Do Not Be Silent
Scripture: Acts
18:9-11 (ESV)
9 And the Lord said
to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not
be silent, 10 for I
am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this
city who are my people.” 11 And
he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Devotion
Have you ever felt
afraid to speak up for your faith? Have you ever wondered if God is with you in
your struggles and trials? Have you ever felt alone or outnumbered as a
follower of Christ?
If you answered
yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. The apostle Paul faced many
challenges and oppositions as he preached the gospel in different cities. However,
he was not alone. He had the support of his fellow believers, who stood by him
in his trials and encouraged him in his mission. He was beaten, stoned,
imprisoned, and rejected by many people. He also faced internal conflicts, such
as doubts, fears, and discouragements.
But in the midst
of his difficulties, God spoke to him in a vision and gave him a powerful
promise: "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I
am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this
city who are my people." (Acts 18:9-10) This reassurance of God's
unwavering presence and protection is a source of great comfort and strength
for us all.
God assured Paul
that he was not alone, that he had nothing to fear, and that he had a mission
to accomplish. God also revealed to Paul that he had a 'hidden harvest of
souls' in the city of Corinth, where Paul was staying. This means that God had
prepared the hearts of many people to receive the gospel, and Paul just needed
to be faithful and obedient to sow the seed of the word.
This promise gave
Paul the courage and confidence to continue his ministry in Corinth. He stayed
there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. As a
result, many people believed and were baptized, including the ruler of the
synagogue, Crispus, and his household. (Acts 18:8)
What can we learn
from this story? We can learn that God is always with us, even when facing
difficulties and opposition to our faith. He knows our fears and weaknesses,
and he speaks to us through his word and his Spirit. He assures us of his
presence and his protection. He also gives us a vision of his purpose and his
plan. He has many people in this world who are his people, and he wants us to
share the good news with them. He has prepared their hearts to respond to his
grace and wants us to be his valued and significant instruments of love and
truth.
Therefore, let us
not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent. Let us trust that God
is with us and that he will use us for his glory. Let us pray that he will show
us opportunities and open doors to share his love and his truth. And let us
rejoice that he has called us to be his people and his witnesses. This call to
be bold and not be silent is not a burden, but a source of empowerment and
encouragement in our faith journey.
Prayer:
Lord, help us be bold and courageous
enough to speak your truth. Let us speak up even when it would be easier and
safer to stay silent. Encourage us as you encouraged Paul to speak and preach
the gospel no matter what opposition may come. Thank you, Lord, for your presence
with us at all times. Amen.
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