acts 11:27-30 and acts 12: 1-2 ‘…this time’

Life seems fast and slow; in and out of time; but, in fact, there is only one time, one moment, it is this time…

Luke is writing about the recent past as though it is totally present; …this time is the here, the now, his life, …This time is Luke and he sees and writes…

‘27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.’

The disciples of Antioch’s gift is not specifically named of detailed. But, as probably with the Magi of Jesus’ birth, Barnabas and Saul carried something items easy to transport and of some value, as gold and precious myrrh. Only two were sent. But those two were Antioch’s teaching leaders, their brothers and givers, their dearly love. Antioch’s leaders sent their best. In this time, this time of need and famine, Antioch sent their heart.

And in Acts 12…

‘It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.‘

Herod arrested some, intending to persecute those taken. He kills James by the sword, this one, so that the rest would be bathed in fear. In this time, , this same moment, Antioch gives; and Herod takes. In this time, evil is present with good.

In famine, in this time, in this moment, for these eternal moments, I choose to give, not take, love not destroy, be and not diminish.

I choose Jesus.