TAKE IT TO OTHERS
- DAY 336
- FEAR FILE: PAUL AND BARNABAS
- SCRIPTURES: ACTS 13
“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
Acts 13:44-48 NKJV
Our text today proves the African saying that another man’s meat is another man’s poison. Meaning that what one person rejects another person will value. But sometimes when we experience rejection we get stuck in it. We never consider that being rejected in one place does not translate to being rejected everywhere else. Paul and Barnabas knew this.
In our text today the Jews rejected Barnabas and Paul because they preached so well that the Gentiles begged to hear them, members of the synagogue followed them and almost the whole city, for the first time, came to church. You’d think that they’d be happy that salvation had come to people but they were more upset that people responded to Paul and Barnabas more than them. And they opposed them and accused them of blasphemy and rejected their message. These men decided that they would take the message to the Gentiles instead.
Leave
The moment the Gentiles heard that Paul and Barnabas were coming to share the good news with them they rejoiced and the word flourished among them. Imagine that Paul and Barnabas decided to force the word down their throats by showing up to preach weekly.
Sometimes, people will reject you for no just cause, leave, and go to others. Ask God “Should I continue to speak here or should I move on.” This is not limited to the gospel. Your product, skill, friendship, love, ideas, or anything at all that you offer can be offered elsewhere. Don’t stay stuck with people who don’t value you, move on!
You applied for a job, they said no, apply to another company. You proposed she said no, find another girl. Unless God asked you to keep trying in that same place, please, move on and do it quickly.
