Rhapsody of Realities 29 November 2024: Stay Encouraged and Press On
Scripture: Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy
In your efforts to win souls, disciple new converts and bring them to church, there’re those who may never accept your message or agree to join your local fellowship; don’t be discouraged. Take a cue from how God dealt with the world. First, Jesus took His message to the Jews, His own people, for He came from among them. He brought them the message of the Kingdom but they rejected Him. What did He do? He then took the message to the Gentiles- to the rest of the world. And even today, many continue to receive that message.
Paul experienced the same thing. As a Jew, he first preached to the Jews, but they argued with him and rejected his message even though he was one of them. They knew him as the man who once persecuted Christians, and when he turned to Christ, they wouldn’t listen to him. Many of them even turned against him. But Paul didn’t let that stop him.
When the Jews wouldn’t accept his message, he turned to the Gentiles and had great success. Your focus should be on those who are open to receive the Gospel. Luke captured some of these. In Acts 13:46, for example, the Bible says, “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”
Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here
Also, Acts 18:6 tells us, “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.” Apply the same principle. Don’t allow those who reject your message to determine the condition of your spirit or your mood. Pray for them, intercede on their behalf, but don’t let their rejection control your heart. Focus on winning others.
As you succeed in reaching more people, one day, those who rejected your message will be provoked by your success and drawn to Christ, just as the Bible tells us that the Jews will be provoked by the salvation of the Gentiles and eventually believe in Jesus Christ. Stay encouraged and press on; keep your focus on the mission, knowing that as you prosper in the work of the Lord, others will be drawn to your light.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I thank you for the wisdom of your Word that guides me to focus on reaching more and more people with the Gospel. Even now, many are drawn to your message of salvation and are converted and established in your Word as your children minister the Gospel around the world today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Matthew 10:14-15
And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet.
15 Truly I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Acts 13:46
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out plainly and boldly, saying, It was necessary that God’s message [concerning [a]salvation through Christ] should be spoken to you first. But since you thrust it from you, you pass this judgment on yourselves that you are unworthy of eternal life and out of your own mouth you will be judged. [Now] behold, we turn to the Gentiles (the heathen).
Acts 18:6 NKJV
But since they kept opposing and abusing and reviling him, he shook out his clothing [against them] and said to them, Your blood be upon your [own] heads! I am innocent [of it]. From now on I will go to the Gentiles (the heathen).
1 – YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Peter 3 & Ezekiel 41-42
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 3:11-22 & Hosea 11-12
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Rhapsody of Realities 29 November 2024
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