Year 4, Day 246: Acts 13

Theological Commentary: Click Here 

Discipleship Focus: Challenge

• Challenge: God does not merely wish us to be in relationship with Him as we are.  He challenges us to grow, stretch, and transform as we take on the mantle of being His representatives to this world.

One of the things I have always loved about Paul is that he knows how to bring the challenge.  First of all, he is quick to recognize that Elymas (Bar-Jesus) isn’t speaking truth.  Rather, Elymas is only speaking what his proconsul wants to hear.  Paul brings the challenge against Elymas and puts him in his place.

However, there is a much defter example of the use of challenge.  As Paul unfolds the Hebrew history, he turns to the Jews and the Gentiles who are gathered around him and challenges them to rise above what the Hebrew Scriptures say will happen in the face of justification through the cross.  In Acts 13:40 Paul specifically tells the people to beware.  He doesn’t sugar coat things.  He tells them flat out to beware that the Hebrew Scriptures aren’t talking about them.

That takes guts.  It also doesn’t work for everyone.  Even as we read this story we hear some interesting things.  The first thing that we hear is that the regular people want to hear more.  They are intrigued.  In fact, they beg Paul to come back.  They want the challenge.  They want to hear more.

However, we also hear that the religious elite in Psidian Antioch stir up trouble against Paul.  They think they know best, and they rile the people up against him.  They see the effect of challenge in the lives of the people and step in to destroy what Paul and Barnabas have been able to do through the Spirit.

That’s the funny thing about challenge.  Some people hear the challenge and respond in incredible moments of growth.  Other people hear the challenge and retaliate.  But challenge is the only way to growth and transformation.

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