Today's Passage - Acts 16:1-5

Acts 16:1-5   He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek.  The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.  Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.  As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.  So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.   Paul truly understood how to train and build up disciples.  He was a great example in several ways:   First, Paul knew how to build up relationship with his disciples.  After Paul chose Timothy, he was willing to bring Timothy along wherever he went.  The church today often mistakenly think that we just need to hold training classes.  The church doesn't need more training classes, but there has to be people who can really spend time to lead others.  Paul has set a great example there, for he led the coworkers by working with them.  Training actually involves three steps: 1) you do the job and he watches, 2) you do the job with him and 3) he does the job and you watch.  Paul truly understood how to train coworkers, so may God help us to also understand how to lead other coworkers to serve together.   Next, Paul understood how to help the disciples to be disciplined in their spiritual life.  Serving is not just working on things, but to be disciplined in life.  When Paul decided to bring Timothy along on a trip, people in the places they were visiting knew that Timothy was half Jew and half Greek, so they demanded that Timothy followed Jewish law and be circumcised.  According to sound doctrines, Paul and Timothy could have rejected such request, especially given that council of Jerusalem had already decided that in Christ we are all new creation.  We no longer need to be bound by law, therefore Timothy could have rejected the demand of the locals.  Paul, however, taught Timothy to learn a deeper truth in ministry, which is the fact that we sometimes need to sacrifice our deserved rights for the sake of Christ in order not to make the weaker brothers stumble.  Therefore, Paul circumcised Timothy, not because he was compromising the truth, because Paul did not oppose the practice of circumcision, but rather he opposed imposing circumcision on new believers.  Timothy could have refused such request, but for the sake of the gospel or winning the souls, he valued God's will more than his own right.  Therefore, he was submissive in this matter and became a wonderful testimony.   When we serve God, we must understand that sometimes we need to give up our desired rights for the sake of Christ, so that the work of God can be spread out more extensively through us.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you for teaching us through this scripture passage; in our daily life, please discipline us to become willing to put down our own rights for the sake of Christ and God's Kingdom, and help us to understand how to work closely with others.  When we put down our own rights, we will see how your grace makes way for us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!       Participate in Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - by Donating a Seat for a future new believer!