Acts-chapter 14 verses 1-7( NIV)
At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to ill-treat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.
There are lots of things that caught my attention about this passage, but the main one was the fact that we are told that even although people spoke against what was preached by Paul and Barnabas, they didn’t run away from it. In fact we read that they stayed for a considerable time, and spoke the word of God boldly.
So often, in the face of difficulty or opposition, at least speaking personally, the last thing I want to do is spend a long time in such circumstances. I’d prefer that the Lord brought me through the circumstances as soon as possible. But look what happened as a result of the two men’s obedience. The Lord confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. God can do mighty things with obedient servants, even in the most difficult of places, and other lives can be changed as a result.
Dear Lord,
Many lives were changed as a result of Paul and Silas’ obedience. Help me to remember that the next time, I want to escape hard times. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.