Persistence in the face of opposition
To the ends of the earth - Acts 14:107 (esv) - Pastor Tim Kroeker
Galatians 6:9
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Has there ever been a time in your life when you just felt like giving up? Maybe you applied to dozens of jobs without receiving any offers. Or perhaps you were struggling to get out of debt, scraping together just enough to make the minimum payments, when a health crisis hit, leaving you with a mountain of doctor bills. Perhaps you’ve felt like giving up on your marriage. How does a person overcome overwhelming obstacles?
Acts chapter 14 describes growing opposition to Paul and Barnabas’ ministry as they took the gospel to previously unreached cities throughout the Mediterranean region. The previous episode ended with civic leaders in the city of Pisidian Antioch driving them out of the district. So they went on to Iconium. There, we read that they encountered even more obstacles, to such a violent extent that an attempt was made to stone them.
Nevertheless, Paul and Barnabas persisted. Persistence means continuing to do something even when it is difficult, or when obstacles and other people oppose you. They would not give up. Despite the opposition, they persisted in their regular practices of going to the synagogue and preaching. And when unbelieving Jews poisoned the minds of the Gentiles, they persisted by their continued presence. They remained in Iconium for a long time.
Paul and Barnabas teach us a valuable lesson. In the face of obstacles or opposition, be persistent.
