A few weeks ago our community spent time going over our values: Faith, Love, and Hope. We feel these are the three deepest values of being the church. Of course, while studying love we read from 1 Corinthians 13.
This past weekend I attend a good friends wedding. It was a beautiful wedding outdoors under the blue sky and like many weddings 1 Corinthians 13 was read highlighting love.
Like many people who follow the call of Christ to go and make disciples, there are days I want to “throw in the towel” and shout from the roof “Have it your way!” Sounds unloving, right? But it’s actually love for God and others that keeps me “going”.
I bring up this honest truth because the apostle who wrote these beautiful words of love to the Church of Corinth actually wanted to give up on them. When we read Acts 18 we learn that Paul would go out every Sabbath to the meeting place and do his best to convince people about Jesus (18.1-4). After his colleagues arrived, Paul went from part-time evangelist to full-time giving all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade people that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah (18.5). But without immediate success, all Paul saw was how they argued contentiously and contradicted him at every turn. So Paul had it with them and quiet, chalking it up to a bad job on his part. You might say he said, “Have it your way!” He decided his time better spent with other people who would respond (18.6).
Here is my confession: I’ve felt this way more than once. That my efforts were in vain and thought to myself why keep trying? But it’s what follows in this story of Paul and Corinth that keeps one going.
Paul went home. He returned to where there was people like him: God-fearing friends. But here is the catch Paul’s efforts weren’t a total loss, for Crispus, the leader of the meeting place, put his trust in Jesus. His entire family believed with him (18.7-8). Actually in the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized (18.8).
One night God spoke to Paul in a dream: “Keep it up, and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.” And that was all Paul needed to stick it out in Corinth. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians (18.9-11)
I’ve never had a similar dream, but I find comfort in knowing God is with me and no one can truly hurt me. That somehow, although unseen, many people are coming to God’s side in our city. I too can stick it out and faithfully teach the Word of God in Austin.
I don’t know where you’re at, but no matter, God is with you. There is no class of clergy and laity in the body of Christ, only disciples. As a disciple you are called to go and make other disciples. As you go (and you must keep it up), don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, God is with you and no one can hurt you. You have no idea how many people He has on His side in your city. Stick with it Jesus follower and continue to faithfully teach the Word of God in word and action.
“We will, Lord, until you return!”



