June 24. Acts 28. Juan Rodriguez
Resilience Despite Hardships
This last chapter of the book of Acts, ends after a dramatic travel that seems to have all of the making of the opposition by the enemy. Yet, Paul continues the journey with zeal and obedience to the spreading of the Gospel. This tenacity truly shows us that even through adversity and conflict, we can also continue the work that our Lord Jesus has declare for us to continue (Matthew 28:20). Not having been in any of Paul’s adverse situations, it’s hard to relate at the hardship he encountered. From being bitten by a poisonous snake to being shipwrecked. His zeal truly gives us the benchmark to follow in the proclamation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus. I have been there, where many troubling circumstances arise, and the focus then becomes distraction from our commandment to bring the word of God to others. You have to admire the faithfulness demonstrated by Paul and those who followed him. Being at sea is something many have not experienced, but I have and seen how treacherous it can be. As a human in this new era I wonder, how a man under those conditions could have persisted in pursuing the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What a drive! What persistent motivation! I can not help but to compare my experiences with that of a true dedicated man of God! So, what am I doing wrong? What must I learn from this great example? There are a handful of things at my disposal that my Lord Jesus, either has shown or taught us.
The one that we, I, must pursue always is to bring our petitions to the Lord in prayer. I know that in our weakness He will guide us and strengthen us (2 Corinthian 12:9). Not only in the understanding of the situation and overcoming it, but in the wisdom of the Word (James 1:5-6). I’ve come to understand, like Paul did, to tell others how my Lord Jesus came to my life and changed it forever! How to see it as a relationship, and not so much as a legalistic agreement with the One that is superior than me!
In addressing the circumstances we have encountered like Paul did, and how the Grace of my Lord Jesus changed it all, we rest in the truth of the greatest love of all, the sacrifice that changed it all for humanity. As I read this last chapter of the Book of Acts, I come to the internal realization that my conscious is been stirred up! At first, is not such a good feeling, yet here lies another of the tools we have at our disposal to continue despite our less than stellar performance. Trust in the Lord! He that calls you will equip you! Like Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Daniel, we have in Him all we need by placing our trust in the Lord Jesus that can do it all!