Serve Boldly

Acts 14:1-7

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

14 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. ² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.  ³ So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. ⁴ The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.  ⁵ There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews,  together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.   ⁶ But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, ⁷ where they continued to preach the good news.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2014:%201%20-%207&version=NIV1984)

Where did Paul and Barnabas always go when they entered the city? (Synagogue).  Why do you think they went to the Synagogue?  As I pondered this thought I had to think of the purpose of the church.  I think it is the same now as it was then. It is and was to equip believers to be bold in their faith and to go out and spread that faith with others.  You may recall in the previous chapter that the people went out and brought more people to the Synagogue the next Sabbath day, practically the entire town came to hear what these men had to say.  But, take special note, these men did not just preach on the Sabbath, in the Synagogue that is just where they started, they went out amongst the people of the town throughout the week and they shared their faith boldly. 

Did this divide the city? (Yes).  Throughout the time of man there has been division regarding who to serve.   Some served the little gods while others served the One true God.  Now in these scriptures we see that some are trying to serve God but are trying to do so without recognizing the deity of Christ Himself which divided the city.  I would imagine there were even those who were serving little gods.   Division will always happen when one or both parties are seeking their own selfish desires rather than the desires of our Lord.  The question we all must ask ourselves is whether we are truly seeking the Lord’s desires or are we seeking our own desires.

As you seek Him today, I pray that you will find that your desire in the life is to follow Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.  No matter if it brings division, strife, and persecution, spread the Word of the Lord and serve Him gladly.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila