Standing Firm

Today's Verses -- Acts 9:23-29

Context: Saul has been obedient to Christ, and he is able to see again. He has been baptized and after spending several days with the disciples in Damascus, he has begun preaching the Good News in the synagogues.

Text:
23After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

God didn't give Saul much time to perfect his sermon before throwing him in to the fray! He went from persecuting to being persecuted in approximately one week.

It would be one thing if the people just ignored him, taunted him, or labeled him a fool. But they were so upset with his teaching that they were ready to kill just to silence him. In just a few days Saul's message was so powerful that devout Jews knew they had to eliminate him or their way of life was endangered.

Why was the message of Christ such a threat? Even today, people are at risk of death in certain countries for preaching, or even living, the Gospel.

We live in a country where all religions are supposedly tolerated, which in essence makes the Christian message (or any other message) meaningless. It's ok for people to believe whatever they want, our society says, because in the end it doesn't really make any difference. Religion is seen as a crutch and there isn't any true right or wrong, or all would be flocking toward the truth.

Even within our own Protestant faith there are so many denominations that outsiders see us as multiple religions who can't even define right from wrong within specific issues. If there is a strong disagreement within a church, people simply split and go their separate ways. The result is an entire country of lukewarm Christians.

What is truth, and how do we know? What do YOU stand for when it comes to God?