Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from Radical.net.

Acts chapter 21 verse 17,

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. Now that's just a simple verse.

And if you're reading through the Bible, you probably don't pause and think much about it.

But I think this is a verse worth pausing and thinking much about and praying according to

for Paul and Luke to come to Jerusalem. So Luke's writing the book of Acts. That's where we see

this us in here. It's not just Paul, it's Luke and others. When we had come to Jerusalem,

the brothers received us gladly. When I read that, I think about when I meet

uh brother or sister in Christ who I've never met before and especially if they are from

another country. Like I think about standing out in the lobby in the church where I pastor

in between our worship gatherings and it's not uncommon to meet someone who's traveling through

Metro Washington DC from another country and to meet them. And I love how as they introduce

themselves to me and I to them, we have instant fellowship in Jesus. It's awesome. Like I don't know

anything about this person except for the fact that they're a follower of Jesus. And as a result

of that one simple reality, I look at them and I'm like, we're family. You're my brother or sister,

I'm your brother or sister. We are instant family. And so we start to share our stories just

a little bit in that kind of conversation. But I think about this just whenever I meet a new

brother or sister in Christ and begin to hear a little bit about their story, there's so much joy.

I just picture that the brothers receiving us gladly. And I want to encourage you to maximize

the joy of those kinds of moments when you meet a brother or sister in Christ who you didn't know

before. Just realize in that moment, this is family. So treat them like family. I love them.

Just ask, even if you have just a few minutes to talk with them. Questions about God's grace

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