READING: 1 Samuel 20; 1 Chronicles 4; Psalm 56, 57, 142; Acts 14
I can’t imagine all that Paul and Barnabas experienced as they faithfully followed the Lord on their missionary journey. In just today’s New Testament reading, they experienced:
- A great number of Jews and Greeks believing because of their teaching
- Signs and wonders that validated their message
- Attempted stoning by the Jews and the Gentiles, leading Paul and Barnabas to flee to the countryside
- Healing a lame man
- Crowds proclaiming Paul and Barnabas as gods
- Still, others turning on Paul and stoned him, leaving him for dead
- Miraculous healing so Paul could get up and return to the city on his own
- Paul’s training other disciples to stay faithful in their own calling
Put all of these stories together, and you see high mountaintops. And low valleys. And pain. And miracles. And salvation. And rejection. And idolatry. And healing. Through it all, Paul and Barnabas stayed faithful. They didn’t accept the worship of others when they were on the mountain, nor did they give up when they were in the valley. They just kept talking about God and His work – as we must do, too.
PRAYER: “Lord, help me to remain faithful to You no matter what I experience in life.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Samuel 21-22; 1 Chronicles 5; Psalm 52; Acts 15