Divided!
Opening Prayer
Glorious Lord, I bless Your name. Enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me a sure and certain hope.
Read ACTS 14:1–7
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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Sharing the Gospel can lead to either tremendous acceptance or terrible rejection.
Paul and Barnabas were traveling into an area where the impact of the Roman Empire was limited. After a hundred-mile journey they reached Iconium, a proud and ancient city which claimed to be older than Damascus. The quiet persistence of Paul and Barnabas is impressive as they continued to offer the Good News to the Jews. They knew that they were taking their lives in their hands but would not turn back. Indeed, they felt an obligation to preach there; and it was also their heart’s desire. Once again their message found a favorable reception. The impact of good preaching is found in transformed lives when people go beyond intellectual assent and lean their lives on Jesus. However, hatred creates its own energy and they were pursued up the valley. Again, lies and innuendoes found a hold in some, but Paul and Barnabas stood their ground. Not only did they speak boldly but their ministry was confirmed by God in visible ways.
The city was divided into two factions. Behind the scenes plots were being hatched to ill-treat and stone Paul and Barnabas. I suspect that they fled for two reasons: they hoped that their leaving would protect the local converts from harm, since anger was focused on them; they also remembered that Jesus had taught, “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another” (Matt. 10:23).
We must never be surprised to find that the Gospel is divisive. By being countercultural, it inevitably challenges vested interests. For some, the truth is less important than the demands it will make, and for them it is always perceived as loss—so it needs to be resisted and preferably eliminated. We should not tone down the message or restrict its circulation but ensure that it is presented clearly and graciously, accepting that not all will hear and welcome it.
Apply
Good news is for sharing. How have you (or can you) obtain clarity and wisdom in presenting the Good News of the Gospel?
Closing prayer
Help me, Lord, to live boldly for You. May You work in others’ lives so that they may be drawn to You and experience Your grace.
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