Reading: Acts 18
What do you admire about Apostle Paul?
My answer is: his resilience.
A Public Life of Confidence
Look at what happened to him in the readings today and yesterday.
He has recently been stripped beaten in Philippi; put in jail; face a riot in Thessalonica; run for his life in the middle of the night. And here in Corinth, his fellow Jews were simply "abusive." (18:6)
Paul was confident. He knew what he was doing. Paul's public life was tough and formidable.
But wait!
Was Paul always like that? Did Paul ever feel discouraged or scared?
Actually, I think he did.
In today's reading, we have a glimpse into Paul's heart.
A Divine Comfort
After Paul's famous speech in Athens, he moved on to another big city, Corinth.
While the work seemed to go well, something was not right, and Paul knew it. I suspect he was discouraged or maybe even scared.
Up till this point, Paul could never stay in a city for long. It's a matter of weeks before his enemies would cause troubles and threaten his life. Then, he would be on the run again.
Now, in the middle of a sleepless night, Paul was probably thinking whether he should leave now, or perhaps he would be forced to leave soon.
Leave? Give up? How about the work? How about God's calling? Paul was distressed.
God in His mercy knew exactly where Paul was and what he needed. So, God showed up in a vision.
“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you ...” (18:9-10)
A Private Life of Conviction
If you were Paul, how would you feel? How would you respond to God?
"So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half ..." (18:11)
The Greek word for "stay" can also be translated as "settle."
That was quite a decision! Instead of leaving, Paul now decided that he would "stay"! He would "settle" there, knowing that there would be nasty challenges in front of him.
What's going on in Paul's heart?
I suspect his encounter with God confirmed what he already learned from the book of Psalms:
"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6)
I called this a "quiet sense of destiny," a conviction so simple but so powerful, that it helps Paul to persevere with courage. And I love this definition of courage:
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the will to act in the face of fear.
My friends, perhaps God is telling you the same thing today: "Do not be afraid. You are on the right track. Keep going. I am here for you."
Reflection:
What are the obstacles that are hindering your pursuit of God's calling? What is your biggest fear? How can you nurture the "quiet sense of destiny" to help you pursue God?
Prayer for Today:
Father God,
I want to follow you. I want to be obedient to your calling. But these challenges in front of me are simply too hard. God, I need you! Please reveal yourself to me. But on the other hand, God, I thank you for all the encouragement and comfort that you have already given me, and I choose to believe that since you are on my side, there is nothing that I need to fear. Please help me to continue to follow you with courage. Please protect me. I put my trust in you.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
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