When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:21-22
Lord, grant me the courage and the boldness to continue to bear witness to Your glory in places and to people who have, by their previous actions, rejected the message that I am bringing. It is not lost on me that Paul was stoned by the people of Iconium and Antioch and left for dead. They sought him out, hunting him down in Lystra, just so they could do him harm. Yet, he returned to them, bringing words of encouragement and fellowshipping with those who trusted in You. When I am rejected my natural response is to shake the dust off my feet and move on. I am resistant to hardships. Yet, Your Word declares, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Indeed, “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Help me to embrace the struggles of the day, the rejections and mistreatment that are part of this Christian walk, and count it as all joy that I am allowed to suffer on behalf of You. Help me to see them as but hiccups in my pursuit of pleasing You. Lord, my soul longs that all would know You. I pray today that I would love them so much that I, too, would be willing to lay my life down for them. Then I will know for certain that I love them with the love of Jesus to Your glory. Amen.