Monday, February 8, 2021
The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. And there they preached the Good News. Acts 14:1-7
Those who propose change usually get the same response from those who
oppose change…a riot, or a revival. It
is often said that the apostle Paul always started one of those, but, most
often, it was both! Such is the nature
of what Jesus intended for the Good News of God’s Kingdom.
“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Matthew 10:34-35
Some will take Jesus’ words out of context to sanctify unholy
ambitions, such as what drove the riot at D.C.’s Capitol last month. That aside, there is always a sense of
division that comes with proclaiming Christ.
That division line is a fault that opens whenever the truth is
preached. It opens a clearly-defined
chasm between the camps of faith and unbelief.
To those who recognize their sinfulness and need of a savior, faith
springs like wildflowers in the desert after a sudden downpour. To those who are resistant to bowing to any
other than themselves, it brings anger, more resistance, and riot. When the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed
those are the only two choices – faith gladly received, or independence and
rejection of the Sovereign nature of Almighty God: it’s either a revival or a riot!
And that happened everywhere Paul and the other believers faithfully
delivered the message, some would believe, and some would pick up stones to
bludgeon the messengers.
It’s still that way.
And, what of the lasting result of such a Gospel? That is also predictable. The result is unity…in two opposing camps.
What? How can you speak of
unity and opposition?
It’s simple, light is unified with light, and the same is true of
darkness. To those who follow the light
of Christ, they do not dwell with darkness.
Evil cannot exist with good; neither can cold be hot. Just like two children on the playground’s
see-saw will be either up or down, but not both! Those who live and walk-in faith, clinging to
Christ alone, will never settle for the darkness of this world’s ways.
It’s either (say it with me) revival…or…riot!
For You Today
Bringing it down to a personal level, if you want revival – the
rebirth of life – within your own soul, there must be a riot against the
darkness. It’s called repentance,
turning away from the darkness, and turning-to the light of Jesus Christ’s love,
His gift of grace offered to us on the cross.
You
chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!
[1] Title Image: via Wikimedia Commons Art
UK, Public Domain, Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©
For another post on Revival see We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us and Revival, Please
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