“You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure. You know how badly we were treated at Philippi, just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare His Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.” - (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2)
True character, rooted in God, is evidenced by conviction that only strengthens with opposition. Notice that Paul did not listen to the voices of “authority” telling him to stop preaching about Jesus. Why? Because it went in a direct head-on-collision with the commandment of God to, “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Should we stop gathering together because the authorities say to? Never! Should we be silent because they’ve labeled the Gospel hate speech? Never! True character is revealed by true, undeterred conviction in action.
Paul and Silas sat in prison for sharing this Life-saving message, and what did they do? They sang hymns and prayed. They did the very thing that landed them there. If they had acquiesced to the ruling authority, begging for forgiveness, and offering money to their gods, the Gospel would have never spread throughout the world, and we would’ve never been saved. The fruit of the Gospel here, started there, and it started with unwavering courage and boldness.
Friends, eternity is rushing in, and these chaotic last days will soon be over. May our true character reveal a heart that upholds Truth in the face of unrelenting storms. May it be said of us as we stand before the Bema seat of Christ awaiting our rewards, that He declares, “To my bold and fearless followers, I give you the crown of Life, for you looked passed the fear of your day and saw eternity. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”
Does anything else matter?
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