Missing It

GETTING STARTED

A few years ago, we were praying about an important decision for our family. After a few weeks, we sat down to talk about choosing a path. We had both prayed and sought counsel, and had both been in the Word, but only one of us felt God leading toward a specific direction. Yet, after we discussed the ways in which it appeared to one of us that God was lighting a path, it became obvious to both of us that his voice and direction were clear.

  • Think back to a time when you may have missed what God was doing in your life. What helped you later recognize he had been at work all along?

READ THE WORD: ACTS 13:23-37 (ESV)

23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

“‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’

34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,

“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’

36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Paul was speaking to Jews in a synagogue in Antioch, but who else was he addressing (vs. 26)?
  2. Why did Paul say the leaders in Jerusalem failed to accept Christ as the Messiah (vs. 27)?
  3. What is the difference between not recognizing and not understanding what God is showing you?
  4. How was their failure to recognize divine truth instrumental in fulfilling God’s promise (vss. 28-32)? What does this say about God’s sovereignty?
  5. Think about a time when you “missed it” by either not recognizing, or not understanding, what God was doing in your life. How was God still at work?

RESPOND TO GOD

Despite their religious disciplines and knowledge of God’s word, the leaders in Jerusalem failed to recognize Christ as the Messiah. They even unwittingly participated in fulfillment of messianic prophecies by condemning and executing Jesus. How is it that some recognized what God was doing, while others just missed it? Paul explained that they either failed to understand what they had been taught, didn’t recognize what God was doing, or both. And yet, God was ever sovereign, using even their ignorance of his presence on earth to fulfill the promise of salvation for the world.

  • Pray that you will avoid spending your time with God in an impersonal, ritualistic way that might cause you to miss what he’s doing in your life.
  • Pray that you would find rest and peace in knowing that despite any lack of present understanding, his plans are still perfect and will always be best.