Through Many Tribulations

Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead…And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. 

Acts 14:19; 21 & 22 

Acts 14 narrates various incidents which occurred during Paul’s first missionary journey. These incidents include his party being received as gods after the healing of a lame man, and Paul’s being stoned by the same group after the Jews from elsewhere came to poison their minds against Paul. Our text refers to the stoning. The second portion describes the continued work which Paul and his team did as they fulfilled their mission. The last line of the test is significant, ‘We must through many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God.’ This fact has not changed over the course of centuries. Followers of Christ who have made much of Him have continued to suffer for their adherence to Him. As they have proclaimed Christ by life and lip, they have endured opposition and persecution even to the point of becoming martyrs. The natural response to such treatment would be to give up and cease proclaiming Christ. For people of Paul’s persuasion, this is not an option. Paul plainly declared that he expected to endure tribulations as he proclaimed Christ. He accepted it as fact. Thus, it has been in every era. While on the one hand we should be careful not to do what is inconsistent with the imitation of Christ and refer to the backlash as persecution, we should also understand that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Christ foretold it and we accept it.  

Our God of Grace and Glory, 
we rejoice that You have given to us the message of Christ. 
We pray that You will grant unto us 
grace to endure whatever persecution may come by it. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning