In our reading from Acts, Paul and Barnabas are still engaged in their first missionary journey. And we heard that Paul was stoned by the crowds provoked by the Jews of Antioch and Iconium, stoned nearly to death, and dragged out of the city because they thought he was dead. The next day, he continued his missionary work, beginning a two hundred mile trek to Derbe. If I stub my toe, I am out of commission for at least a week!
After going to Derbe, he goes to Iconium, Lystra, and Antioch. Still bruised from nearly being killed by stoning, Paul strengthens the spirits of the new Christians in those places saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”
The bruises on Paul’s body from the stoning must have added to the weight of his words, for he himself was undergoing hardships.
The spread of the Gospel is not effortless. We do well to think about all that the martyrs suffered that we may receive faith. We do well to think about all the missionaries suffer, the violence and hardship and persecution they endure, that they faith may flourish.
We do well to think very deeply about all the hardships our fellow Christians suffer for the sake of the kingdom in order that we may be roused out of our complacency. Spreading the Gospel often means going out of our way, doing something out of the ordinary, that the word of Christ may be heard--to go out of our way to perform an act of charity.
In saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God”, Paul echoes so many sayings of our Lord, that we must take up our crosses to follow him, that his way his narrow and difficult.
May we be found faithful today to all the Lord asks of us, and willingly embrace hardships for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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