From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave… Acts 28:23b-25a
The Apostle Paul is my hero. I am amazed by his logic, his eloquence, and his boldness. And yet, despite his oratory skills, listeners would still turn away from his message. Here he was imprisoned near the end of his life after suffering beatings, shipwrecks, and all manner of persecution for his faith and many of his own people are rejecting his message. Perhaps the quality I most admire in Paul is his perseverance. He is someone who is finishing the race well. And it’s not because of the cheers and encouragement of the crowds, because there wasn’t much of that. It’s out of obedience to his Lord and Savior.
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 28:30-31
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the example of Paul in your Word. Like Paul, I sincerely desire to boldly preach the kingdom of God even in the face of adversity. Grant me the perseverance to finish well and the faith to obediently follow you even when I am tempted to be discouraged. Amen.
Greg (gmd40187)
Sixty-six books in a year 