Corona Devo 877

Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. (9) ...Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. (10) This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord... (20) So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.   ~Acts 19:8-10, 20
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are we in a long-term, steady relationship...
With Jesus?  

Do we ever grow weary or intimidated by the commitment involved or the time-invested?  

It's okay to admit it.  

Or at least I hope it's okay to admit it, because I was doing so (gently) to God today.  And then these verses washed over me like a pep talk from a coach speaking to a boxer on the side of the ring.  Get back in there!  Stay steady!  

It wasn't blatant words of encouragement like, "Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10), they were a different kind of encouragement, like...look at what others have done and are doing...and be encouraged in what I have called you to do.  And I was.

We're (probably) not called to preach boldly for the next three months or hold daily discussions (about Jesus) for the next two years...but Paul (in the Bible) was.  And he did!  He spoke daily and repeatedly (for years!) about God to others and as a result, the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. (Acts 19:20).

What more rewarding outcome could we have as a result of our lives?  

Sooooo, get back in the ring for Jesus today!  Stay steady!  

Are we in a long-term, steady relationship with Jesus?  It's full-time, but it is also worth being true to Him.  And Jesus Christ absolutely wants us to "go steady" with Him and for Him.  Steady and consistent and day-after-day, God wants us in relationship with Him and on mission for Him.    

Slow-but-steady is how our Lord has always established and carried out His relationships with His children.  

Stay steady with Jesus today.  Are you leading (or attending) a Bible study?  Keep it up and keep-it-going.  We naturally crave community and when you add the authenticity-of-Christ to friendships, it's almost intoxicating.  Gathering to learn and grow in God's Word with other Jesus-hungry, regular people is exciting, comforting, challenging and hope-giving, all at once.  

My brother leads a Bible study, and oftentimes groups take a break in the Summer to allow for respite and vacations, etc.  But his members begged him to keep it going.  They didn't want a three month break, they wanted him to keep preaching boldly for the next three months (Acts 19:8) and so he did!  And this may go on for the next two years...and as a result, the message about the Lord may spread widely and have a powerful effect (Acts 19:10, 20).

And what more rewarding outcome could we have as a result of our lives?  Stay steady for Jesus.

Stay steady with Jesus today.  Are you praying for someone or something that hasn't come to fruition yet?  Keep it up and keep-it-going.  It might take the next three months or it might go on for the next two years...but stay steady.  We can look at what others have done and are doing...and be encouraged in what we are called to do today.  Get back in the ring for Jesus today!  

Stay steady for Jesus today.  Are you walking back into a difficult job/team/family/relationship/situation?  Bring Jesus with you and keep His Word close.  Preach to yourself boldly for the next three months or the next two years, but know that there is power and strength in the Bible and in the stories of those who have served God before us.  Get back in the ring for Jesus today!  Stay steady! 

Paul sure did.  And his example is an encouragement to us.  It also humbles us.  Our "assignment" today is (most likely) far less-demanding than preaching boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God and holding daily discussions...for the next two years (Acts 19:8-10).   

If we are in a long-term, steady relationship with Jesus, we may grow weary or intimidated from time to time, but we can look at what others have done and are doing...and be encouraged in what we've been called to do.

Thanks, for the pep talk, Paul.  Now we are ready to get back in the ring for Jesus.  Get back in there!  Stay steady!  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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