September 11, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, supposing he was dead. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. (Acts 14:19-20)

After being the victim of stoning, a mercilessly sadistic form of execution no sentient being should ever be subjected to, Paul picks himself up and leaves the following day for the next city in his mission itinerary. Then he returns to Lystra where he had just been stoned and left for dead and encourages the disciples with his famous words, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

It behooves us to stop complaining about the slightest little inconvenience or irritatation as we do the work of God, whether it be heavy traffic, hot weather, rain, conflict with a fellow parishioner, dislike of ministry leader, etc. The first Christians suffered way more than we have or probably ever will. May we have the same fortitude they had, and may the power of the same Holy Spirit who was at work in them be at work in us so we can also turn our generation upside down.