26 JUL 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must suffer many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:21-22
The brutal facts of life need to be reflected on from time to time. The Lord himself said that ‘in this life, there will be trials”. Life in general is hard and even more so for the Christian. Didn’t sign up for that, did you? Jesus in his paradoxical sermon on the mount, gave the Beatitudes in order to tell us how to be blessed or happy. That happiness is in the midst of suffering, persecution, and even death for being one of his kids.
Paul demonstrated his willingness to suffer in verse nineteen of the same passage. He is dragged out, stoned, and left for dead. What did Paul do? The man got up and went back to town. He was dealt vicious blows at the hands of those who rejected the message and the messenger. Paul was not there for the people who reject him, he is there for the people who receive him. Paul took his licks and stayed focused.
He went and preached the Good News and made “many” disciples. Here this! No matter where you go in this world there will be opposition, but there will always be “some, few, or many” that will receive the Lord and become disciples. Jesus commanded us to go out and do the work of reaching the lost and developing the faithful. We grow as we go. Share the message and let it be the filter. People are like a traffic light, they are either red, yellow, or green. Don’t waste your time on the red lights because there are too many yellows and greens that are ready to receive the good news or be developed.
Are you facing opposition and suffering as a Christian?
Reading Plan: Psalm 119:49-72; 1 Sam. 25:23-44; Acts 14:19-28; Mark 4:35-41
1 comment:
Excellent
Post a Comment