Daily Devotional

I’ve shared this story often, but in elementary school, one of my favorite days of the year was “Field Day”. It was a day in which we would compete in a variety of field events in an attempt to earn ribbons for placing in the top three of each event. Of all the events, my favorite by far was the obstacle course. I don't know why, but there was something about the challenge of the obstacle course that I looked forward to, dare I say, embraced. And yet, that's not how we treat obstacles or opposition in our own lives. Why is that?

In this passage, we see Paul and Barnabas heading across the island, declaring the message to anyone who would listen, until they ran into a false prophet, Bar-Jesus. He was an attendant to the Roman proconsul who wanted to hear the word of God. However, the sorcerer did not want that to happen. He wanted to turn the proconsul away from the gospel message, and this should not surprise us.

Some may ask, "Didn't God send them on this mission?" The answer to that is, “Yes.” "Well then, why are they dealing with opposition and obstacles," one may also ask. The answer is simple. While God guides us to share the gospel, it doesn't mean we should expect the road to be free of opposition. One reason is that the gospel is inherently divisive. Upon hearing the gospel, people must accept: 1) they are sinners, dead in their sin. 2) That they cannot do anything to change this condition. 3) That Jesus loves them enough to die in their place, though they don't deserve it. 4) That Jesus rose from the dead. These are difficult truths, but they are an all-or-nothing proposition.

So, the question I often ask is, “Is it an obstacle course or an obstacle curse?” If we truly believe the truth of the gospel, then we may confidently embrace opposition. Not necessarily because we are so prepared that nothing can stop us, but rather because our confidence comes from the power of the message we proclaim. If we believe in the truth of the gospel, we will be witnesses to the power of God through that message.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.