Cindy Donaldson, Member of St. Luke’s, worshipper at The Story Houston

Acts 26:17-18 (The Voice)
I will rescue you from your Jewish opponents and from the outsiders – for it is to the outsiders I am sending you. It will be your mission to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. This is so that they may receive forgiveness of all their sins and have a place among those who are set apart for a holy purpose through having faith in Me.

Reflection:
I love “The Voice” translation of the Bible, as it guides readers through scripture in the most common language. For example, the word Gentile is often translated to Outsider. In the context of our modern world, I see things more clearly using this terminology. As you look around your sphere of influence, can you see so-called “outsiders”? Those who haven’t accepted the truth that they are so loved by God? I certainly know many people who fit this description. I love them dearly, and because I love them dearly, I want them to find the fullness of love and life that I find in Jesus.

The Book of Acts continues the work of Jesus in seeking outsiders and introducing them to the love of God. As Paul recalls his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he tells us that Jesus said, “I will rescue you from your Jewish opponents and from the outsiders – for it is to the outsiders I am sending you. It will be your mission to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. This is so that they may receive forgiveness of all their sins and have a place among those who are set apart for a holy purpose through having faith in Me.” Acts 26:17-18 (The Voice).

Who are the so-called outsiders in your life who don’t know God? Who have you decided just won’t hear the Good News, and it’s not worth the time or social capital to share it with them? Friends, don’t count them out quite yet. If Paul, a violent persecutor of the first Christians, can be transformed into Jesus’ greatest evangelical, then I’d say anyone can be changed.

Many people haven’t accepted the love of God, not because they haven’t heard about it, but because the message has been distorted. Maybe the message was distorted by the sinful humanity of the messenger. Or maybe the Truth was distorted by the distracting trappings of rote religion.

Let’s use this technology-dependent time of the pandemic to our advantage. It has never been easier to share the Word of God digitally. For someone who is skeptical or previously harmed by the church, listening to a sermon digitally is much less intimidating than entering a church building. Think about someone in your life to whom you could send one of your recent favorite sermons. Tell them why it moved you, and what effect it had on your head and heart. The next steps could be inviting them to one of the many virtual Bible studies offered by the church, and eventually back to worship or events when it is safe for us to gather again in person. When this pandemic is behind us, wouldn’t it be wonderful to return to see a sanctuary full of former “outsiders,” who we as a church invited in?

Prayer:
Gracious God, in your holy scriptures, we learn about transformation. When we become followers of you, our souls are transformed, with a transformation of our actions to follow. I pray that through this transformation, we may have the courage and desire to reach the “outsiders” in our midst, and invite them in. We know that life with you is the greatest gift of all. In your son’s precious name we pray, Amen.