Don't Give Up

Scripture Verses
Acts 28

  1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

 7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. 8His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

  11After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

  17Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. 20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."

 21They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."

 23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
 26" 'Go to this people and say,
   "You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
      you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
 27For this people's heart has become calloused;
      they hardly hear with their ears,
      and they have closed their eyes.
   Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
      hear with their ears,
      understand with their hearts
   and turn, and I would heal them.'[a]

 28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"[b]

 30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Devotion
How many times have you heard the phrase, “you’re not listening to me” from a child, a parent, a friend, a co-worker or even yourself?  Have you ever caught yourself listening to the voice in your head rather than the person speaking to you?  It is easy to get caught in this paradigm.

Paul could have gotten very frustrated with the people not listening, not truly hearing his preaching, or seeing him for the man he truly was.  People placed judgment on him based on their own thinking or the other voices they were hearing.  Paul sought to help others see the truth.  Paul could have easily departed like many of the others, but he did not give up.  Paul stayed on for two additional years, welcoming any who would come to his home and listen to the Word.

Winston Churchill once said “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

There are so many forms of media today that are “talking” and steering people away from the Christian church.  Those voices are loud and can, at times, have greater influence.  Our role is to not give up, just like Paul.  We need to continue to share our love for God with the patience and hope that in time, others will see and hear and their hearts will be open. 

We need to pray that those who are calloused will be healed and the love of God will be revealed to them.  We need to listen to our children and talk to them about God, letting them feel His love through us.  We need to teach them so they will in turn go out and talk to others.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Open my eyes that I may see, the glimpses of truth you have for me; open my ears that I may hear, the voices of truth that you send so clear; open my mouth, and let me bear, gladly the warm truth everywhere.  Amen