Biblical Reflections · Christian Life
Passionate about Christ?
5 min read, approximately
“But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.” (Acts 14:19-20)
Stoning was a very common practice that involved surrounding a person accused of something and throwing stones at them… But for how long? Until the people saw that the victim no longer moved, or until blood flowed between the stones, making the victim’s death easy to confirm.
In short, stoning was intended to leave the accused with no outcome but death. For example:
“But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [the Lord], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:57-60)
How, Then, Was Paul Able to Survive This?
\1. Paul Had Such an Unrestrained Passion of Love for Christ
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus and through us spreads the fragrance of knowing him everywhere.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
“Whatever things were gains to me, I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have lost everything and consider it rubbish, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God through faith. I want to know him, the power of his resurrection, and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, so that somehow I may reach the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already attained this or am already perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus also took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it yet. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and stretching toward what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:7-14)
\2. Paul Lived His Life Preaching about the One He Loved
“If I proclaim the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to do so. Woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! If I do it willingly, I have a reward; if unwillingly, I have still been entrusted with this commission. What, then, is my reward? That when I preach, I may offer Christ’s gospel free of charge, so as not to misuse my right in the gospel. Though I am free from everyone, I have made myself a servant to everyone, so that I might win more people.
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law—although I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. To those without the law, I became as though I were without the law—not being without God’s law, but under Christ’s law—to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by every possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in it.” (1 Corinthians 9:16-23)
\3. Paul Knew His Life Was in the Almighty’s Hands, so What Was There to Fear?
“But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:17-18)
Paul: Love, Dedication, Passion, and Trust in God!
Now we understand how Paul survived that stoning… The Lord was always with him and raised him up!
Yet Christ went to the cross for us, and so many people took the gospel upon their shoulders and suffered so much, so that God’s Word could reach our own time, so that we could know our Redeemer and Savior, have life in abundance, and spread the gospel to every creature… How sad it is to see that our response of gratitude is to neglect reading the Bible, neglect evangelism, arrive late for worship, think that going to church on Sunday is more than enough, and neglect prayer…
You know, what could come from a heart that is not passionate about Jesus Christ?
“But I have [this] against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.” (Revelation 2:4)
Where are the Nehemiahs, Esthers, Jonathans, Elijahs, Shadrachs, Meshachs, Abednegos, Daniels, Jeremiahs, Stephens, and Pauls…?
Do we have hearts that are passionate about Jesus?
_**Remember to stop by the Songbook
May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have a wonderful day in Christ Jesus!