Acts 13:4-12
It would have been so easy for Paul and Barnabas to give up and go home when they realized that sharing the Gospel wasn’t going to be as easy or productive as they had to have been thinking when they left Antioch. Most believers could sympathize if they had because we know how hard it is to encounter rejection. However, as we see throughout Acts, some are going to oppose the Gospel. Others are going to be apathetic. However, others are going to believe and accept salvation.
I’ve told y’all many times that we are not responsible for someone’s acceptance of Christ. What I mean when I say that is if someone doesn’t accept Christ, it doesn’t make me a failure because I am not responsible for that. I am responsible for telling the Gospel. The only way that I am a failure is if I don’t speak Jesus.
Gary Larson has a Far Side cartoon picturing two deer. One has a giant target on his chest. The other deer says, “Bummer of a birthmark, Ernie!” You might be thinking, “If I’m going to get into a battle with Satan by presenting the Gospel, I’m not sure I want to do it! It’s like putting a target on me for Satan to aim at!”
Yes, it is! But that is exactly what God calls us to do. Jesus knew that in any group of people there would be weeds. There will be those who try to stop the spread of the Gospel. If we let them stop us and silence us, we fail, and Satan wins. But, if we let them goad us into responding in kind, Satan wins.
Don’t let Satan win a battle. Jesus tells us to leave the weeds alone instead of pulling them. Listen to the Holy Spirit because his job is to guide us and help us discern what to do or say. Be his vessel.