Acts - Until Everyone Knowsਨਮੂਨਾ

Acts 14

Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey into the city of Iconium, and as was their custom, they started preaching in the synagogue to the Jews. They spoke so effectively that many believed, and even with growing opposition to their work, the apostles waited until they were forced to flee to Lystra and Derbe. On getting to Lystra, Paul heals a crippled man when he saw the man’s faith.

The crowd sees this and declares, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” (v. 11). Paul, they called Hermes and Barnabas, Zeus, and the crowd proceeded to worship them as gods! The apostles reject this worship even as Jews from Iconium come over and stir up the crowd. They stoned Paul and left him for dead outside of the city. Miraculously, Paul gets up and, with Barnabas, they return the way they came, strengthening the believers along the way. On return to Antioch, they share the good news of all that God has done through them.

Jesus told us that in the world we will have tribulations (John 16:33), a point which Paul emphasises when he talks about hardships in God’s Kingdom. For many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them from all of it (Psalm 34:19).

This is an encouragement that, as a Christian, you are to persevere in the face of opposition. For neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all Creation, will be able to separate you from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

You should also be mindful to give all the praise to God when things go well, for all the Glory belongs to God.

Heavenly Father, I pray that the same Power of the Spirit that sustained Paul on all his journeys would operate powerfully in me today as I continue to share Your Good News. Amen.

Dee Udeze