Take it from Paul

Acts 18

5-6When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was in fact God's Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. "Have it your way, then," he said. "You've made your bed; now lie in it. From now on I'm spending my time with the other nations."

So I always think of Paul as this huge spiritual giant, that does everything amazing and saved people to the kingdom everyday, left and right, all the time. Which is true, BUT what I forget from time to time is that he was a man just like me. He dealt with flaws and struggles just like I do, and he talks about them often, but I have a tendency to hold him up to a higher standard.

SO I love this passage...(stick with me here)....I love this passage....

He spent ALL his time preaching and teaching about Jesus, but to no luck. He pushed and pushed to tell people about Jesus and all they would do was argue with him, until he got so fed up that he told them off. I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to do THAT! "fine I'm done with this, I'm off to something else."

I think that ministers get to this point and leave their church and go to a new town. They fill that their effectiveness is done where they are and go some where else. But is giving up where it ends??

NOPE!

7-8He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews' meeting place. But Paul's efforts with the Jews weren't a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting-place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him.

8-11In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: "Keep it up, and don't let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city." That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians.

We have no idea what God is doing behind the scenes. No idea who's lives he is working in though our lives. He does amazing things even when we are discouraged and think that there is no reason to go on preaching, teaching, and talking about Jesus.

Take it from Paul. You are NOT done yet, there are still people who need to know about Jesus where you are and if you are not there to tell them about Jesus, who will? Keep it up!