Day 178

2 Kings 10:32–12:21; Acts 18:1-22; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 18:1

AS WE CONTINUE the story of the foundation of the church and the spread of the gospel in Acts, we can plainly see the disruption the Good News caused wherever it went. We’ve watched the apostle Paul become a lightning rod in this movement, and we’ve watched how he adapted to whomever he was speaking to communicate the gospel in ways that could be understood.

It’s very easy to look back to this time through rose-colored glasses and consider it less complicated and nuanced —to think that these were easier, more powerful times. This would be a miscalculation, though. The book of Acts clearly shows us that the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys were not a season of rest and luxury for him. We must also imagine that all early believers experienced this kind of hardship. Jesus led His people into a clash of kingdoms, and this never happens without disruption.

In today’s reading, Paul was in Corinth passionately attempting to get his fellow Hebrews to understand and embrace the implications of Jesus’ life and ministry. Paul offered hope day after day and was rewarded with opposition and insult. Eventually, he had to shake the dust from his feet and move on. “Your blood is upon your own heads —I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles,” he said (Acts 18:6).

The irony was that Paul didn’t leave town as he had in other cities. He didn’t even move to another part of town. He simply went next door “to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue” (Acts 18:7). Jew and Gentile alike had access to the Good News.

Even though Paul was intentional and often fearless in his passion for Jesus, spreading the gospel was very difficult and taxing work. The early days of the church were not easy, and things didn’t happen in a linear fashion. Sharing the Good News about Jesus was messy and was often met with threats of violence. We must remember this as we continue to bring Good News to the world. When we engage with the gospel, we are at the proverbial tip of the spear, where light and darkness collide. But like Paul, we must remember that we are running a race we plan on finishing. As we run, may we remember the encouragement God gave Paul amid the struggle: “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me” (Acts 18:9-10).

MEDITATION:

The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.