Acts 14:20-28: a reflection

20But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. 21When they had preached the Good News to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom. 23When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed. 24They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 27When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. 28They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.

As Paul and Barnabas strengthen the new believers, they do not promise them an easy road, but prepare them honestly: through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God. They strengthened the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and telling them that through many afflictions we must enter into God's Kingdom. Rather than promise the new Christians a trouble-free life, Paul and Barnabas told them the truth: that the path to the kingdom passes through many hardships, and that they must continue in faith through them. This honest preparation was itself a strengthening, so that the afflictions, when they came, would not surprise or overthrow their faith. This shows the value of honest preparation for the hardships along the path of faith. The path to the kingdom passes through many afflictions. Honest preparation for hardship strengthens faith. We are told the truth: the road includes affliction. Faith is prepared to continue through hardship, not surprised by it.

Notice how Paul and Barnabas strengthened the new believers: by telling them the truth about the road ahead. They did not flatter them with promises of an easy, trouble-free Christian life; they told them plainly that through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God, and exhorted them to continue in the faith through them. This honesty was itself a form of strengthening. For if we expect the path of faith to be easy and trouble-free, then when hardships come, as they will, we may be surprised, shaken, even tempted to abandon the faith, thinking something has gone wrong. But if we are prepared, knowing that the road passes through many afflictions, then when they come we are not overthrown; we recognize them as part of the path, and continue in faith through them. This is a gift Paul gives us too: the honest truth that following Christ includes hardship, so that we are prepared to persevere through it rather than surprised and shaken by it. We do well to expect the path of faith to include affliction, and to prepare to continue through it. Expect hardship on the path of faith, and prepare to continue through it. Honest preparation keeps affliction from overthrowing our faith. The road to the kingdom includes affliction; persevere through it. Prepared for hardship, we are not shaken when it comes.

That is worth taking to heart, for the path of faith passes through many afflictions, and honest preparation for this strengthens us to persevere rather than be shaken. We can expect the Christian life to be easy and trouble-free, and be surprised and shaken when hardships come, even tempted to abandon faith; but Paul and Barnabas honestly told the new believers that through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom, and exhorted them to continue in faith. This honesty strengthens. Do not expect the path of faith to be trouble-free; prepare to persevere through the afflictions that are part of the road. Expect the path of faith to pass through many afflictions and prepare to continue through them, as Paul and Barnabas strengthened the new believers not by promising an easy road but by telling them the truth, that through many afflictions we must enter into God's kingdom, and exhorting them to continue in the faith; for if we expect the path of faith to be easy and trouble-free, then when hardships come, as they will, we may be surprised, shaken, and even tempted to abandon the faith, thinking something has gone wrong, but if we are honestly prepared, knowing the road passes through many afflictions, then when they come we are not overthrown but recognize them as part of the path and continue in faith through them, so that the honest truth that following Christ includes hardship is itself a gift that prepares us to persevere rather than be surprised and shaken, and we do well to expect affliction on the path of faith and to prepare to continue through it.

Lord, as Paul and Barnabas strengthen the new believers, they do not promise them an easy road, but prepare them honestly: through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God. They strengthened the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and telling them that through many afflictions we must enter into God's Kingdom. Rather than promise the new Christians a trouble-free life, they told them the truth: that the path to the kingdom passes through many hardships, and that they must continue in faith through them. This honest preparation was itself a strengthening, so that the afflictions, when they came, would not surprise or overthrow their faith. Show me how Paul and Barnabas strengthened the new believers: by telling them the truth about the road ahead. They did not flatter them with promises of an easy, trouble-free life; they told them plainly that through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom, and exhorted them to continue. This honesty was itself a form of strengthening. For if I expect the path of faith to be easy and trouble-free, then when hardships come, I may be surprised, shaken, even tempted to abandon the faith, thinking something has gone wrong. But if I am prepared, knowing that the road passes through many afflictions, then when they come I am not overthrown; I recognize them as part of the path, and continue in faith through them. This is a gift: the honest truth that following you includes hardship, so that I am prepared to persevere. Take that to my heart, for the path of faith passes through many afflictions, and honest preparation strengthens me to persevere. Keep me from expecting the path of faith to be trouble-free; help me prepare to persevere through the afflictions that are part of the road, Lord, so that when hardship comes I am not shaken but continue in faith, recognizing it as part of the path to your kingdom.