Title: Go on a new path
Contents
<Today's Word>
13:42 As they went out, people begged them to say the same thing on the next Sabbath.
13:43 After the closing ceremony, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two apostles spoke with them, exhorting them to always remain in the grace of God.
13:44 On the next sabbath, almost all the city gathered together to hear the word of God.
13:45 When the Jews saw the crowd, they were full of envy, and they refuted what Paul had said and disobeyed them.
13:46 Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, saying, The word of God should be preached to you first, but since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we turn to the Gentiles.
13:47 Thus the Lord commanded us,
I will make you a light to the Gentiles, that you may save to the ends of the earth.
said you did
13:48 When the Gentiles heard it, they rejoiced and praised the word of God, and all who were ordained to eternal life believed.
13:49 The word of the Lord spread throughout the country.
13:50 Then the Jews stirred up the godly noble ladies and the powerful men in the city, and persecuted Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their borders.
13:51 And they left the dust on their feet and went to Iconium.
13:52 The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
As we watch the Winter Olympics approaching the final stage, we are filled with emotion and regret. Seeing the players struggling until the very end for victory makes us reconsider the simple principle that no victory can be achieved simply by looking at them. Every victory has a price to pay and a burden to bear alone. What will be left behind this swept away Olympic fever? It is the season of Lent where the image of the Lord, who silently went on the way of the cross that was allowed to him, is revealed more clearly.
◆ The first thing to check is grace.
Because of the message from Antioch, many people wanted to follow Paul and Barnabas. But Paul was not interested in agitating and mobilizing people. Rather, his concern was to keep him in the grace of God. More important than people's reactions is God's grace. When we are always in grace, we can transcend ourselves. So, the first thing to check is the level of grace I receive.
◆ If you get stuck, take a new route.
A person who stays in grace will not be discouraged if the road ahead is blocked. Don't give up because it's a little uncomfortable. Paul and Barnabas did not stop their way because there were people who refuted and slandered them without hearing the gospel. Rather, they were determined to take a new path. Instead of being stubborn and stubborn because of things I couldn't do, I did what I had to do first, and then I opened up a new path by taking a very active approach to the results.
◆ There is something to drop and something to hold on to.
Those who want to take a new path must drop what they want to drop. You can never move forward if you get caught up in the past. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet toward the Jews who were inciting them to persecute and drive them out. This was a warning message for the other party, but it was also a way of chasing oneself. Hold on to what you have to drop and don't regret it. And don't say anything to other people, just do what you can afford. Leave the rest to the Lord. Only then can you live a life filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.