreed by GraceAmazed by GraceScandalous GraceEvidence of GraceWhat God Has GivenThe Travel PlannerWhat Makes You Curious?Strengthened by Other BelieversImposters Exposed
April
A Farewell to EphesusScripture Memory Verse for AprilHappy EndingsSomething You Need to Know About PaulAlmostBlank PageSuper ChristianThe Prince of PeaceA Special CrossMore Than an Empty TombTwo Things to RememberResurrection LifeWhat We Wear MattersA New LifeProgress ReportGospel GrowthPraying for the Global ChurchA Powerful Prayer GuideDelivered from Darkness