Devotional - June 27, 2004

Paul spent most of his time witnessing to the Gentiles, but it wasn't like he didn't try to convince Jews to accept the Gospel. When the Sabbath came along, he was in the synagogue like any self respecting Jew. I'm sure he found pleasure in helping the strict legalists understand how Jesus fulfilled biblical prophecy as the promised Messiah.

Something happened in Corinth that caused Paul to turn his attention away from witnessing to Jews and toward the Gentiles. What was it? It seemed the Jews living in the city resisted his teaching and became abusive toward him. That caused him to turn in frustration and determine to narrow his ministry. One can help but remember the mixed sadness and anger that our Lord demonstrated when he was rejected by the worship leaders in the communities, the very ones who proclaimed to know God best.

Paul's frustration would have led him to disregard the Jews unless in a vision our Lord told him to be strong and keep preaching to all people. "I have many people in this city." Paul listened and stayed in the city for a year and a half preaching and teaching to all.

David found the best way to deal with disappointment was to praise his Lord. In Psalm 145, he wrote, "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." Vs. 8-9

I'm afraid I'm like these men in that I tend to slow down when I feel my ministry is not having effect. But in those situations, God has shown his grace to me and that inspires me to show grace to others, even the slow of hearing and those whom I must confess, seem unredeemable at times.

God has a way of revealing his character to me in those times my action contradicts it. Paul and David were just two people who learned how to reflect God's character through their everyday living. I pray that you and I will have the same tendency when God's word speaks to our heart.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 2 Ki. 10:32-12:21 Ac. 18:1-21 Ps. 145:1-21 Pr. 18:1 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society