◄ What Does Acts 3:26 Mean? ►

God raised up His Servant and sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways."

Acts 3:26(HCSB)

Picture courtesy of James Arendt

Verse of the Day

God chose Israel to be the nation through whom He would save man. But they sinned and throughout the Old Testament, Israel was called on by the prophets to repent and turn from their evil ways. Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and John the Baptist called upon Israel to repent nationally, turn from sin, follow their Messiah, and fulfil their original calling to tell the world of God. But they crucified their King. At Pentecost, we once again discover the apostles calling on God's chosen nation, the men of Israel, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ Who is God's Messiah, God's appointed Man, God's Servant.

He was the Word made flesh. He was God Incarnate Who came in the likeness of sinful flesh and Who was sent first to the house of Israel; the nation chosen by the Lord to be His messengers to tell the world of the Messiah, God’s appointed Saviour.

And in this message to the Jews, Peter again tells of the wonderful truth that although Israel had crucified their Messiah (Who was also the Saviour of the world), He had been resurrected from the dead. Once again, the nation of Israel was being called on to repent nationally, turn from sin, follow their Messiah, and fulfil their original calling to tell the world of God's love, and grace, and His plan of salvation. For God raised up His Servant, Jesus Christ, and sent Him first to Israel. He was born of a Jewish virgin as prophesied by Isaiah. He was of the house of David and of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Yes, God raised up His Servant and sent Him first to Israel so that they would be blessed by turning, in faith, from their evil, idolatrous ways to Christ. They would be turning to One Who throughout His sinless life, demonstrated that He was indeed the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Messiah of Israel, and the Saviour of the World.

The calling of God is trustworthy and true, and the nation that God called to be His chosen people, will one day fulfil their calling to tell the world of God's love, and grace, and His plan of salvation.

Until that time, all who believe in the Lord Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile, become part of the One New Man in Christ, where there is no differentiation between Jew nor Gentile, bond or freeman, male or female, young or old, for we are all ONE in Christ.

My Prayer

Loving Father, I pray You would look down in blessing on Your chosen nation of Israel. Thank You that through them we received the Scriptures, the promises, and the Messiah, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Thank You that you never rejected Israel, even though they crucified Your Son, for Your gifts and calling to Israel is without repentance, just as they are to the Church. Thank You that even when we are faithless, You remain faithful. I pray that many may come to see Jesus as their true Messiah in the days that lie ahead. In Jesus' name, AMEN.