Oldie but Goodie
Read This Week: Acts 13
“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “’You are my son; today I have become your father.’” God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “’I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.” – Acts 13:32-34 NIV
The descriptor an oldie but goodie is often used to describe something that came about or originated long ago but is still relevant, useful, and excellent in the modern era. It can be a lesson, book, song, or event that happened or was created years previously but remains likable, reliable, and helpful to those who came long after it started. Things that are considered old but still good have staying power for all time.
The premise behind an oldie but a goodie was the crux of Paul’s sermon to the people of Pisidian Antioch in Acts 13. He gives them a history lesson about God’s providence for and covenant with Israel that culminates in the promise and fulfillment of Jesus Christ. He says in verse 23: From this man’s descendants, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. He tells them about God’s plan for the redemption of mankind that originated in ages past and is the best news and truth they could ever receive in the present.
Sixteen times in verses 17-30, Paul emphasizes the eternality and supremacy of God throughout history. He wants his audience to know that the Lord is the central figure in all of history and his will for all predates even time and space, but is and will be relevant to the end of days. The Apostle then brings this section of his message to the communication of the gospel. He points to the arrival of David’s greater Son, Jesus, the promised Messiah, and Savior of the world. The reason for and fulfillment of it all.
The gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation it holds for the world is the greatest oldie but goodie there is. It never wanes in its veracity or flickers in its illumination. It never becomes obsolete or outdated no matter how advanced or sophisticated we become as a people. It never loses its power or diminishes its effectiveness. It still changes lives, reshapes communities, transforms cities, and brings glory to God in the twenty-first century just as it did among the people listening to the sound of Paul’s voice when he said:
We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, by raising Jesus.
The gospel is the story that never gets old. It is one that a weary world should never be tired of hearing and one those who claim it should never be tired of sharing. It will never go away and will remain the transcendent message of this day and all those to come. It is an oldie but quite certainly an unparalleled goodie.
I got a poem from Acts 13 verse 11 this week:
I want to have a heart, after God’s own heart
So that into His mercy He’ll impart.
I want to be humble respectful trusting, fearless
Faithful, obedient, thankful, and grateful.
I want to be considerate, loving, and compassionate
I want to be devoted and passionate.
What that means to me is to have a heart like David, one willing to go and do anything that God asks and to be loyal and true.
This is a wonderful poem and even prayer and petition for us as Christians, Jeri. It would benefit us so much each day to call on the Lord and ask Him to give us His heart and for the Holy Spirit to empower us with: humility, trust, courage, faithfulness, obedience, and gratitude. What a world and community it would be if we all expressed and displayed this in our lives on a regular basis.
May we always ask him to make us considerate, loving, compassionate and to have a passion for Jesus that will propel us to love others and be on mission.
God put a word on my heart yesterday from Acts 13:52 where it says, And the disciples were continually filled [throughout their hearts and souls] with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
In life, there will always be issues, problems, bad things happening all around you. What matters in the midst of it all is learning to know that God’s joy lives inside you, and no one can take it away. Nothing can steal it unless you let someone or something steal it.
What that means to me is the battle begins in our thoughts first, when something happens go to God first, ask Him to help you, seek the good, see good, do your part, that’s where it begins.
Thank you for this encouraging and insightful word, Heidi. Your post reminded me of Nehemiah 8:10 where it says: Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!
It reminded me that the battle is the Lord’s and to trust and rely on Him when my thoughts, emotions, and life are attacked with lies and deception and I’m tempted to succumb to the challenges of my journey.
This is what God was saying to me in Acts 13. Take courage. I want you to be a woman of conviction, bold in your belief, and willing to take a stand for what you believe. You can never justify yourself before Me. It is only through Jesus. Jesus does not only forgive you; you are also justified by Him. Sin must be judged if it is not atoned for, by the work of Jesus Christ. I want grace to remain as the foundation for your life.
When you want to tell others about Jesus, begin with your own group of people around you. If they don’t receive it or start to reject it, don’t stop telling others about Him. Just find others to tell, others who will listen. I offer salvation, in Jesus, to all. The word of the Lord will be spread through the lives of people being brought to Jesus Christ. All too often, rejection and opposition for the sake of the gospel, makes you want to give up. Don’t give up. Persevere to bring others to Me.
What this says to me is I want to be bold in my belief, and willing to take a stand for Jesus. I am not to give up on bringing others to Jesus. Whoever receives Jesus will continue to help bring others to Him through all of our actions.
This is a great post, Kathy. I love the practicality that God gave you about our witness and sharing our faith with others. I loved this tidbit and found it to be helpful:
When you want to tell others about Jesus, begin with your own group of people around you. If they don’t receive it or start to reject it, don’t stop telling others about Him. Just find others to tell, others who will listen.
Sometimes it is the toughest place to start with those we know the best and are closest to us, yet it is the place we should begin with our witness and expression of our life change. I appreciate this reminder and reflection of what the church did as they moved throughout the concentric circles of influence in Acts.
God gave me a song this week from the amazing chapter of Acts 13 called, “Praise You”:
We praise you, praise you
We praise, we praise you, our Lord
Giving you thanks for your name
We have eternal life
Trusting, believing, adhering to You
Let’s respond by rejoicing in Your name
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah to our King
Sharing our Father’s love, joy, and faith
Bringing believers and planting seeds
Hoping unbelievers change while bringing everyone to our Savior
We praise you, praise you
We praise, we praise you, our Lord. Amen.
We are loving and hoping that God will bring us all together as sisters and brothers. God is amazing and is with us through it all. Thank you my Father God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit.
I love this, Alma and it is an encouragement and reminder to worship God and be thankful for what He has done and still continues to do in our lives. It also made me think of a new song that I heard recently called, “We Praise You” and the chorus goes like this:
We’ll see You break down every wall
We’ll watch the giants fall
Fear cannot survive when we praise You
The God of breakthrough’s on our side
Forever lift Him high
With all creation cry, God, we praise You
Oh, we praise You!