Year of the Bible: Part Ten of TwelveSample

Faithfulness Sometimes Means Two Steps Forward and One Step Back

In city after city, Paul traveled and faithfully shared the Way of Jesus. And in city after city, you can see great fruit from his preaching and then horrible hardship. In Thessalonica, a “great multitude of Greeks” and “not a few women” followed (Acts 17:4), but mobs were incited and an uproar born out of jealousy sent Paul and Silas scurrying to Berea. Again, the Gospel was well-received in Berea until the Jews stirred up another angry crowd, speeding Paul away to Athens, where he enjoyed the freedom to preach but was mocked and saw very few converts.

Paul’s first efforts were always for the Jews, yet he seemed to find his greatest failures among them. It’s easy to read over these historical details and not identify the ups and downs this sincere preacher and disciple of Jesus was experiencing! One day, many people would open their hearts to Jesus, but the next day, Paul would flee for his life.

Do these volatile experiences reflect failure? Was God blessing Paul on one day and leaving him alone the next? Of course not! Paul was obeying the commission of Christ to spread the good news. Bad circumstances do not indicate failure, that God is not with you, or that you have made a wrong turn. God is looking for faithfulness and obedience. The eternal reward is for faithfulness, not numbers.

Question: What difficult circumstances have caused you to wonder if you’re still in the will of God?

Prayer: Return to God’s calling with confidence that no matter the fallout, backlash, or tough hills to climb, God will lead you and reward you for faithfully obeying Him. Rejoice that you are His and that He is at work even on your most challenging days.