QT 21/05/2024 Tuesday Acts 14. Steady, not fickle. 稳定，不善变。
QT 21/05/2024 Tuesday Acts 14.
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Acts+14/
LISTEN TO Acts 14
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Acts.14
Witnesses of Jesus Christ need to be realistic as they bring forth their message to the ends of the earth. Some hearts never change. Some hearts keep on changing.
(1) SOME HEARTS NEVER CHANGE.
The Jews at Iconium, Antioch and Iconium stirred up trouble for Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:2,19). Not only did they reject Paul's message, they also did many things to obstruct others.
They stirred up the Gentiles (Acts 14:2). They poisoned their minds against the brothers (Acts 14:2). They plotted with their leaders to mistreat Paul (Acts 14:5) and stoned them (Acts 14:5); They "followed up" closely with their destructive work–travelling from Antioch and Iconium (Acts 14:19).
REFLECTION: Do we have hardened hearts that refuse to acknowledge the priority of Jesus' mission in our daily lives?
(2) SOME HEARTS KEEP ON CHANGING
On the other hand, the fickle-minded crowd at Lystra (Acts 14:8-19) flip-flopped. In one moment, the crowd treated Paul and Barnabas as more than heroes (Acts 14:11-18). In the next moment, the crowd was won over by the Jews that came from Antioch and Iconium (Acts 14:19). They proceeded to STONE Paul and DRAGGED him outside the city—treated them as VILLAINS.
REFLECTION: Are we standing firm and being faithful at the place where God has put us in?
APPLICATION (1): CONTINUE to preach the gospel in spite of opposition and difficulties. Paul continued to preach after being left for dead (Acts 14:19-20).
APPLICATION (2): REFUSE to entertain rumours! Verify facts with the persons involved, use the proper channels for communication. In this way, we would not be made pawns and unknowingly participate in other people's schemes. Analyse it this way: was the progress of the gospel hindered or damaged in any way?
星期二2024年5月21日 今日读经：使徒行传14章. 稳定，不善变。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Act/14/
听音频使徒行传14章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/act.14.cnvs
为耶稣作见证，把信息带到世界地极的人，必须面对一个事实。有些人的心是不会改变的。有些人的心却是一直在变。
(1) 有些人的心永远都不会改变。
有些犹太人，从安提阿、以哥念来，挑唆群众，为保罗和巴拿巴制造不少的麻烦(徒14:2,19)。他们不但拒绝保罗的信息，还做了许多阻挠他人来听道的事。
他们煽动外族人(徒14:2)。他们激起他们仇恨的心，来反对弟兄们(徒14:2)。他们和他们的首领联合起来侮辱保罗(徒14:5)和用石头打他们(徒14:5);他们为自己的破坏工作紧密“跟进”--从安提阿来到以哥念(徒14:19)。
反思：我们是否有着钢硬的心以致不肯承认耶稣的使命是自己日常生活中最重要的一部分？
(2) 有些人的心一直在改变
另一方面，在路司得善变的群众却(徒14:8-19)反反复复。这一刻，众人把保罗和巴拿巴当成英雄(徒14:11-18)。下一刻，众人就被来自安提阿和以哥念的犹太人影响、洗脑了(徒14:19)。他们接着就用石头打保罗，还把他拖到城外---简直把他们当成是反派人物。
反思：我们是否在神安置我们的地方站立得稳并忠心耿耿？
应用(1):尽管遭到抵抗和难处，都继续传福音。保罗被抛在城外等死，之后他仍继续传福音(徒14:19-20)。
应用(2):拒绝听信谣言！与当事人查证事实，通过正确的沟通管道。这样，我们就不会像颗棋子那样，任由摆布并在不知情的情况下参与了别人的诡计。你可以从这个角度去查验：福音的传遍是否已经被拦阻或损坏？
