Re:Verse reading–Acts 13:1-52 (day seven)
Paul witnessed with surgical precision. He left Antioch with a specific model to reach devout Jewish men in their natural synagogue setting. It made sense to Paul because they were his tribe, he knew them as well as anyone. Paul was a Jew of Jews, he was a Pharisee, he had unique access, and now he was armed with the Gospel instead of indignation. Being familiar with their order of worship Paul knew that as a guest rabbi he would have the opportunity to offer encouragement at the end of their service. He was ready. He restated their shared story and led them to the person of Jesus Christ as the culmination of all they believed.
Paul had a specific word, he had a specific place, he had a specific time, he was fully prepared to witness that day. I hope that we can look around our spheres of influence to recognize people that we can specifically reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You have a unique access to people that you can witness to just like Paul. I hope that we can pray for a specific model that we can use to witness to our own tribes for the sake of the Gospel.
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews…To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
This blog reminds us the importance of culture. Culture is defined as “how we do things around here.” Paul had the advantage over those who did not understand the culture. His culture heritage gave him some influence to draw people of the same heritage to him. He definitely gave them the feeling of connection and belonging to certain social values, beliefs, and customs.
Cultural heritage can provide an automatic sense of unity and allows us to better understand where we come from and how people operate and conduct their normal and spiritual lives. It is a wise strategy to reach out to those within our cultural heritage and our spheres of influence first. Not everyone with the same cultural heritage can provide people with an automatic sense of connection, belonging and unity. God through the Holy Spirit definitely chose Paul and staffed him for the assignment to reach devout Jewish men. God is a strategic thinker and a transformational leader.
We all have our own spheres of influence. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we may win their hearts and minds if we target those within our spheres of influence first.