When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him. Acts 21:27 – Through word from some other brothers Paul discovers there were rumors being spread about him. Rumors that if believed would make it very difficult for him to have any traction in sharing the gospel in Jerusalem. On the suggestion of others, Paul underwent a week long Jewish ceremonial cleansing, and he even paid for other guys with him to do the same. All this effort was spent to do whatever he could to give sharing the Gospel the best chance possible in this city that was so lost. Yet see what plays out in our verse. The cleansing was almost done, yet some of Paul’s adversaries choose to not look at the efforts he was putting in but only believe the rumor that had been spread about him. How frustrating this must have been for Paul! He just spent a week and a lot of money to perform this cleaning, yet all it took on one voice to leave Paul in a mess and make everything he just went through seem pointless. You too are going to be making choices, and even sacrifices, for the sake of help others come to know Jesus. What those look like are going to be unique to you, but they are going to cost something from you too. Know our enemy then will love to discourage you by pushing you to believe your sacrifices weren’t worth it. Maybe that person you’re sharing the gospel with rejects it or maybe it’s the kids you raise who now lives in way that is foreign to the home you raised them in. Like with Paul the enemy will come against your gospel efforts to discourage you from putting more effort in. Know this, plan for this, and push though it when it comes. Your effort are never pointless, just dangerous to the enemy which is why he’s coming against them. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3629
Question To Ponder: How might the enemy seek is disrupt your efforts?
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