Daily Bread Acts 18
Daily Bread Acts 18
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
Observation:
We continue to see Paul’s strategy of preaching on the Sabbath in the synagogues, but then as he was opposed, he would go to where there was openness to the gospel. In the case above, it was right next door to a man named Titius Justus, who worshipped the Lord. Then we see that the synagogue ruler, Crispus, was also so taken by his message that his whole household believed and was baptized.
Apparently these two guys were pretty influential as many other Corinthians took their cues and heard and believed too. So although Paul initially faced much rejection, there was a harvest waiting around the corner.
Application:
Sometimes we get discouraged when people are not right away open to the message of Christ, but we see that God’s Word does not return in vain. As we are faithful to preach, teach and live out the message, there will be those that respond.
Its funny it’s the same principle in advertising. Just because you send out one ad and there is no response does not mean you should stop according to the marketing gurus. They talk about saturation of your message and eventually many people come to need your product/services when they are ready and since your have gotten your message out they come to you. It’s kind of a crude analogy, but I think there is something to it.
I think the bigger issue is that we don’t often put the message out there for fear of rejection, or not wanting to seem to be overtly religious, or a “bible thumper”. While you may not be like Paul preaching in the synagogues and market square each week, God can use you to share the Good News in many ways. Pray to Him to use you and your story in ways that will lead many to being receptive to a relationship with the one True God!
Prayer: God use us to share the Good News with our family, friends and yes even strangers. We know that there are some who will reject the message, but others right next store will be open to hearing the greatest news of all time! And may Your Holy Spirit guide us as it guided Paul, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
Observation:
We continue to see Paul’s strategy of preaching on the Sabbath in the synagogues, but then as he was opposed, he would go to where there was openness to the gospel. In the case above, it was right next door to a man named Titius Justus, who worshipped the Lord. Then we see that the synagogue ruler, Crispus, was also so taken by his message that his whole household believed and was baptized.
Apparently these two guys were pretty influential as many other Corinthians took their cues and heard and believed too. So although Paul initially faced much rejection, there was a harvest waiting around the corner.
Application:
Sometimes we get discouraged when people are not right away open to the message of Christ, but we see that God’s Word does not return in vain. As we are faithful to preach, teach and live out the message, there will be those that respond.
Its funny it’s the same principle in advertising. Just because you send out one ad and there is no response does not mean you should stop according to the marketing gurus. They talk about saturation of your message and eventually many people come to need your product/services when they are ready and since your have gotten your message out they come to you. It’s kind of a crude analogy, but I think there is something to it.
I think the bigger issue is that we don’t often put the message out there for fear of rejection, or not wanting to seem to be overtly religious, or a “bible thumper”. While you may not be like Paul preaching in the synagogues and market square each week, God can use you to share the Good News in many ways. Pray to Him to use you and your story in ways that will lead many to being receptive to a relationship with the one True God!
Prayer: God use us to share the Good News with our family, friends and yes even strangers. We know that there are some who will reject the message, but others right next store will be open to hearing the greatest news of all time! And may Your Holy Spirit guide us as it guided Paul, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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