PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 14:21-28
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
I have often focused on the blessing of the kingdom of God.
I’ve presented it like a dream, like Martin Luther King Jr’s dream.
A vision of life where everyone is good, everyone belongs, everyone cares.
But I am living in a dream if I think pursuing this dream will be easy.
Paul is clear that following Jesus in his kingdom dream will lead to many hardships.
To focus on and live for Jesus’s vision will put us at odds with the present world.
Living for Jesus, living for the kingdom will make life harder.
We pursue it – like MLK – because it is right, and good, and necessary.
It is a dream worth fighting for, even worth dying for.
Paul strengthened the disciples, encouraging them to stay true to the dream.
We need this encouragement too, because it will be hard to stay true.
Are you committed to Jesus, and to his dream for the kingdom?
Are you refusing to follow selfish dreams to help make Jesus’s dream come true?
Be encouraged: in this world you will have trouble, but Jesus has overcome the world!
PRAYER
Lord, keep the dream alive as life in this world looks too often like a nightmare. Strengthen me with your grace, that I may stay true to your kingdom dream!
“strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.” That is how I see my purpose as a Jesus follower – we need to encourage each other- encouraging with genuine words of love – words and things that Jesus did to encourage people of all walks of life to follow his way – especially when difficulties challenge people. Lord Jesus, help me to as open to giving of love to others as you were – with genuine desire to seek what’s best – to be there for those who need it! Help me to love people of all walks of life – open my eyes and my hands – to act and to encourage – to be a barnabas!