I know....this picture, again, has nothing to do with the devotion, but it's a cool shot.
Leave it to God to make us strong through our weakness.
When I read Acts 14:8-28 I noticed how when Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra great things happened there for God. Yet the crowd would still not completely “get it”. They displayed faith and believed in the miracles that were being performed through these men. Yes, “through them”. In verse 27 Paul wrote about how he “reported all that God had done through them”. Even through all the Lystrains eye-witnessing and believing, they still wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas (verse 13). Doesn’t this sound like how the Israelites behaved so often? Wait, we don’t have to look very far to see that we still may behave this way at times today. (Just thinking.)
After all the many wonderful things that God did through those two men, and the crowd was turning to the ways of man, Paul tried to stress the importance of how they all need to “turn from these worthless things to the living God.” (Verse 15)
Paul’s strength to speak so boldly came from God, but man tried to weaken him by insulting the two men and ended up stoning Paul and dragging him outside the city, thinking he was dead. (verse 19) The people of Lystra may have tried to weaken Paul physically, but spiritually God was giving him strength all the while.
Get this…after Paul was left for dead outside of the city, he went back into the city! Really?? He did leave the next day to carry on God’s word, but then in verse 21 we read that Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra. Now wait, this is the same city that stoned him and left him for dead. But they didn’t get Paul down. Nope. God strengthened him physically AND spiritually. We continue reading in verse 22 that Paul and Barnabas strengthened the disciples in the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Anitoch and encouraged them to remain true to their faith.
Note to self…(for all of us)…man may try to weaken us mentally and physically, but God is the ultimate one in charge of our strength. My strength comes from the Lord! “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 28:7. God will make us strong through the tough times and in our weakest moments when we allow Him.
I pray that God will give you the strength each day to encourage others and yourself to be strong in the Lord and to remain true to your faith.
Amen.
Side note: Thinking about the task that may lay before me and the mission team I’m with this week, we may feel physically weak at times, but we must encourage one another and remind each other that God is our strength.
Blessings and God’s abundant love to y’all.
July 14