rl69
10-28-2017, 08:27 AM
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."
—Acts 26:28
The word almost is an interesting term. We sometimes use it when we want to delay something, when we’re not quite ready to commit. It’s a word that we also couple with procrastination. For instance, maybe you’re at a restaurant, and the server comes by and says, “Do you know what you’d like to order today?”
You’re still looking over the menu, so you answer, “Well, almost.”
Or, maybe a husband is waiting for his wife as they’re about to go out to dinner. He says, “Are you ready yet?”
She says, “Almost.”
Then there are words that don’t work with almost. There is no such thing as almost pregnant, almost winning, or an almost Christian. A woman is either pregnant, or she isn’t. You either win the game or lose the game. You’re either a Christian, or you’re not a Christian.
You may be well on your way to becoming a Christian. You may be investigating the claims of Christ. But either you are a believer, or you are not.
In Acts, chapter 26, we read of a man known as Herod Agrippa. I call him the almost Christian. Why? Because when the apostle Paul presented the gospel to him, Herod Agrippa said, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28).
Almost. He was close but not close enough. Apparently Herod Agrippa was moved by Paul’s powerful and persuasive presentation of the gospel. But then he turned and walked away from it. He was the almost Christian.
Only God can make you aware of your need for Christ, but only you can put your faith in Him. God won’t do it for you, because He has given you a free will. It’s up to you to respond and decide to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
—Acts 26:28
The word almost is an interesting term. We sometimes use it when we want to delay something, when we’re not quite ready to commit. It’s a word that we also couple with procrastination. For instance, maybe you’re at a restaurant, and the server comes by and says, “Do you know what you’d like to order today?”
You’re still looking over the menu, so you answer, “Well, almost.”
Or, maybe a husband is waiting for his wife as they’re about to go out to dinner. He says, “Are you ready yet?”
She says, “Almost.”
Then there are words that don’t work with almost. There is no such thing as almost pregnant, almost winning, or an almost Christian. A woman is either pregnant, or she isn’t. You either win the game or lose the game. You’re either a Christian, or you’re not a Christian.
You may be well on your way to becoming a Christian. You may be investigating the claims of Christ. But either you are a believer, or you are not.
In Acts, chapter 26, we read of a man known as Herod Agrippa. I call him the almost Christian. Why? Because when the apostle Paul presented the gospel to him, Herod Agrippa said, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28).
Almost. He was close but not close enough. Apparently Herod Agrippa was moved by Paul’s powerful and persuasive presentation of the gospel. But then he turned and walked away from it. He was the almost Christian.
Only God can make you aware of your need for Christ, but only you can put your faith in Him. God won’t do it for you, because He has given you a free will. It’s up to you to respond and decide to become a follower of Jesus Christ.