February 17: Trusting His Provision.
HIS FORTITUDE.
After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith.--Acts 14:21, 22
The Gospel of Jesus is the favorite topic of discussion at the Talbot family reunions. My brother-in-law, Jorge, is a retired physician and an avid student of the Bible. We often talk about the miraculous fortitude God provided for His gospel martyrs, such as John Huss, who sang while being burned at the stake. Singing while flames are consuming the body is physically impossible, yet God honored the gospel on their lips, by providing miraculous strength.
Today's text portrays Paul strengthening and encouraging disciples in his missionary endeavors. But what is remarkable is that two verses before, "Jews came from Antioch and Iconium...they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But...he got up and entered the city" (Acts 14:19, 20). How could Paul be so uplifting and encouraging, and how could he continue preaching the gospel with gladness, just after being stoned and left for dead? Paul himself tells of some of his trials; "Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked...in dangers from rivers...dangers from robbers...dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles..., dangers in the wilderness...dangers on the sea" (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). And the list continues: hunger, thirst, cold, et cetera. How could he experience these circumstances and yet go on preaching and encouraging others? When we accept the good news that Jesus died in our place, God provides assurance for our eternal future, and He also miraculously provides all that is necessary for the present, including fortitude, mental and emotional strength to live a life for his glory, even in the midst of adversity and pain. When Paul asked for his "thorn in the flesh" to be removed, the Lord told him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). And the same answer is true for us. God provides His grace for every aspect of our lives. He truly provides for all our needs through Jesus.
My Response:_________________________________________________________
HIS FORTITUDE.
After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith.--Acts 14:21, 22
The Gospel of Jesus is the favorite topic of discussion at the Talbot family reunions. My brother-in-law, Jorge, is a retired physician and an avid student of the Bible. We often talk about the miraculous fortitude God provided for His gospel martyrs, such as John Huss, who sang while being burned at the stake. Singing while flames are consuming the body is physically impossible, yet God honored the gospel on their lips, by providing miraculous strength.
Today's text portrays Paul strengthening and encouraging disciples in his missionary endeavors. But what is remarkable is that two verses before, "Jews came from Antioch and Iconium...they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But...he got up and entered the city" (Acts 14:19, 20). How could Paul be so uplifting and encouraging, and how could he continue preaching the gospel with gladness, just after being stoned and left for dead? Paul himself tells of some of his trials; "Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked...in dangers from rivers...dangers from robbers...dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles..., dangers in the wilderness...dangers on the sea" (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). And the list continues: hunger, thirst, cold, et cetera. How could he experience these circumstances and yet go on preaching and encouraging others? When we accept the good news that Jesus died in our place, God provides assurance for our eternal future, and He also miraculously provides all that is necessary for the present, including fortitude, mental and emotional strength to live a life for his glory, even in the midst of adversity and pain. When Paul asked for his "thorn in the flesh" to be removed, the Lord told him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). And the same answer is true for us. God provides His grace for every aspect of our lives. He truly provides for all our needs through Jesus.
My Response:_________________________________________________________
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