Today we hear from chapter 14 in the Acts of the Apostles. Paul and Barnabas are spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified and risen:
The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 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, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them. But the residents of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news.
I am continually amazed, both in myself and with the others, how our fear can control us, and even poison the good work of others. In today’s reading, Paul and Barnabas are preaching the Gospel, and they are also manifesting God’s power working through them. Yet there are those who for one reason or another, but most likely because of fear, refuse to see God’s hand in Paul’s and Barnabas’s work. Sometimes we can be like those folks in today’s reading who are quick to run people out of town because they bring us a different view of who God is. God is so vastly infinite and other that we cannot possibly comprehend Him, but we can experience Him and others do as well. God touches us in ways as unique as we are. Unlike those who were trying to stir up the gentiles in Acts and poison minds, we should allow the holy Spirit to work through whomever the Spirit chooses.
The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 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, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them. But the residents of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news.
I am continually amazed, both in myself and with the others, how our fear can control us, and even poison the good work of others. In today’s reading, Paul and Barnabas are preaching the Gospel, and they are also manifesting God’s power working through them. Yet there are those who for one reason or another, but most likely because of fear, refuse to see God’s hand in Paul’s and Barnabas’s work. Sometimes we can be like those folks in today’s reading who are quick to run people out of town because they bring us a different view of who God is. God is so vastly infinite and other that we cannot possibly comprehend Him, but we can experience Him and others do as well. God touches us in ways as unique as we are. Unlike those who were trying to stir up the gentiles in Acts and poison minds, we should allow the holy Spirit to work through whomever the Spirit chooses.
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