QT 16/05/2024 Thursday Acts 11. Spirit powered charity. 圣灵所驱动的慈善事工。

QT 16/05/2024 Thursday Acts 11.
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Acts+11/

LISTEN TO Acts 11
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Acts.11

Acts 10 reminded the Jews to cast off racial prejudices when they encountered the Gentiles. Peter recounted these lessons in Acts 11.

In addition, those who believed later took care of those who believed earlier. In view of the famine that was to come (Acts 11:28), the disciples decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. In fact, it was Barnabas and Saul that took the gift to the elders in Judea/Jerusalem.

We see here reconciliation, forgiveness, charity and love–Saul, the persecutor, now carried the gift to those whom he had persecuted.

REFLECTION: Where there is true repentance, fellowship can be restored and people can be reconciled. It was the Holy Spirit who worked continuously to enable this to be possible (Acts 11:16–18). If we claim to have the same Holy Spirit, how do we explain those times when we tear at each others' throat and claim to be executing God's will?

APPLICATION: Ultimately, the Holy Spirit works in our lives and empowers us to do charitable works. Live out the Spirit filled life by obeying God's Word and be committed to practice it in holiness.

星期四2024年5月16日 今日读经：使徒行传11章.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Act/11/
听音频使徒行传11章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/act.11.cnvs

使徒行传10章提醒犹太人在遇到外邦人时要摈弃种族歧视。彼得在使徒行传11章就想起了这些教训。

另外，那些后来才相信的照顾那些较早相信的。因为大饥荒即将临到(徒11:28)，门徒决定按着各人的力量捐款，好送给住在犹太的弟兄。事实上，把捐款送去给犹大/耶路撒冷的长老的正是巴拿巴和扫罗。

我们在这里看到了和解、宽恕、宽厚和爱--扫罗，那逼迫者，现在带着捐款来到他曾经逼迫的人那里去。

反思：只要真心悔改，关系就会恢复，人们也可以彼此和解。是圣灵不间断地工作才能让这一切成为可能(徒11:16-18)。如果我们宣称我们有着同样的圣灵，那当我们互相撕咬还说是在执行神的旨意时，又作何解释？

应用：最终，是圣灵在我们的生命动工，使我们有能力行善行。活出充满圣灵的生命，顺服神的话语，并致力过圣洁的生活。