Corona Devo 837
Have you been "high" lately?
No, of course I don't mean by substance or sex. I mean when was our last spiritual high?
Have we been filled-up by Christ, moved by His presence, touched by His people, or impacted by His power lately? These are "highs" that no (momentary) physical pleasure can compete with.
Have we been to a retreat , Christian conference, church service or in connection with another believer--and we were filled up spiritually?
Have we shared the hope-of-God, the peace-of-Christ, or the forgiveness-of-our-Father with someone...and they got it? Now that's a high.
Have we come to Christ in deep prayer or complete humility about a question/situation in our life...Earnestly seeking God's will and yielding to His way...and then we experienced His response/His peace/His direction in an undeniable way and we knew what to do (or what not to do) next? There is a rush of spiritual-adrenaline in that!
When the crowd saw what (healing) Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” (12) They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. (13) Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.
(14) But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, (15) “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. (16) In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, (17) but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” (18) But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. ~Acts 14:11-18
What a spiritual high Barnabas and Paul must have been on! Sure, the people were confusing them with "gods", but that was only because of their ignorance in the One True God, and this opened the door for Barnabas and Paul to teach about Him. What a rush!
~~~
But we do not have to be on our faith journey very long before realizing that the "highs" are not a constant. In fact, they are sometimes few and far between and the "lows" often come in hard and fast after a spiritual high. The heaviness of sorrow, pain and sin can seep in slowly or pounce on us suddenly.
The diagnosis comes. The death occurs. The betrayal is revealed. The trust is broken. The hopes are dashed.
The same ups and downs of faith that we experience have been experienced by God's people throughout the generations, and Barnabas and Paul were no different.
But then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. ~Acts 14:19
Whoa! What just happened?
But we know what happened, don't we? Because we've had it happen to us: Our faith journeys have dramatic fluctuations: from the emotional and spiritual highs of "mountain peak experiences", to the depths and depressions of low valleys and feeling as if we could be "left for dead".
But, the secret to Christian survival is no secret at all: just keep surviving. If we will not-give-up, then in His mercy, protection, purpose and sovereignty, the Lord is with us for each high and low.
But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
(21) After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, (22) where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God... (24) Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. (25) They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia. ~Acts 14:20-22, 24-25
Paul was left for dead, but when he was surrounded by his brothers and sisters in Christ (But as the believers gathered around him)...he got up (Acts 14:20).
Get back up for Christ today, even if we've been beaten down and "left for dead" by the haters. May we gather around each other as believers and encourage one another. Sometimes that is the only way to "bring someone back" when they have suffered a beating from life.
Paul got back up and he persevered...continued-on...continued preaching about Jesus! To the people and cities of Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga and Attalia.
And we can learn from what Paul preached. He told people the truth about following God: it will be hard sometimes. There will be spiritual highs and spiritual lows. (They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God... ~Acts 14:22)
We can each attest to "seasons"-of-faith, and spiritual highs and lows, but the presence of the Lord is a constant in the life of a Believer.
On a spiritual high today? Get back up and keep living (preaching) for the Lord.
On a spiritual low today? Feel like we could be left-for-dead after what we've been through? Get back up and keep living (preaching) for the Lord.
The secret to Christian survival is no secret at all: just keep surviving.
sarah
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