Day 37/260: Read Acts 13

“I was here first!” “That’s not fair!” “Don’t you know who I am?” “I deserve better!”

Do these thoughts ever cross your mind? The Jews were God’s chosen people to bring the Messiah into the world, but when Paul and Barnabas began teaching multitudes of Gentiles, “they were filled with envy.” They disputed the truth that the messengers of God spoke.

Paul’s response gives us an idea of the entitlement they may have been proclaiming. He said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”

Yes, the Jews were God’s chosen people, but they rejected the Almighty and His plan. They rejected the gospel. When God then sent the good news to the Gentiles, the Jews got mad. “I was here first!”

No one deserves everlasting life, but by the grace of God it is available. If you accept His grace for your sins, it is only right that others should have access as well, no matter how terrible we believe they have sinned.

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

Acts 16:33. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Pray

Pray for patience with others who are seeking God’s truth, and pray for opportunities to be gracious and helpful toward them.