The Truth Of God Revealed

THE TRUTH OF GOD REVEALED

a prayer to open

Holy Spirit, come. Center my heart.

Fill my mind. Guide my steps.

As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week. Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God.

The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. For the Lord gave us this command when he said,

‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,

to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”

When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.

Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s teaching influenced his listeners so much that they invited him and Barnabas back the next week, and apparently word spread like wildfire, because nearly the entire city gathered to listen. What was so powerful in what Paul said? Luke gave a clue by referring to “the word of the Lord” or “word of God” or “the Lord’s message” four different times in just a few sentences. Paul simply shared the truth God had revealed through Jesus. In other words, he didn’t rely on his oratory skills, his influence with the community, or a perceived openness in the crowd; he trusted entirely in the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God itself.

• Read this passage again. What word or phrase stands out to you? Sit quietly, reminding yourself that you are in God’s loving presence, and ask him to show you how that word or phrase connects to your life.
• What truths drew you to Jesus originally? What truths help you remain faithful? What truths bring you hope?
• In what ways do you help the Word of God spread in your workplace and community, whether by your words or your actions? In what ways do you hinder the spreading of the Word of God?

Father, I want to be someone who helps spread your truth and acts in a way that people take notice of because of the obvious presence of your Spirit in me. Help me share your truth with my words and by my actions. Show me how I hinder the spreading of your word, and give me the discipline and ability to change. Use other people to point out where my life is not aligned with truth, and guide me back to you. May I be someone who encourages others in the ways they use their gifts to make you known. Amen.