I am amazed, Father! You enabled me to accomplish so much this morning! I am very grateful; may our time together now be as fruitful. Amen.
Acts 14:21-28(<<click here to read the passage)
If someone were to ask me about the trials and tribulations throughout my life, I’d have to pause and think. I feel that I’ve been abundantly blessed. Yes, I’ve had difficult times, but those times seem so small in comparison to the times of blessing I’ve had. Honestly, it bothers me in that I feel like I haven’t had nearly the number of troubles that so many others have had. And I can assure you that it’s not because I am better or more holy than others. If you’ve read my blog for any time at all you realize that I have more than a couple of issues and am far from perfect! …just ask my family…
In the latter half of verse 22, Paul and Barnabas encouraged the disciples of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia to remain firm in the faith, saying, “It is through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter the kingdom of God.” AMP
I like the “remain firm in the faith” portion of the Amplified Bible, but the New Living Translation phrases that verse a little differently, and at least in my perception, it makes that part a little easier to understand.
They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
It’s unusual, but my study Bible didn’t say anything about this verse, so I poked around some online commentaries and found studylight.org. (I don’t know anything about them, but this exposition was pretty sound, so I will share it with you.)
Their focus is on the concept of the word must and take that it is fit or proper that we should. Not that it is fixed by any fatal necessity, but that we are not to expect that it will be otherwise. We are to calculate on it when we become Christians. Why it is proper, or fit, the apostle did not state. But we may remark that it is proper:
(1) Because such is the opposition of the world to pure religion that it cannot be avoided. Of this they had had striking demonstration in Lystra and Iconium.
(2) It is necessary to reclaim us from wandering, and to keep us in the path of duty…
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
….but now I closely follow your word. Psalm 119:67 NLT
My suffering was good for me,
….for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Psalm 119:71 NLT
(3) It is necessary to wean us from the world; to keep before our minds the great truth that we have here “no continuing city and no abiding place.” Trial here makes us pant for a world of rest. The opposition of sinners makes us desire that world where “the wicked shall cease from troubling,” and where there shall be eternal friendship and peace.
(4) When we are persecuted and afflicted, we may remember that it has been the lot of Christians from the beginning. We tread a path that has been watered by the tears of the saints, and rendered sacred by the shedding of the best blood on the earth. The Saviour trod that path; and it is enough that the “disciple be as his master, and the servant as his lord,” Matthew 10:24-25.*
Times innumerable, someone says it much better than I could. If need be, read that through once more, it gives us quite a bit to chew on. Amen?
*For reference purposes: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/acts/14-22.html
May 11th, 2022, Wed, 12:37 pm
