THE ‘LONG’ IN ‘LONGING’
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Opening Prayer
Father, thank you for your grace that not only forgives, but cleanses me. Thank you for your undeserved great mercy that is mine each day.
Read ACTS 13:13—25
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Acts
Acts 13
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!
17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country;
18 for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness;
19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance.
20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.
24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.
25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
Reflect
Bring to mind something you are waiting on God for. Offer him your feelings about it.One man down by the time they reach Pisidian Antioch (v. 13), Paul and Barnabas continue their pattern of starting their ministry in the Jewish synagogue (v. 14). The custom of inviting a visiting rabbi to speak gives a natural opportunity, and Paul’s message is an example of their approach among Jews and Jewish proselytes (v. 16).
Speaking into a centuries-old longing for God to send his promised Savior and enable his chosen people to fulfill their purpose, Paul surveys and summarizes Israel’s history. His focus is on God’s powerful, patient, and progressive provision of land and then leaders for his people, culminating in an obedient king ‘after my own heart’ (v. 22)—one who showed more clearly what they are waiting for. Against this familiar backdrop, Paul introduces Jesus: fulfillment of their treasured hope, the coming One whom everything else (including John the Baptist) prepared for and pointed to. The One they longed for had come.
Why did—why does—God wait so long to fulfill his promises? When the seeming slowness of his work disappoints our desires, it can leave us wrestling with his timing. But even when we don’t see or understand it, God is at work, always moving to fulfill his long-patient purposes (see 2 Peter 3:9).
Apply
Think of a friend who doesn’t yet know Jesus. What is their deepest longing? How might God be preparing them for its fulfillment? What pointers might they recognize?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, please give me the wisdom I need to share who you are in meaningful ways. Help me to use my words and deeds to show others that you are the answer to their greatest need.
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