PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 13:42-48
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“All who were appointed for eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)
In Romans 11 Paul explains how God uses Jewish unbelief to reach the Gentiles.
He also says that their unbelief could change, that they could still be saved again.
“Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! … If they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.” Romans 11:11,20)
Calvinists see this ‘appointing’ as God eternally choosing some and rejecting others.
I see it more as God directing human affairs for the purpose of salvation.
God is directing our times and places SO THAT people will seek Him (Acts 17:26-27).
God appointed those who responded so that others could be saved as well.
Election is not God rejecting some, but God saving some to help save others.
God wants everyone to be saved, and uses some ‘salvations’ to help others.
If we believe, God has appointed us to help others believe… this is our mission.
If someone rejects Jesus, this does not mean they are not ‘appointed’.
God is still working in them, and wants to use you to draw them.
I’ve been appointed for eternal life… to help others receive eternal life.
PRAYER
Lord, help me not to get lost in the mystery of God’s sovereign purpose, that I forget why you have called and chosen me to follow you. I am called for a purpose, may I be faithful to that calling!
“When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” This is what any evangelist could hope for !! What a blessing for the messengers for the message to be received gladly and honoured! It is often not the case. Often believers are ridiculed for their ‘crutchy’ religion – believing in a god! Lord help me to speak to the hope that I have in you Jesus – that I may honour you as I ought and that I cause no offense but rather trigger a desire to learn more. May I work in concert with your Holy Spirit! Thank you for the privilege of being your messenger! You have appointed me as a messenger – help me to be faithful!
I appreciate the way you read “appointed” in this passage. I likewise do not think these verses in Acts 13 are talking about the Calvinist idea of the “elect” who God has chosen to go to heaven, as opposed to everyone else. These particular Gentiles were appointed for a purpose in their place and time, to help cultivate God’s inclusive and universal kingdom, to model God’s expansive love to all, to reintegrate into the universal body of Christ those who had been excluded. God does not exclude or ask us to exclude any individuals or groups – people are always the ones doing the that. I actually think that when we have an exclusionary or individualistic view of salvation, we are the ones rejecting true salvation and eternal life in Christ. We reject the good news and effectively consider ourselves unworthy of eternal life when we have an “in or out” mindset. I always need to ask God to remind me how much he loves everyone and to love through me, too.
This light of mine I need to make it shine. God also made me His light so that others can see that I am His and He is mine and His banner over me is love. I walk daily in His ‘SonShine’ and others need to see that ‘SonShine.’ Jesus is the answer when I was a small child and He still is the answer to one and all today, to all who believe. I need to be an instrument of that peace.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
We will sing in peace,
We will sing in harmony.
We will sing in peace,
We will sing in harmony.
We will sing in peace,
We will sing in harmony.
We will sing in peace,
We will sing in harmony.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine around the world, We’re gonna let it shine.
Let it shine around the world, We’re gonna let it shine.
Let it shine around the world, We’re gonna let it shine.
Let it shine around the world!
Let it shine, We’ll all shine, We’ll all shine, We’ll all shine!
Let shine, let it shine, let it shine!