4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.
8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.
9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;
10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” Acts 18:1-11.
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We may go through life, sometimes forgetting about God as we face seemingly random encounters with people, trials and tribulations. Even Paul may have felt that way at moments. This Scripture for today has that appearance. Paul “found” Aquila who recently came to Corinth from Rome. Paul needs to work. Paul teaches. “But … they resisted and blasphemed”. Paul “left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue”. “Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.” There is good news, and there is also bad news. There are believers, but there are also unbelievers. There is devotion to the word of God, but we may also need to work at times to pay our bills. There is boldness, but there is also fear.
I think there is a tendency as we go through life to feel that we need to focus on ourselves and what we should do, rather than focus on God and His presence in us and His work through us. Like the Jews, we ask: “…What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” John 6:28.
Like Paul, we may be afraid at times and need God’s comfort and assurance: “Do not be afraid any longer … for I am with you”.
Like the Jews, we need to be reminded: “…”This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:29.
There was a time about 15 years ago when I was beginning to write Christian devotions but also had financial troubles. It didn’t seem fair to me that I experienced financial troubles, because I felt that I was doing good work for the Lord and yet I felt that the Lord was not supporting me. I thought it would be good to write a Christian book, so I could be read by more people and also get some money. But, no one wanted to publish my “book”.
The Lord gave me similar comfort and assurance. “Do not be afraid any longer … for I am with you”.
I began to understand that rather than publish a book, the Lord wanted me to continue writing “Letters to Harry” and continue to get my livelihood through the practice of law. Like Paul and you, God comforted me, helped me, and worked within me, and I “settled …teaching the word of God among them”.
We may live very humble lives. We may feel that we only have random encounters with people. We may struggle with different troubles. We may need to work for money more than we think we should need to work for money. Some may resist our teaching and even blaspheme. Some will believe. But, we should be reminded of God’s comfort and assurance: “Do not be afraid any longer … for I am with you”.
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 