Called to Serve

February 28, 2021 Background Scripture: Acts 16:11 – 15, 40; 1 Corinthians 1:26 – 30 Lesson Passage: Acts 16:11 – 15, 40; 1 Corinthians 1:26 – 30 Perhaps it is easier to talk about this lesson by starting with the second passage of scripture that’s listed. In that passage, Paul summarized an observation for the Corinthian congregation. Paul gave a synopsis of the kind of people God calls into salvation and kingdom service. In essence, God calls people who are the opposite of those openly admired by the world’s standard. People who have values that highly esteem worldly success and gain tend to look up to those who achieve much in this world. On the other hand, the rich, politically powerful, and philosophical sages are mostly overlooked by God. Some have achieved or gained much in this world and may only be living to get the most out of life without due consideration to what comes after death. Sadly, they have received the only reward they have sought and shall receive nothing else. Contrariwise, those who are unpopular, poor, and perhaps even slaves (or today’s working class), appear to have God’s undivided attention—specifically when they look beyond themselves for hope. This message from Paul would have resonated with the Corinthian congregation because most, if not all of them, fit into the latter categories described by Paul. Paul’s message was simple, “Stop trying to become the people that God tends to overlook. You were chosen because you were not one of them.” So, it was not likely they were going to please God by becoming such people. God made choice of them for them to become His servants rather than lords over each other. Too often people who experience worldly success do so by seeking to rule over other people. It is this understanding that clarifies for us the first passage of scripture given for this lesson. Lydia, from Thyatira, was not chosen by God because she was poor or a slave. In fact, Lydia was an exception to Paul’s observation at Corinth. As a seller of purple from another city, Lydia was likely a very wealthy person. When Paul met Lydia, she was described by Luke as a worshiper of God. However, when she heard Paul speaking the gospel about Jesus, the Lord opened her heart and she received salvation. She then offered her home as a refuge for the servants of God—and later as a gathering place for the local congregation of believers. The key to understanding Lydia’s conversion is to look at her actions. She had a very humble heart. Lydia was positioned in the world to be a boss, but she had the heart of a servant. God could and did use her. She apparently did not view her salvation as a badge of honor to be worn as an outward show. Her salvation was a call to service in the kingdom of God. Lydia was not asking the apostle to take a chance and give her the opportunity to prove herself worthy. Lydia offered her previous faithfulness as proof of her willingness to serve. Lydia is a fitting example of an exception to Paul’s Corinthian observation. No matter how things look on the outside, it is always the inside that matters the most. It is a great spiritual truth that: Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart. Lydia had the desire and motivation within her to serve the servants of God. Paul and his missionary team ministered to people; Lydia desired to minister to them. Today, we should be thankful for Lydia’s example. After all, in the purest sense, all Christians are called to serve. Robert C. Hudson February 8, 2021

Called to Explain

February 21, 2021 Background Scripture: Acts 18:1 – 26; Romans 16:3 – 4; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19 Lesson Passage: Acts 18:1 – 3, 18 – 21, 24 – 26; Romans 16:3 - 4 The spotlight of today’s lesson shines brightly on Aquila and Priscilla. They were a married Jewish couple who became part of Paul’s missionary work through a series of developments. They, along with other Jews, were expelled from Italy by the ruler at that time who demanded that all Jews leave Rome. Aquila and Priscilla met Paul at Corinth—primarily through their mutual trade of tentmaking. They labored in the tentmaking business together, and Paul stayed with them. Paul was actively engaged in the study and teaching of the holy scriptures every week in the synagogue. One day Paul was emboldened by the Spirit to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those gathered in the synagogue. There was contention and Paul left the synagogue and began to minister in the home of one of the local converts. Paul’s approach is clear from the historical record; he used reasoning to teach the holy scriptures. This appealed to his listeners because they were gaining new insight into the things of God. The Lord encouraged Paul in a vision to continue the work because he would not be harmed for it. Paul labored in Corinth for a year and a half. The scriptures imply that Aquila and Priscilla worked with Paul in the ministry during that turbulent time. When Paul left Corinth and traveled to Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla accompanied him. Paul left Aquila and Priscilla with the Ephesians while he traveled back to Jerusalem. In the meantime, Apollos came to Ephesus preaching the gospel of repentance. He was described as an eloquent and powerful preacher of the scriptures; but he was limited in his understanding of the gospel. Aquila and Priscilla explained to him the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, they sent him forth into the mission field with letters encouraging other Christians to receive him when he arrived. The scriptures don’t detail all that Aquila and Priscilla did as missionaries. Paul’s statements about them in his salutations in several of his letters give us a hint about the quality and effectiveness of their work. In every case where they are mentioned, they are always presented as a team. Sometimes Priscilla’s name is listed before Aquila’s; at other times it is the opposite. Even the Apostle Paul reversed the order of their names at times in his letters. However, Aquila and Priscilla are never listed separately. Paul thought highly of them and wrote thusly. The occasion where they counseled Apollos is the only one where we see the type of ministry they engaged in. If they could pull Apollos to the side and straighten out his preaching, certainly their ministry had to be powerful to the laypersons they taught. No doubt, after a year and a half of listening to the Apostle Paul’s reasoning about the scriptures every Sabbath, they came to appreciate the value of being able to clearly explain the scriptures to their listeners. In every age touched by the message of the gospel, people have needed those who were able to accurately and clearly explain the scriptures. We have a better understanding today because of them. Simply put, they have been called of God to explain the holy scriptures and the message of the gospel. Robert C. Hudson February 1, 2021

