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.”
— Acts 13:47 —
Miguel Ángel Prado: Berea Seminary | Spain
Often the people with whom I share the gospel reject its message, and for different reasons. The rejection comes in various ways: indifference, skeptical arguments, confrontation, sometimes even verbal and physical abuse. These reactions come from both believers and unbelievers.For Christians, such times test our faithfulness and motivations. How do you respond in those situations? Do you respond with personal pride or non-biblical arguments? As believers, we must have Christ’s mind and daily depend on God’s wisdom. Do you change the message in order not to offend someone? In this passage, we find a good example of how Paul and Barnabas reacted when they faced rejection. Jews, filled with jealousy, were blaspheming God and contradicting Paul. But what was Paul and Barnabas’s reaction? They were faithful to God’s commandment. Paul chose to be faithful to his Master by being faithful to His word. They fulfilled the task they were given. They relied on the power of the word of God. Scripture was their guide. In the same way, we must obey God before men. The Lord is our Master and we are accountable to Him. This must never change, even in the face of opposition. God’s word, through His Spirit, brought light to our darkened hearts. We, in turn, are to let that light shine in the midst of this generation (Matt. 5:14–16). Our message must be Paul and Barnabas’ message—salvation in Christ as revealed in Scripture. As believers, we must have Christ’s mind and daily depend on God’s wisdom. We must light up this world through a faithful witness to God’s word, for His glory.
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