Compelled to Tell 不得不说
Dexu Xia
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16
Today’s scripture Acts 20:17-24
Today's Insights Acts 20:17-35 records the first part of Paul’s teaching to the elders of the church at Ephesus. He called them to meet with him in Miletus, a seaport on the west coast of Asia Minor about forty miles away. Not only had Paul been instrumental in the founding of the Ephesian church (see chs. 18-19), he’d spent extended time there teaching, mentoring, and raising up leadership (20:31). The resulting close relationship resulted in a painful, tearstained farewell as Paul informed his Ephesian friends that they wouldn’t see him again (v. 25). This speech, however, wouldn’t be the last apostolic communication that the church at Ephesus would receive. Other New Testament letters that were either written to or about the church in Ephesus include 1 and 2 Timothy and 1, 2, and 3 John. And in Revelation 2:1-7, Ephesus received a letter from the risen Christ Himself revealed in a vision of the apostle John.
Today's Devotional “You know Jesus loves you. He really loves you.” Those were the last words of John Daniels. Just seconds after he’d given a homeless man money and shared those parting words, he was struck by a car and instantly killed. The printed program for the service that celebrated John’s life included these words: “He wanted to figure out how he could reach more people, so on a Sunday afternoon, trying to help a man in need, God gave him a way to reach the world. All of the local TV channels carried the news, and it reached friends, family, and many others all over the country.” Though John Daniels wasn’t a preacher, he was compelled to tell others about Jesus. So was Paul. In Acts 20, the apostle expressed his zeal for the gospel in his parting words to the church leaders at Ephesus: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (v. 24).
The good news of forgiveness and new life in Jesus is too good not to share with others. Some believers are more skilled at explaining the gospel than others. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, all who’ve experienced its life-changing power can tell their story of God’s love.
Reflect & Pray Who do you know who needs to hear about God’s love and forgiveness in and through Christ? What’s keeping you from sharing His work in your life with them?
Dear Father, please forgive me for being hesitant to tell others about the new life that comes through Jesus and help me boldly share Your love.
我不以福音为耻，因为福音是神的大能，要救一切相信的人。罗马书 1:16
今日读经 使徒行传 20章17-24 节
今日心得 使徒行传 20:17-35 记录了保罗对以弗所教会长老教导的第一部分。他叫他们到米利都与他会面，米利都位于小亚细亚西海岸，距离以弗所约四十英里。保罗不仅在创立以弗所教会中发挥了重要作用（见18-19 章），他还在那里花了大量时间教导、指导和培养领导力（20:31）。由此而产生的亲密关系导致他们痛苦、哭泣的告别，因为保罗告诉他在以弗所的朋友，他们不会再见到他了（25节）。然而，这场告别演说并不是以弗所教会收到的与使徒的最后一次交流。在新约中，写给以弗所教会或有关这教会的书信包括提摩太前后书，以及约翰一书、二书和三书。在启示录 2:1-7 中，以弗所还收到了来自复活的基督本人的一封信，祂在异象中向使徒约翰显现,。
今天的灵修 “你知道耶稣爱你。他真的爱你。”这是约翰·丹尼尔斯的遗言。就在他捐钱给一个无家可归的人并说出这些临别话语后几秒钟，他被车撞倒并当场死亡。在纪念约翰生命的仪式而印制的节目单上有这样的话：“他想知道如何能接触更多的人，所以，在一个星期天的下午，当他设法帮助一个有需要的人时，上帝给了他一种接触世界的方法。当地所有电视台都播放了这条新闻，这条新闻传到了全国各地的朋友、家人和许多其他人那里。”
虽然约翰·丹尼尔斯不是传教士，但他不得不向别人讲述耶稣。保罗也是如此。在使徒行传 20 章中，使徒在对以弗所教会领袖的临别赠言中表达了他对福音的热情：“我却不以性命为念，也不看为宝贵，只要行完我的路程，成就我从主耶稣所领受的职事，证明神恩惠的福音。”（24节）。
耶稣的宽恕和新生命的好消息太好了，不能不与他人分享。有些信徒比其他信徒更善于解释福音。但在圣灵的帮助下，所有经历过其改变生命的力量的人，都可以向他人讲述上帝之爱的故事。
反思和祈祷 您知道谁需要听到上帝在基督里和藉着基督赐下爱和宽恕？是什么阻止你与他们分享基督在你生命中的工作？
亲爱的天父，请原谅我犹豫不决，不愿告诉别人藉着耶稣获得新生命，求您帮助我大胆地分享您的爱。