January 19, 2019 - SETTING THE STAGE

Day 19 - (Today’s Bible readings: Ruth 2:1-16; Psalm 18:1-15; Acts 21:37-22:5)
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day...” (Acts 22:3

“Setting the stage” is an idiom used for getting things ready for some sort of event. The literal meaning focuses on stage hands making sure that the stage is properly set for the next scene of a play or movie. And that is precisely what Paul is doing in our reading from Acts. He is building rapport with his Jewish audience.

I am a Jew...educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers.

Being zealous for God as all of you are this day...

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women...

bringing them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

Paul was setting the stage to share the Gospel, to share Jesus with them. We get to do the same.

●   Get to know your neighbor...others with whom you come into contact on a daily basis.

●   Build a relationship with them.

●   Look for opportunities to share Jesus and His good news for all sinners with them.

This is what we learned in Sunday School:

    This little Gospel light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.
    This little Gospel light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.
    This little Gospel light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.
    Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.

Lord, grant me opportunities to set the stage for sharing Jesus with others who need Him just as desperately as I do. Amen.

“See” you in church tomorrow!

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!