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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Acts 14:19. As a result of his preaching in Lystra, in modern Turkey, Paul is severely and sorely persecuted as he is on the receiving end of a barrage of stones. What would your response and reaction be if you were on the receiving end of such behaviour? We know that within a few weeks, Paul returned to that city of Lystra to encourage and strengthen those who had come to faith in Jesus Christ through his ministry - and to appoint elders and leaders to that fellowship.
When The Word of God is being preached, we never know what is happening inside people. Some can be receiving faith in Jesus Christ, and reaching out and looking for healing and blessings - while others are reaching for rocks and stones.
Service for Jesus Christ can be costly and wounding, but if it were not for men like Paul, where would we be today? And if it were not for our Loving Shepherd and Saviour Jesus Christ - Who faced the Cross - the shame - the pain - the rejection - shedding His Blood - to wash us and forgive us - and laying down His Life to reconcile us to God - there would be no salvation from our sins.
If it were not for Jesus - risen and alive - we would still be dead in our sins.
YES - service for Jesus Christ can be costly and sore and wounding - but it is also exciting and rewarding - as He guides and leads - as He gives boldness and courage and strength - for whatever we may have to face.
Whatever situation you are in - and wherever you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ - make sure you are close fellowship and communion with fellow disciples and believers whom you can trust totally to gather around you to support you in your hour of need. And may all the other disciples know that you can be relied upon to be alongside any of the others when their hour of need arises.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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