(The following is the May 24 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Acts 14 and pay close attention to verses 1-7.)
What would cause you to stop telling others about Jesus? Would intimidation? Threats? Persecution? Imprisonment? Orders from governing authorities? Would mere criticism from others stop you? Would the fear of others not liking you keep you quiet? The apostles and early church leaders experienced such circumstances, yet they remained faithful in proclaiming Christ amid mortal danger.
Paul and Barnabas received a mixed reaction while preaching at Iconium. “The people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles” (v. 4). Those opposed attempted to stone them, but they escaped to Lystra and Derbe and continued preaching. Earlier chapters in Acts record apostles disobeying human authorities because they decided to obey God rather than humans if forced to choose. As Peter and John said in Acts 4:20, “we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
We find time and ways to do what is important to us. Imagine, for example, walking alongside a busy street, and the least valuable coin in your hand falls and rolls into the middle of the road. If there is much traffic traveling at high speeds, would you risk your life to retrieve that coin? Probably not. But what if your child darted out into the traffic? Would you have the same cavalier attitude about losing the child? Of course not. You would risk everything to rescue the one you love from danger.
Lost souls are perishing apart from Christ. We have the solution in the gospel of Jesus. It is a privilege to proclaim it, so nothing should keep us from exercising that privilege.
Next Step:
What adverse reactions have you faced or feared as a Christian (e.g., criticism, rejection, persecution, unemployment, etc.)? Have you let such consequences hinder your faithfulness? Why or why not?
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