Caleb Walker

Prepare your hearts for this week’s lesson with this devotional and prayer prompts.

     Paul and his mission team faced many obstacles in Acts 16, in Philippi as they tried to share the gospel and get the Good News to more people. Have you ever faced obstacles to the gospel in your own experience? Truth be told, when we begin stepping out in faith and telling others about the Good News of Jesus Christ that is the very moment when the real obstacles come against us. When we face obstacles in sharing the Good News there are three truths to tightly cling to.

I. Obstacles substantiate obedience.

     The moment you pray to receive Christ, you are called to share the Good News with others. This is a skill and calling many Christians tend to fall away from as they go along in their Christian journey. It would make more sense for us to work harder at sharing the gospel and become more practiced as sharing the gospel. But—to our shame—we can grow apathetic.

     The cares and concerns of this life can discourage us. When we go for extended seasons of seeing no one pray to receive Christ, it can dishearten us. When we’ve been aggressively rejected by an individual, it can frighten us. But nonetheless, we are called to face these obstacles with obedience. Know this, when you are boldly facing these obstacles, there is a sense of joy and peace in knowing that you are walking in obedience.

II. Obstacles strengthen perseverance.

     From Acts 16 we also learn that obstacles strengthen perseverance. Facing the obstacle makes us stronger to face the upcoming obstacles that we can’t see, but God can see. He wants us to grow in relying on Him, being resilient, and sticking to the stuff when we share the gospel, and we are opposed. It can be so hard, but God knows what we need to strengthen our perseverance in the faith.

III. Obstacles sovereignly transform us.

     This is a precious truth that warms and comforts my heart from Acts 16. Obstacles truly do sovereignly transform us. There is not one obstacle we face in the path of persevering obedience that is outside the caring protection of our sovereign God. The height of the obstacle is hand-crafted by God. The width and depth are designed by Him, as well. The permission of the evil one to bring the obstacle our way must first be gained at the throne of God’s omnipotence and grace, just as in the case of Job. And God will use it to transform our lives to see, believe, exercise faith, and trust God with new depths. The very mountain of the obstacle itself is the measure of our transformation should we endeavor to cross it.

     Dear brother or sister in Christ, don’t give into the fear of the obstacle and don’t steer away from it; but embrace it as a useful blessing in your life to substantiate your obedience, strengthen your perseverance, and sovereignly transform us into Christ’s likeness.

Prayer Prompts:

• Pray for your teacher and their family to be protected as they prepare and teach the Bible lesson this week.
• Pray for God to give you His perspective when you face obstacles when sharing the gospel.
• Thank Him in advance that He is substantiating the obedience in your life, strengthening the perseverance in your life, and sovereignly transforming your life into Christlikeness. 

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