Really living out God's Will

Chapter 18

v. 2 - I just have no idea what it's like to suffer persecution. This verse just haphazardly mentions that Aquila and Priscilla had to move because Claudius (Roman governor) issued an edict that Jews had to move out of Rome. Can you imagine? We cannot because of the religious freedom we enjoy in the U.S. I'm just struck by how I would freak out if the mayor of my town issued an edict that we had to pick up and move - just because of our faith. I would be whining and complaining, but this may have been par for the course back in the day.

v.3 - Paul's side job he did to make money was tent-making. He did this so he would not have any ties to anyone (financial help usually comes with strings) and so he'd be completely free in his ministry (nobody could accuse him of doing anything for financial gain). He had a total right to be paid for his ministry (he even taught this in later epistles), but chose to take the high road. Awesome!

v.6 - this reinforces a truism about evangelism discussed in an earlier post - it is not our job to "get people to believe" the truths about Jesus. It is our job to lovingly share these truths and let God (Holy Spirit) do what He does.

v.9 - what an encouragement! Paul was pretty bold most of the time anyway, but it's interesting to see here that God apparently felt like he needed a shot in the arm. This is a reminder to encourage our leaders - even if they seem to have it all together.

vv.14-17 - this was a great deal for Christianity. Gallio is a proconsul (pretty big-time governor of a province). His ruling here that the Roman courts would not get involved in this religious fight between Jews and Christians was BIG. Other proconsuls would cite this as a precedence to not get involved. Christians would still be persecuted heavily by non-believing Jews and the Romans would eventually turn on them, but this legal ruling helped for a while.

v.21 - I will come back if it is God's will. This conjures up thoughts of James 4:15. Paul definitely knew God was running the show and, therefore, probably said this phrase often. Maybe I should as well - as a conscious reminder of a truth that I say that I believe (but many times act as if it's not true). How would my life look different if the constant thought on the front of my brain at every moment of my day was, "I really desire to be doing something that brings God glory and that is (by definition) in His will"?

v.23 - continuing education. Paul goes back to the leaders in the churches he planted and "strengthened them." I'm not entirely sure what that looks like, but I'm fairly sure it involved encouragement, training, advise, wisdom, etc. I hope that anyone who leads in a church would always be open to receiving more instruction/training/equipping.