Bible Reading Blog
“Strength in Adversity”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Acts 14
“When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples…” (Acts 14.21-22a)
Paul liked to revisit places he had already been. Together with Barnabas, their journeys helped the church to grow tremendously. But given the events of Acts 13-14, their return to these cities was unexpected.
In Antioch, the leading men and women ran them out of town for preaching the gospel (Acts 13.50). In Iconium, the city was divided about them, and an attempt was made on their lives (Acts 14.4-5). They fled to Lystra where the people treated them like gods (Acts 14.8-18)... until the folks from Antioch and Iconium showed and incited the people. Paul been dragged out of Lystra, stoned, and left for dead (Acts 14.19); and almost immediately he went back to all those place. Why in the world would he go back?
Paul could have avoided these places and moved along, but he cared about these brethren. His choice to come back to their city after being treated the way he had and seek them out spoke volumes to his love and his faith.
A display of resolute strength is the face of adversity is powerful. I recently had a conversation with my uncle, who suffered for months in the hospital through a double lung transplant. He has been at death’s door on multiple occasions. But he only wanted to tell me how it changed his faith. He gave glory to God for the experience because it has brought him to greater trust. Faith that is tested offers a powerful testimony to other believers.
Your attitude in difficult situations has the potential to inspire determination in others. Your persistence may encourage someone who wants to give up. Paul didn’t return complaining about what happened, but he didn’t try to hide it either. He was persecuted for what he did and taught. This was part of being a follower of Jesus. When he came back this was his message (14.22b). Paul sometimes struggled with what he suffered. At one point he was nearly driven to despair (2 Corinthians 1.8-9); but he never lost sight of whom he trusted (2 Timothy 1.12). He found peace and contentment in the promises of God (Philippians 4.10-13), and he shared that freely with other believers.
We will all have difficult seasons. It’s important we share that with each other—we’ve all been through tough times . Like Paul, let’s determine to seek out other believers to lean on and find encouragement. But we need to remember that how we carry ourselves matters. We can give into despair, or we can dig into our faith. God has designed the church to bear one another’s burdens, but we must all make a commitment to trust him. A church united in this trust is a powerful source of strength to all involved.
“…with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” (Acts 14.23b)
