Move On!

SCRIPTURE

Acts 19:1-10 (NRSV)

Believers speak in tongues

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied -- altogether there were about twelve of them.

He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.


DEVOTION

Today I am reminded that it is the Holy Spirit that gives us power to speak boldly and share persuasively about the Kingdom of God. It is because of the Spirit of God at work in Christians, that we are able to share the good news that Love gave Jesus to die on the cross to make atonement for our sin and gift us with eternal life!

There is no other name by which we are able to do these things; we should not even try!

As we are sharing, let us remember that evangelism is the work of God. When Paul ran into strong opposition, he was wise enough NOT to dig in his heals. Rather, he moved on to another locale where people were more receptive to the good news message.

Imagine if Paul had stubbornly insisted that he would only preach in the synagogue of Ephesus! What if he had been unwilling to move up the road to the lecture hall of Tyrannus? I believe it is entirely possible that his ministry could have been stymied and the people of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, would not have heard the Word of God!

Lord, have mercy!

As sharers of the good news message, we need to seek God's consult regarding when to stand firm and when to move on; we must also remember that sometimes one plants, another waters, but God always gets the increase!

I have learned through my own life experience that we should never be ashamed to move on when a work is not proving fruitful, for there are millions of people who need to know about the love, forgiveness, and salvation offered to them in Jesus Christ!

Don't let a few people who stubbornly refuse to believe, keep you from ministering to those who will!

Shake the dust off of your shoes and move on to the next "village." Perhaps you will be more productive there!

Won't you please pray with me?

Holy God, I want to go wherever you send me and I want to do whatever you have assigned to my hands. Please help me not to be stubborn or prideful when I notice that a work is unproductive. Please forgive me for those times I have dug in my heals when you have said, "Move On!" I love you and I want to share your love with as many people as possible during my life time. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.



THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus”http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/