Christ; the Occupying Force

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.

(Acts 18:5 ESV)

Do you relate to this verse? Do you see the occupying force in Paul’s life? Acts 18 brings us into Paul’s ministry in Corinth. Paul has been preaching the gospel for some time now. We notice in verse 5 that Paul didn’t even take the time to greet Silas and Timothy because he was “occupied with the word” or he was too busy talking with those around him. What was he talking about? Paul was preaching and telling the Jews that Christ was Jesus. Jesus was God. Jesus was the Savior, the Messiah. This was the occupying force in Paul’s life.

What is the occupying force in your life? What do you spend your time talking about? What do you spend your time meditating on? It is clear here in verse 5 that Paul spent his time talking about and meditating on God and His gospel. Paul was occupied with words for Christ because his life was occupied with the Word of Christ. His words were not wasted. He was consumed by the truth of the Word. His mission and journey centered on Christ alone. His mind, his acts, and his words pointed all to Christ. That is powerful. Think about that for a second.

Paul’s words were not wasted, are yours? What if someone was granted the ability to be with you every second of the day? What if that same person was then granted the ability to know all of your thoughts, desires, and plans? Once that day was over what would that person say about your occupying force? What or who did your words glorify? Where did your thoughts take you?  

I pose these questions because I want all of us to truly start thinking about our thoughts and our words. I have a strong suspicion that a large number of us are wasting both of these. We are wasteful because the world is our occupying force instead of God. The world causes that sports team to become more attractive than our Savior. The world causes that girl or guy we spend our time lusting after to become more alluring than our Savior. The world causes that job and the money it provides to become more enthralling than our Savior. These thoughts then turn our words upside down. Our words are used to share gossip instead of the gospel. Our words are used to make much of us instead much of God. Our words are used to tear others down instead of point others to Christ. This is the life of one not occupied with the Word of our Lord.

Is God the occupying force in your life? Do your thoughts go to Him when you are alone? Do your words share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those around you? Please spend some time thinking about verse 5 this week. Spend some time shaping your thoughts and your words to glorify God. Please remember this is not begrudgingly pointing your thoughts toward God or begrudgingly using your words as lip service to God. Paul didn’t share the gospel begrudgingly. Paul used his words and his thoughts to point to the One that saves! Paul shared the gospel with an enthusiastic love for Christ. I pray that we would share that enthusiasm for the Gospel. God saves and I pray that our thoughts and words reflect that.