The Good Fight

Scripture:

Acts 18:5-11 (NASB )

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. 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.” 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. 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. 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; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Devotional:

It must have been extremely frustrating to Paul.  After reading several chapters in Acts Paul was plagued by unbelieving and jealous Jews.   They caused problems for him everywhere he went.  Finally in Corinth Paul washed his hands of the Jewish leaders. 

We often wonder how long do we have to put up with something before things change.  It seems that we continuously beat our heads up against a wall.  We reach the end of our ropes and throw our hands in the air shouting “I am through, I am done with it.”  When we reach that point what do we do?  When is it enough?  God didn’t give up on His people.  God didn’t want Paul to either.  Acts 18:9-10 (NASB) “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; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.’”  Who is it that God is telling you to reach out to?  Are you ready to give up because it appears fruitless?  God is there telling you “Don’t give up.  I am with you and I have many people there to help you.”  We are not alone.  God is with us.  God has given us helpers and companions.  We need to hang in there fighting the “Good fight” all the way to the end.  Just know you are not fighting it alone.  When you are ready to give up stop to look around, someone is there to help.  Let others help lift the burden.