following Jesus = happy fun times

Acts 14:19-20  The some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side.  They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.  But as the believers gathered around him, ho got up and went back into town.  The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Observation:  Paul and Barnabas were selected by the Holy Spirit for a special work.  They set out on the first-ever mission trip, telling people everywhere they went about Jesus the Messiah.  And they had tremendous success.  Jews and Gentiles, leaders and lame people…the people begged to hear more, and many became followers of Jesus.  But not everyone was happy.  Some of the Jewish leaders rejected the message, stirred up a crowd, and decided to attack.  They even followed Paul and Barnabas to Lystra, where Paul was nearly killed.  How did Paul react to this persecution?  He got up, dusted himself off, and walked back into town.  Back to the people who had just tried to kill him.  Back to the people who needed to hear what he had to say about Jesus.  Maybe this following Jesus isn’t all warm fuzzies and smooth sailing.

Application:  I tend to identify more with the part of Paul and Barnabas’ ministry on their return trip back through the places they visited.  On their way home, they met with the people who had become believers, strengthening their faith, appointing and developing leaders.  But I think that God is reminding me that there is a world of people who need to hear a clear presentation of his message, who need to see the love of Christ, who need to know that He loves them/us.  Like most of us, I tend to shy away from confrontation.  (I’m sure some freaky people out there actually like confrontation, but I don’t!)  And even less than I like confrontation, the idea of persecution–even losing my life–is enough to give me pause.  But I know this: Deciding to follow Jesus means embracing his mission, taking on his values.  And it’s clear as a bell that he wants us to be his ambassadors.  The message might not be popular.  The hearers might not react well to the message.  Yet the truth is that I have a message: I have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God…  (Acts 14:15)

Heavenly Father, King and Rescuer, fill my heart with courage and compassion.  Help me to love you, and to love other people the way you do.  I know that you want to see my neighbors and friends come to know you.  Help me to find a way to share this Good News with them.  Help me to be less concerned about myself, and more concerned about them.  Let me value you and your Kingdom, to weep for those who are separated from you, to humbly tell your story, my story…Please don’t let fear and the possibility of rejection make me hesitant.  Give me words to speak, and open the doors for your Kingdom to come in the lives of the people you love.