Growth By Opposition…
Opening Prayer
Ask God to reveal his love for you so that you focus less on how other people view you and more on him.
Read Acts 14:1-7
[1] 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. [2] But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. [3] 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. [4] The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. [5] There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. [6] But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, [7] where they continued to preach the gospel. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Why did God allow them to do miraculous things?In some parts of the world opposition on the grounds of faith is normal and obvious, yet many of us live in lands where opposition is less overt. Wherever you live, it is still possible for us to gag ourselves with fear, embarrassment or human weakness. As we do this, we miss the opportunity to see lives changed by the living God. This is where Paul’s example is so humbling. He did not shy away from sharing through his words and actions, and he witnessed the living God confirm the truth of the message through “miraculous signs and wonders” (3). Why do we see so few miracles accompany the preaching of the good news today? Some suggest that this is because God ceased to demonstrate his power through miracles once the early church had the Bible (this position is known as “cessationism”). Yet today, especially in the Middle East, wonders displayed in dreams, visions and miracles draw many people to Jesus where persecution of Christians is common. God is still drawing people to himself in both quiet and miraculous means.
Apply
Ask God to draw friends or family members who have not yet come to Christ to do so in whichever way he chooses.
Closing prayer
Lord God, You are a loving, saving God and I pray to see You work wonderfully in the lives of people around me.
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