Wednesday, October 8, 2014

SO THEY REMAINED...


Acts 14;1-3

            “Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.  So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord…”

            So Paul and Barnabas moved on from Antioch because the Jews there stirred up persecution against them and drove them out of the area.  But what did they do when they arrived in Iconium?  They went straight back to the synagogue!  The negative experience in Antioch did not turn them off to taking the message to the Jews first in Iconium!  Why did they stick with the Jews?  They knew they were called to do this and they were going to remain faithful to the calling they received from God.  So even if they were going to run into more trouble in Iconium they stayed the course and obeyed.  A reminder to us to remain faithful to God’s calling to bear witness faithfully no matter what the response we receive!

            Sure enough, the “unbelieving Jews” were very displeased with the wonderful response to the gospel in Iconium and they set about stirring up opposition against the apostles.  It is interesting that the Greek word for “unbelieving” could be literally translated “disobedient.”  The Jews who did not receive and believe the gospel of Jesus were being disobedient!  It was not just a matter of religious preference; it was a matter of disobedience!  The God who created their nation, protected and grew them in Egypt, guided them through the wilderness, gave them the law and the prophets, and the promises of the messiah/Savior, did not send his Son along with an option of accepting or rejecting him!  The Jewish people were commanded to honor and glorify their messiah when he came to them.  Their failure to do this was an act of disobedience.  The offer of the gospel to people today is much more than simply a religious option.  The God of the universe who created all people and who intends to create a planet in which all people obey and worship him does not simply offer Jesus as Savior but demands humble submission to him!  It seems the very least we can do as Christians is tell people about this God and his Son and what is expected of them!  If they reject Christ they are disobedient!

            Finally, Paul and Barnabas were experiencing the same kind of opposition and potential persecution they experienced in Antioch.  The Jews “poisoned the minds” of the Gentiles against them.  Time to leave, right?  Time to move on!  Time to shake the dust from their robes and go to the next city!  The next words of the text are just so matter of fact; “So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord…”  That just leaves me both amazed and rebuked.  It is as if they said to one another, “Wow!  There is a lot of opposition to the good news here!  We need to stay for a long time and keep teaching!”  We face little opposition to the gospel.  And when we do meet with opposition we are more likely to give up and move on.  Instead, we should pray and press on!  Never give up!  Keep bearing witness; keep teaching; keep loving people in Jesus’ name!

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