Get up out of the Dirt

My Personal Devotional: Friday 2-7-15 (Home)  
Scripture:    Lev 4-6     Acts 14

S.  Acts 14:19-23 Now some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned the crowds into a murderous mob. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, apparently dead.  But as the believers stood around him, he got up and went back into the city.  The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.  After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned again to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations. NLT

O.  What a mess!  Paul and Barnabas drew a huge crowd in Lystra when a man, lame from birth was instantly healed.  At first the crowd took them for gods and got their heathen priest ready to offer sacrifices to them.  They tore their cloths at this and insisted that they listen to the true gospel of God’s grace. 

Then here they come.  They’re the same Jews that had driven Paul and Barnabas out of Antioch and Iconium.  They took the wild enthusiasm of this huge crowd and turned it against God’s servants.  The same people that wanted to worship him now rush at Paul with large stones flying.  Within moments Paul is on the ground with angry men almost standing on his body.  Somebody in the crowd is yelling, “He’s still moving!  Bring some big ones.  Let’s finish him off!”  When the mob was sure he was dead, they dragged his body, like a dirty rag out of town.  But when a group of new believers gathered around his body, no doubt weeping and calling out to God, Paul stood up and walked right back into town. 

What did our wonderful Apostle Paul look like on his way back into town that day?  Clothes probably torn and filthy from being dragged for more than a mile.  Most likely every part of his body was bruised, his eyes backened and swollen shut, bleeding from the mouth and nose, huge lumps on his head where large stones had hit him after they had him down on the ground… maybe limping and probably every muscle in pain.

No doubt Paul was thinking back to another mob stoning, when he had been on the side of the killers holding their coats to keep them from getting bloody.  Maybe back then he had yelled, “He’s still moving!  More stones to the head!  Let’s finish him off!”  And even now the final words of Stephen were ringing in his ears.  “God, don’t hold this sin against them!  Lord Jesus, here I come into Your presence!”                      

The very next day Paul and Barney marched down to the next town, Derbe, and started preaching again and once again made many disciples.  And within a few weeks, maybe months they were preaching again in the treacherous cities of Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the new believers.

A.  So what can I learn from my mentors, Paul and Barnabas?  Steadfastness pays off.  Paul was down, but not dead.  He may be limping, but could still walk.  He may be hoarse, but he could still preach.  He and his buddy had come with a mission and the show would go on, no matter what.  Hang in there.  Don’t give up just because you have some enemies.  Quit lying there in the dirt of your failure.  Get some fervent Christian friends to circle you in prayer.  You are still kicking so get up out of the dirt and go for it.  If you are still breathing, God can still use you. 

P.  I think I got the message, God.  I’m still breathing so I’m going back to Argentina in four weeks.  And I am not going alone.  I am taking Your Son, Jesus, with me… for He promised never to leave me nor forsake me.  Until then, I am asking You to fill me with a fresh, renewed passion for the lost.  Don’t let me make decisions based on a few enemy attacks, a bloody nose or a few bumps on the head.  Keep me focused on Your mission and mine; to carry Your message of love, grace and forgiveness to the ends of the earth.   Amen.

Ralph