When All is Said and Done
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Pastor Coon
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[author's note - the following has been adapted/edited from a devotion by James Ryle]
"And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not." (Act 28:24)
Paul was unquestionably one of the best and most effective preachers who ever lived. Yet, not everybody believed what he said. Someone once wrote, "When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done." Having preached for awhile now I know this is true.
It is interesting to observe the dynamics at work in my congregation when I am preaching the truth of God's Word. First there is a curiosity that inclines them to listen, which they do for a brief moment. If there is not sufficient reason to continue listening presented in those first minutes — the talk is over before it ever begins. Sometimes it seems that an audience will ignore all else if the introduction seems to apply to others rather than themselves. A preacher needs to know how to get to the heart of the matter without delay.
After people decide to listen, then there is the eerie silence of uninterrupted focus. At times it seems you could hear a pin drop. People's minds are focused and their heart's are open. Truth is doing a deep work.
Then there is a shifting in the seats as people process what they are hearing; in some there is an internal debate, while in others there is a dawning awareness of truth. Ultimately, all preaching comes to the moment of decision. What are you going to do with what you have heard? Sadly, there is such a working of the devil to make people feel too subconscious about leaving their seat for a trip to the altar...a trip signalling change.
Like Paul, all of us have our moments when we are effective in doing what God has us to do. And, we also have our moments when, no matter what we do, it doesn't seem to make any difference at all. It is interesting to note that, in Paul's case, some were persuaded, convinced, and believed the things that were spoken. But others, note how the Bible puts it, "some believed not"...it could just as easily read and some refused to believe a word of it.
I don't think this was a result that they could not believe; rather, they would not believe. Paul had indeed convinced even them, but their hearts refused to accept what they were hearing because they did not want to change. Jesus said, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)
And so it is that when all is said and done — and this World is no more — this simple verse of Scripture will serve as the judicial evidence of all humanity: "And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not." (Act 28:24)
What will be said of you in that day?
"And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not." (Act 28:24)
Paul was unquestionably one of the best and most effective preachers who ever lived. Yet, not everybody believed what he said. Someone once wrote, "When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done." Having preached for awhile now I know this is true.
It is interesting to observe the dynamics at work in my congregation when I am preaching the truth of God's Word. First there is a curiosity that inclines them to listen, which they do for a brief moment. If there is not sufficient reason to continue listening presented in those first minutes — the talk is over before it ever begins. Sometimes it seems that an audience will ignore all else if the introduction seems to apply to others rather than themselves. A preacher needs to know how to get to the heart of the matter without delay.
After people decide to listen, then there is the eerie silence of uninterrupted focus. At times it seems you could hear a pin drop. People's minds are focused and their heart's are open. Truth is doing a deep work.
Then there is a shifting in the seats as people process what they are hearing; in some there is an internal debate, while in others there is a dawning awareness of truth. Ultimately, all preaching comes to the moment of decision. What are you going to do with what you have heard? Sadly, there is such a working of the devil to make people feel too subconscious about leaving their seat for a trip to the altar...a trip signalling change.
Like Paul, all of us have our moments when we are effective in doing what God has us to do. And, we also have our moments when, no matter what we do, it doesn't seem to make any difference at all. It is interesting to note that, in Paul's case, some were persuaded, convinced, and believed the things that were spoken. But others, note how the Bible puts it, "some believed not"...it could just as easily read and some refused to believe a word of it.
I don't think this was a result that they could not believe; rather, they would not believe. Paul had indeed convinced even them, but their hearts refused to accept what they were hearing because they did not want to change. Jesus said, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)
And so it is that when all is said and done — and this World is no more — this simple verse of Scripture will serve as the judicial evidence of all humanity: "And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not." (Act 28:24)
What will be said of you in that day?
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