45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming.
46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
47 “For so the Lord has commanded us,
‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,
THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.
50 But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:42-52.
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Paul and Barnabas could have felt that they had the weight of the world on them. They had an almost impossible commission to fulfill, namely to “BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.” The Jews were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by them, and were blaspheming. The devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city instigated a persecution against them, and drove them out of their district.
And yet, we read “as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed”. “And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.” “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
We too may feel that we have the weight of the world on us too. We may have an almost impossible commission to fulfill. There may be those who contradict what we say. There may be those who blaspheme. There may even be those who persecute us.
Today’s Scripture reminds us of the verse in the last devotion, Acts 13:41. “… I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS …”.
God’s work was not finished with Paul and Barnabas. God is accomplishing His work through us too.
We can have every confidence as we preach and teach that although there will be those who contradict, blaspheme, and persecute; as many as had been appointed to eternal life will believe, the word of the Lord will be spread through the whole region, and we will be continually filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 