No Worries, Mate
Destiny. As Paul spent time on Malta recovering from the shipwreck, he seems to be free of stress and anxiety. There's no complaining about his plight--hounded by the Jews, unfairly imprisoned by the Romans and now a toally unnecessary shipwreck. What next? Even when bitten by a snake he stays calm. I think it's because he had a clear sense that God had directed him to go to Rome. The key to a productive, worry-free life is to be clear about what God has called you to do, and to be confident that God is in charge.
Diplomacy. Notice that when Paul explains his imprisonment to the Jewish leaders in Rome, he says it's because of his message about the hope of Israel, not the hope of the resurrection. This less controversial packaging of his message seems to make them willing to listen. Paul gets two years to make the case for Christ in Rome. Knowing the truth doesn't mean we must always express it with an "in your face style."
Discouragement. I sense frustration in Paul's quote of the ever-hearing but never listening passage. And why wouldn't he be; after giving his life to sharing the Good News with his own people, they still keep throwing the same stubborn resistance at him. But our job is not to "win the argument," but rather to faithfully witness for Christ even though people we care about will reject the message. Enduring discouragement is sometimes the price of effective ministry.
Created about 1 year ago
