16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. He went on to trace the lineage of King David to the Savior Jesus. So, what's your story? The apostle Paul was able to clearly, firmly, and knowledgeably make a defense of the gospel, using the history of the Jewish people - it was a clear presentation, and resulted in people coming to know Christ. In verse 43, we read: Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. So, through the power of story, Paul won people to Christ. You know, you have a winning story, too - as you passionately and confidently share what God has done in your life, in a compassionate and non-confrontational way, the Holy Spirit will use your words to penetrate the hearts of those to whom you speak.
Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4 reminds us that there is One God, and we recognize also that there is One Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ:
4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
Yesterday was one of those rare sequential dates on the calendar - 10/11/12 - and for people who skew toward the superstitious, perhaps there was some significance of that being a lucky day of some sort.
But, the Bible doesn't support superstition or the concept of luck, rather trust in God.
But, there are people that, for whatever reason, attach some symbolic meaning to a sequential date or a special day - David's Bridal released a survey this week that estimates that approximately 4,000 brides got married yesteday - a 392% increase over the prior year! Additionally, the date falls on a Thursday and reflects a growing weekday wedding trend as couples seek budget-friendly options and greater venue flexibility.
In fact, 43% of brides would consider planning their wedding on a special date, such as 10-11-12 or 12-12-12. Also, David's estimates that more than 5,000 brides will marry on December 12 of this year - 12/12/12 - compared to 485 on the same day last year - that's a 939% increase.
Dates do have significance - obviously, birthdays and anniversaries are paramount in importance. There are other anniversaries that can have special meaning. Do you remember your spiritual birthday - the day you were born again by accepting Christ as your Savior? If you haven't experienced that, today can be a special day for you - if you accept what He has done for you through His death and resurrection, believe in your heart that He is risen from the dead, and confess that He is Lord of your life. Invite Christ into your heart, and this can be a most special day for you - the day you moved from death to life, from darkness to light. If you would like to know more about a relationship with Christ, visit faithradio.org.
So, dates and numbers can have special meaning. I don't really want to get into Biblical numerology, but there are some significant numbers in the word of God, and they can tell a story for us.
1 - the reminder that there is One God, and One way to salvation - through Christ.
3 - the reminder of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Spirit.
7 - the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry offers plenty of analysis about 7, which can remind us of certain attributes and activities of God:
Seven days in a week. Seven colors in the spectrum. Seven of the 10 commandments begin with the word "not." There are 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 parables in Matthew, and 7 promises to the churches. There are 7 "eternals" in Hebrews which are: A priest for ever (1:6); Eternal salvation (1:9); Eternal judgment (6:2); eternal redemption (9:12); eternal spirit (9:14); eternal inheritance (9:15); and everlasting covenant (13:20). Jesus said 7 things on the cross...10 - there are 10 Commandments, the tithe is 10%, and according to CARM, there were 10 "I AM"'s spoken by Jesus in the book of John
40 - 40 does seem to have some significance, too...Jesus fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness, and the Israelites wandered for 40 years - many Christians are currently in a 40-day time of prayer leading up to the election on November 6th.
And, don't forget the number of the Antichrist - 666.
So, while numbers don't possess any magical qualities, still they can tell stories, and serve to remind us about certain aspects of our God.
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