Silas and Timothy join Paul in Corinth. They have been busy about the Lord’s business. Preaching under very difficult circumstances in hostile communities.
Scripture tells us that Paul devoted himself completely to the word. He testified continuously to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. They resisted his message and blasphemed his Lord. Scripture says he “shook out his garments” and declared that the “blood was on their own heads.” He turned from them to the Gentiles with the message of the risen Christ.
He met Crispus who was the synagogue leader. This leader and all his household believed. Because of his belief many in the community believed as well.
It was then that Paul heard from the Lord in a night vision. The words he received are our scripture for today.
~Thought For Today~
It takes courage to speak midst enemies of the message. Paul, who hated the followers of Christ and desired to see them all hunted down and punished, “saw the light,” and experienced blindness for three days, after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. He could not be silent. He saw his Lord and heard His voice. Persecution of Christians was in his past. He had a burning desire to speak about Jesus. Lead all to the saving grace of Christ.
But with that came real trials. From our scripture, it would seem that the Lord knew, in spite of Paul’s bold, fiery spirit there was a measure of fear. He tells Paul, “Do not be afraid any longer.”
Have we ever been afraid to witness about Jesus? I venture a guess, that the answer would be yes. Not because we are ashamed of our relationship with Jesus but fear of the reaction of others to our message. Never, in our lifetime has there been a time when believers could lose their business for proclaiming their beliefs. For standing on the moral principals of scripture. Christians are being persecuted and ridiculed for bringing their Bible to school, desiring to pray in Jesus’ name at school functions, for running for political office proclaiming you are a Christian. That is in our country. In other places they are being beheaded and imprisoned.
Just as our Lord knew Paul’s underlying fear, He also knows ours. I believe His words to Paul in approximatelt 50-53 AD are also meant for us in 2015. We cannot be silent. We must speak about the saving grace of Jesus. As He was with Paul then, He is with believers now. We need to go on speaking, unafraid. Though it may seem that we are alone, there are many believers wherever we are. Paul preached the gospel and increased the believing community in Corinth. He settled there a year and a half.
~Scripture For Today~
Acts 18:9-11
9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We pray for boldness to speak about Jesus and His grace in every opportunity we find ourselves. We pray that fear is unseated by courage. We ask for the excitement we had when we first met Jesus. Empower us to be prepared to tell everyone about the saving grace of Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.