The Gospel

“A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:9-10)

Notice the request.  The request in quotes below says,

“Come over to Macedonia and help us.“

Help us is the phrase under consideration.  Notice that the kind of help being requested is not mentioned here.  He just ask for help.  And notice Paul’s response.

“…we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.“

Paul seemed to feel that one of the best ways to help anyone is to give them the Gospel.  Most of us have experienced times when we need immediate help.  My wife and I have been there and thank God for those who were willing to lend us the hand up and the hand out that we needed.  We certainly ought to be willing to help people where it is warranted with no strings attached.  But I still believe, with Paul, that one of the best ways to help people is to give them the Gospel.

Give a man a meal and you help him for the moment.  Give them the Gospel and you help them for an eternity.

We need to give our children the Gospel especially when they are young so that when they get out on their own and mom and dad is perhaps a thousand miles away their faith in God will carry them through.  In the King James Version in Acts 17:3 the Bible says that Paul was opening and alleging.  The New American Standard Version says that he reasoned with them.  Paul was opening the Scriptures, looking into the text, explaining the text and it says that some believed.

If we give people the Gospel, some of them are going to believe and you will have helped them for an eternity.  Mothers and fathers, come on now.  It is time.

One of the best ways to help anyone is to give them the Gospel.