Sunday, August 1, 2021

Acts 14:19-20 Devotion by Stephen Taylor

Acts 14:19

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

 

God didn’t stop the rocks from being thrown at Paul, but He did see him through this attack. Sometimes, in life, the enemy is going to start chucking stones at us, and we have to be fully prepared, putting on the full armor of God each day if we are going to be able to withstand these attacks!

 

We might think Paul had this coming. After all, he persecuted and tried to destroy the early believers in Christ. But I don’t believe this was a punishment from God but rather a way God could display His power and favor through Paul and show everyone that Paul was changed and now was operating with a heart filled with Christ! Look at the very next verse:

 

Acts 14:20 - But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

 

It doesn’t say that Paul went back into the city and taunted or condemned those who hurt him but rather just went quietly, humbly, and meekly back into the city and then continued on his way! Imagine the people who just stoned him running into him and not getting the reaction they would expect. Imagine them receiving a prayer or a smile instead of a curse and a fist! That, my brothers and sisters, is one of the stories that shows me the true conversion that comes when you turn your life over to Christ!

 

I found it later in the book of Acts as well, when Paul was in chains (unjustly) for some time. Acts 26:29 - Paul replied, "Short time or long - - I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."

 

That, my friends, is a statement that only Jesus Christ living in us can make! We could never respond like that unless the love of Christ is overflowing in us, through us, and around us!

 

God bless! I love you all! Glory, Honor, and Praise forever to God Almighty, Jesus Christ the King, and The Holy Spirit!

 

 

 

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