| They (Paul and Barnabas) preached the gospel in that city (Derbe) and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. |
| —Acts 14:21-22 |
If you are looking for a true adventure story, let me urge you to read the entirety of the Book of Acts. Written by Dr. Luke as a sequel to his gospel, this Book contains the exciting stories that tell of the birth of the Christian Church during the first century A.D. You will find intrigue, as well as the story of how the gospel begins to penetrate the then-known-world, changing lives, pushing against the culture of the day, and exposing a secular society to the claims of the Son of God.
As just one example, here’s Dr. Luke’s account of part of the work of the Apostle Paul and his sidekick, Barnabas, as found in Acts 14:21-22:
They (Paul and Barnabas) preached the gospel in that city (Derbe) and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Imagine the information packed into these verses. Paul and Barnabas preach in the city of Derbe. As a result, a large number of people are welcomed into God’s Kingdom. Then, they return to three key cities in what was then called “Asia Minor” and we now know as the country of Turkey.
A major responsibility that Paul and Barnabas had was to strengthen those followers of Jesus, who had already responded to the gospel, by encouraging them to remain true to their new-found faith. This was very important because the culture of the society of that day was always trying to lure them back into former evil behaviors.
Even today, as we begin a new day, it is important for us to interact with our fellow believers in a manner that will encourage them to remain true to their faith in Christ. By strengthening each other, we can fulfill a significant responsibility we have toward our fellow believers. When we go through the hardships that will inevitably come, we can rest assured that, by giving and receiving support to our brothers and sisters in Christ, we can all continue to move forward along the pathway that God has laid out before us.
Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, June 14, 2018
