Acts 14:19-20
Courage of Paul
Some of the Jews had found Paul and stoned him. They left him just outside of the city for dead. As the disciples were standing around him he rose and left with them. Then, Paul and Barnabas gathered up and left for Derbe. Paul showed his courage when he came back to his senses because the very first thing he did was to go back into the city. How many of us would have left from the edge of town.
How do we show our Christian courage?
Acts 14:21-28
Paul does not shy away from problems. In this passage, we find out that Paul is returning to help the early Christians establish their churches in several of the areas where Paul and Barnabas threatened earlier. Not only did they return to those churches, but the spent a good amount of time.
We can see some interesting insights to the mind of Paul through this passage.
Paul showed his honesty to those who chose to become Christians. He showed them that Jesus did not come to make life easy, but to make people great.
As Paul traveled back through towns he appointed elders for all of these tiny groups of newly converted Christians. He made the point that the Christian life was for them. God opened the door for them as Gentiles to accept the mercy God showed by the crucifixion of his son. They had to rely on each other for support and encouragement to stay on the Christian path.
Paul and Barnabas never thought that anything happened through their own strength. They spoke over and over about what God had done for them or through them. Our Christian service is that we are tools that God uses to fulfill His purpose.
The critical problem of the Jewish brethren who saw themselves as chosen or better than non-Jewish brethren threatened to split the church. The problem had to be solved.
How do Christians encourage new Christians who are struggling because problems they are encountering in their lives? New Christians may blame God for their problems and eventually separate themselves from the church if there is not good encouragement and support for them to stick it out.
Have a Great Week!
Brad
Give God the Glory.
