“Every Sabbath, [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to
persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul
devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was
the Christ. But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his
clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on
I will go to the Gentiles.’” Acts 18:4-6
Under the sovereignty of God, there is something remarkable about rejection: it exposes our entrapment in the opinions and acceptance of others as a faux snare from which we have always been free; indeed, it would have been best for all – both captive and captors – if, in the strength of truth, we had commenced from its deception long ago.
Confession: For most of my life, I allowed a desire for the acceptance of others to unduly influence my decisions. Regrettably, this character weakness tempered to some extent my service to Jesus, even though this Son of God, himself, suffered rejection to the point of death for my sin! Imagine my dismay, though, when a few years ago I suffered a type of rejection from some whose acceptance I had sought. It hurt! Badly! But I can tell you now that, not only did Jesus very closely embrace and guide me through that experience, he used it to open my eyes to the false trap of conditional acceptance. I actually am grateful now for that experience, for I found in it a freedom to which, until then, I had been blinded.
While I let the opinions of others stymie my freedom in Christ, Paul exercised his freedom to speak the truth of Christ. In the City of Corinth, he modeled for all of us a confidence that can be ours in the face of rejection ...
Paul persevered. Every Sabbath, every Sabbath, every Sabbath ... Paul tried and tried and tried to persuade the Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Despite constant rejection, Paul yet persevered.
Paul doubled down. When Silas and Timothy came to town, Paul then “devoted himself exclusively” to preaching and testifying about Jesus. Not only did he persevere, he increased his focus and effort.
Paul was practical. There is an entire world full of people open to God's love and his Way to salvation for them. Rather than dilute his efforts among the Jews who had intensified in their rejection of the gospel, Paul directed his attention exclusively to the Corinthian Gentiles, among whom there was much spiritual harvest and immediate spiritual fruit.
Living in the gracious and eternal approval of Christ far surpasses the conditional and temporal nature of worldly acceptance. And when others reject us, his close presence becomes even clearer to us.
The snare of acceptance? It's an illusion. You’re free. Walk away.
Jesus goes with you. Always.
Under the sovereignty of God, there is something remarkable about rejection: it exposes our entrapment in the opinions and acceptance of others as a faux snare from which we have always been free; indeed, it would have been best for all – both captive and captors – if, in the strength of truth, we had commenced from its deception long ago.
Confession: For most of my life, I allowed a desire for the acceptance of others to unduly influence my decisions. Regrettably, this character weakness tempered to some extent my service to Jesus, even though this Son of God, himself, suffered rejection to the point of death for my sin! Imagine my dismay, though, when a few years ago I suffered a type of rejection from some whose acceptance I had sought. It hurt! Badly! But I can tell you now that, not only did Jesus very closely embrace and guide me through that experience, he used it to open my eyes to the false trap of conditional acceptance. I actually am grateful now for that experience, for I found in it a freedom to which, until then, I had been blinded.
While I let the opinions of others stymie my freedom in Christ, Paul exercised his freedom to speak the truth of Christ. In the City of Corinth, he modeled for all of us a confidence that can be ours in the face of rejection ...
Paul persevered. Every Sabbath, every Sabbath, every Sabbath ... Paul tried and tried and tried to persuade the Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Despite constant rejection, Paul yet persevered.
Paul doubled down. When Silas and Timothy came to town, Paul then “devoted himself exclusively” to preaching and testifying about Jesus. Not only did he persevere, he increased his focus and effort.
Paul was practical. There is an entire world full of people open to God's love and his Way to salvation for them. Rather than dilute his efforts among the Jews who had intensified in their rejection of the gospel, Paul directed his attention exclusively to the Corinthian Gentiles, among whom there was much spiritual harvest and immediate spiritual fruit.
Living in the gracious and eternal approval of Christ far surpasses the conditional and temporal nature of worldly acceptance. And when others reject us, his close presence becomes even clearer to us.
The snare of acceptance? It's an illusion. You’re free. Walk away.
Jesus goes with you. Always.
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