"[Paul and Barnabas] preached the good news in [Derbe] and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra [where they were first treated like gods, then Paul was stoned and dragged outside the city gates and left for dead-vs. 19-20], Iconium [from which they had to flee because of a plot to mistreat and stone them-vs. 5-6], and Antioch [where the Jews stirred up persecution against them and kicked them out-13:50], strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God,' they said" (Acts 14:21-22).
In this present evil age and in this pampered society, I wonder how many of us would have continued as Paul did. He was imprisoned, lied about, stripped and beaten, kicked out of cities, and shipwrecked. I'm sure he faced hunger, thirst, sore feet and extreme weariness. We who live such spoiled lives would find all kinds of reasons not to go on, one of which would probably be, "I just don't think the Lord has called me to this." And Paul would probably not have gone on either, except that he had come to believe in something bigger than himself, something of eternal significance, a vision for a time and place beyond human comprehension. Paul's commitment was not natural--it was supernatural!
Paul saw his share of miracles. At Philippi:
16:22 The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
16:23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
16:24 Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
16:26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened.
16:27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."
16:29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,
16:30 and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?"
16:31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
16:32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house.
16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family.
16:34 Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
16:35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go."
16:36 And the jailer reported the words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace."
16:37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now cast us out secretly? No! let them come themselves and take us out."
16:38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens;
16:39 so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.
16:40 So they went out of the prison, and visited Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they exhorted them and departed.
This was a great and miraculous victory for Paul and Silas, but before they could receive the victory, they had to endure humiliation, beating, and imprisonment in shackles. They had to be willing to sing and pray far into the night and praise God in spite of their circumstances. They saw miracles because they were committed to the cause of Christ--committed, some might say, beyond reason.
None of us are promised a free ride in this journey with Christ. "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all (Psalm 34:19); Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life (Psalm 138:7); Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15:20); "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b). We may never face persecution as Paul or Silas did, but many Christians around the world today do. We need to understand that being committed to the cause of Christ always runs a risk. In these uncertain times, we don't know what tomorrow will bring. But "who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35-39). Supernatural commitment is what we need, but, as I have heard it said, "With God, the super is natural."
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your supernatural commitment to me--You have never let me down no matter how unfaithful I have been. Please build up my faith in You, Lord. Give me supernatural commitment to You, just like Paul and Barnabas and Silas and the other heroes of the faith. Let me be strong in the face of difficulty, even persecution, and help me to be content whatever my circumstances; let me never hesitate to pray and sing Your praises; let Your Kingdom be advanced on this earth. Amen
14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
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