Called to Support

February 14, 2021 Background Scripture: Mark 15:40; 16:1 – 9; Luke 8:1 – 3; John 20:10 – 18 Lesson Passage: Luke 8:1 – 3; Mark 15:40; John 20:10 – 18 If the gospel narrative were a drama, the women identified in today’s lesson should all receive the title of Best Supporting Actresses. And, according to Luke, the women identified by name are not the entire cast of supporters. Luke wrote that there were many others who provided for Jesus from their substance. Mark informs us that the women had followed Jesus during his Galilean ministry and followed him to Jerusalem from there. They even watched from afar as Jesus hung dying on the cross. Then they noted where his body was placed after he was removed from the cross. After observing the Sabbath after Jesus’ death, they returned to the site of his burial to properly prepare his body for burial—post-burial! They could have said “Oh well. We would have done something if they had let us before he was buried.” However, they loved Jesus to the point they desired for his dead body to be treated with proper respect; and they were willing to go inside the tomb to do it. They even wondered who would roll the stone back from the tomb to give them access. Many could have been satisfied in knowing they did what they could to support Jesus’ ministry while he was alive. Once death had separated them, they would accept that Jesus was no longer with them. It was time to move on with their lives. However, this group of women were there as he was crucified on the cross. They returned to the grave early in the morning when the Sabbath was past. Jesus had healed and delivered them. He healed them of their diseases and delivered them from demonic spirits. Their gratitude was clearly expressed by their actions towards Jesus while he was alive. Jesus healed many people during his ministry. He also cast demonic spirits out of several people. Rarely does scripture reveal to us what became of those individuals after Jesus’ healing. We do know that the man out of whom Jesus cast a legion of demons attempted to follow Jesus, but Jesus sent him back to share with his friends the good things the Lord had done for him. We are also informed that there were many who touched the hem of his garment and were made whole. We don’t know what became of most. What about the paralytic man who was brought to Jesus by his four friends? He left Jesus’ presence walking, but where did he go? But this group of women stood out from the crowd of those who were healed and delivered. They followed Jesus and it appears that it was for the sole purpose of meeting his needs with their substance. We know about the house in Bethany where Jesus could stay and eat with his friend, Lazarus. But that was not the lifestyle Jesus led. Jesus was mobile so he could go where people needed him. Jesus made it clear; he did not come to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for many. Despite that, this group of women followed him all over Galilee and then to Jerusalem. They literally followed Jesus all the way to the grave. This is a level of commitment that comes from deep within a person. You don’t do this for personal recognition or self-aggrandizement. This is a costly endeavor of both one’s time and resources. Many people would willingly sacrifice one or the other, but not many would sacrifice both. We know the names of some of them, and yet there were others whose names we were not informed of. Was this a calling upon their lives? I don’t know. But I have no doubt that this was a personal conviction that motivated them day in and day out. Today we can give thanks to God for the women who ministered to our Lord out of their substance. Perhaps they were called of God to provide material support to Jesus. Robert C. Hudson January 25, 2021

Called to Testify

February 7, 2021 Background Scripture: John 1:37 – 51; 4:25 – 42 Lesson Passage: John 4:25 – 42 The gospel accounts record how people were left in awe after a brief encounter with Jesus. There was nothing razzle-dazzle or fancy. Jesus is presented as plain-spoken and yet poignant. People understood Jesus and in doing so, they were made to understand some true mysteries of God. Faith in God made sense to the layperson where religion did not. How people reacted to their encounter with Jesus often affected how they interacted with others afterwards. Those later interactions often involved testimonials of Jesus’ divine abilities. They had no doubt that Jesus was someone very special, and not just an ordinary man. It was not as though God had called them to proclaim such things. They were so moved by the experience that they could not keep it to themselves. Our Lesson Passage focuses on “the Samaritan woman” or “the woman at the well”. We use those phrases interchangeably. Neither phrase does justice to the ministry Jesus demonstrated in Samaria. Samaria was a region that was avoided purposely by the Jews. The Jews looked down at Samaritans and considered them to be beneath them. Therefore, it would have seemed strange to Jesus’ disciples that he would have them traveling with him through Samaria. While the disciples went to a nearby town to buy food, Jesus sat on a well at midday. Jesus was waiting for a very important encounter on that day. This was no chance encounter. The bible states that Jesus had to go through Samaria on that occasion. This encounter was preordained by God. As the woman approached the well to draw water, Jesus did several unusual things. Jesus asked the woman for some water. It was unusual that a Jew would have a civil conversation with a Samaritan. It was unusual that a Jew would be expected to drink from a vessel that was not kosher. It was unusual for a Jewish man and a woman to engage in a conversation at midday and they were not married to each other. The woman immediately recognized that this was out of order and responded as such. Jesus used her response to further the conversation. She seemed evasive and defensive, but Jesus kept pressing the conversation. It eventually became a conversation about Jewish religious beliefs and practices versus Samaritan religious beliefs and practices. Jesus responded that neither group was correct or in line with what God was going to do. God was going to do a new thing and the woman understood that it would happen when the Messiah come according to their religious beliefs. Jesus informed her that she was talking to the Messiah, who is the Christ of God. This was her moment of divine enlightenment. She left without water or the waterpot. The woman went into the city and summoned all the men to come see the Christ. His perfect knowledge of her indiscretions was proof that he is who she says he is. Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, and they went to meet Jesus. When the Samaritans went out of the city to meet Jesus, they begged him to remain with them. Jesus stayed there for two days and won more converts through his teaching. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus; some were through the testimony of the woman and others through the teaching of Jesus after she sent them to meet Jesus. Was testifying about Jesus a calling upon her life? I don’t know, but I’m reminded of an old song that said: “I said I wasn’t gonna tell nobody, but I. Couldn’t keep it to myself! “ Robert C. Hudson January 18, 2021