"Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch," Acts 14:19-21
I love a good comeback story. Nothing beats the scene of Rocky running through the Philadelphia streets. Except the story of Paul that is. Talk about a guy that refused to stay down. In Acts, chapter 14, the story is told of Paul and Barnabas speaking to a group of Jews and Greeks at Iconium in an effort to win them to Christ. Many were saved but those who chose not to believe "stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers." (v.2) When they moved on to preach in Lystra, they healed a man lame from birth (by God's power of course) that had never walked. When the crowd there saw what they had done, they wanted to worship them as gods. As you would expect, they shouted to the crowd, "why are you doing this? We too are only human like you." (v.15)
And here's where the story gets good. Some Jews came and incited a riot. They had Paul stoned to death (or so they thought) and thrown out of the city. Not only did Paul get back up and go back into the city, he stayed the night! The next day, he and Barnabas preached in Derbe, winning a large number of disciples and then returned to Lystra, the same place he had been stoned and thrown out of! Because of his refusal to give up, many more souls were saved.
Shouldn't we all follow the example of Paul? Praise God, most of us don't have to worry about being stoned to death but when we are rejected because of Christ, do we give up? Let us all be Christians with a comeback story.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us everything we need to be the messengers you have called us to be. Give us the strength, courage and determination to share the Gospel in places where it is not welcome knowing that if even one person is saved, it will have been worth it. Help us to get back up again knowing that our power to do so comes from you. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org
Get back up - Toby Mac
No comments:
Post a Comment