Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Acts 14:21-23
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, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (ESV)
by Angie Osborn
I found that this passage made much more sense when I began reading at verse 8. It helped me to have the background of what Paul and Barnabas had just been through. They had healed a man, and the crowd went crazy—by praising them! Paul and Barnabas were devastated and tried desperately to convince the crowd that the glory should go to God. Soon after that, these same citizens dragged Paul out of the city and stoned him. Paul and Barnabas left, but they did not give up! They moved on to a new place and continued to preach the good news. Pray today that God will give you the strength to share his good news in any circumstances!
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
