Gtcotr/ss012118a
Acts 26
27 “King Agrippa, do you
believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul,
“You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
Almost
persuaded …
A
few years earlier, around the year AD30, Jesus was on His way to the cross when
He neared the city of Jericho and encountered a Young Rich Ruler with a
question of utmost importance.
Mark 10
17 ¶ Now as He was going out
on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher,
what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why
do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19 “You know the
commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do
not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your
mother.’ ”
20 And he answered and said
to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at
him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever
you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come,
take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this
word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Almost satisfied
…
In
hopes of teaching us God’s perspective, Jesus also gave an account of the
Prodigal Son which brings focus to another Almost kind of guy …
Luke 15 NKJV
25 “Now his older son was in
the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and
dancing.
26 “So he called one of the
servants and asked what these things meant.
27 “And he said to him, ‘Your
brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father
has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and
would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 “So he answered and said to his
father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed
your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I
might make merry with my friends.
30 ‘But as soon as this son of yours came, who
has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always
with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 ‘It was right that we should make merry and
be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is
found.’ ”
Almost in
the house …
What
was this older brother missing …
·
There was joy in the house.
·
There was meat in the house.
·
Relationship was in the house.
·
The father’s presence was in the house.
·
The future of the family was in the house.
Marriage,
career, family, salvation, church, friendships, peace, true riches --- it’s all
so close.
Don’t
be an almost kind of person. Come on in!
How
do I get in?
