While coordinating a fellowship one day, I asked those present to open their Bibles to Acts chapt. 29 & someone to read out Vs. 1.
Source
I kept quiet & watched.
I noticed everybody obediently opened their Bibles and after some 20 seconds, all had come to realize there was no chapt. 29. The book of Acts ends at chapt. 28.
After allowing time for everyone to wonder if I had made a mistake, I told them they wouldn't find that passage on the pages of the Bible. I could hear the unspoken question . . . "what's he up to?" .
That activity was to introduce the topic of this post . . 'The writing must continue.‘
Using the phrase in Acts 1:1b, one could say that the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke & John are a record of all that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach while here on earth. On the other hand, the book Acts of the Apostles describes what Jesus CONTINUED to do and teach after his ascension, by the power of the Holy Spirit working through His disciples and the entire early church (Acts 1:8). God and man were both in action.
Meditating on 2 Cor. 3:2-3
3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart),
King James Bible Version
I came to understand that while the acts of the early church were written by Luke in ink on the pages of the Bible, our own acts (Chapt. 29 & ff.) are being written with the Spirit of God in the hearts of men.
But dear reader, do you know our acts can have two possible effects? It's either they shine light on the gospel or cast a shadow on it.
Christians must be careful not to achieve the latter.
Mt. 5:16 says
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
King James Bible Version
Works are not only seen, they make heart-prints too.
Let's therefore consider three 'Ps' for the continued writing of Acts of the Apostles:
(1) Preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ - (Mt. 28:18-20). Lk. 4:18 says
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
King James Bible Version
(2) Practical christian living. We are to live out the life and love of Christ.
Mt. 5:13-15 says
we are the salt and light of the world.
I Tim. 4:12 says we should be an example of the believer
(3) Prayers.
You can touch the lives of others on your knees. Acts 12:5 says
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
King James Bible Version
Arise and shine my dear brothers and sisters. There's a Saul out there waiting for his touch of miracle.
The writing must continue.
Thanks for reading. 🙋♂
God bless you