And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”(Acts 18:6, ESV)

Paul is tired and frustrated! The books of Acts is a story of the initial spread of the Gospel within the Roman Empire, and up to this point, there is very minimal resistance to the message of Jesus. Paul has had so much success, but now he is out of his comfort zone and ministering to the Jews at a synagogue in Corinth, who are being anything but receptive. Paul even attempts to absolve himself of his responsibility for their souls: “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent.” You can almost feel the frustration. Paul wants to leave this place of resistance. He is getting restless and weary of dealing with the same people for the same result.  

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God reminds Paul of his promise through in a dream in Acts 18:9-10: “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” Although he meets two key groups of people through his ministry here, we can assume that Paul endures much of the same for the next 18 months. Eventually, the Jews bring Paul to a Roman Proconsul for judgement. God is faithful to his word, “…and no one will attack you to harm you…” Before Paul opens his mouth for his defense, the Proconsul dismisses him.  

Have you ever attempted to run a race? You must run during training to gain endurance, and it is uncomfortable – my lungs hurt just thinking about it. Even our jobs require endurance – the longer we work, the better we get, but honestly, sometimes it is hard, and I want to quit - “at least I tried, right?” Paul, however, knows that there is no earthly end to his race, and he is fully committed to one finish line - Jesus’ arms. That requires a different kind of resilience, and we now get a glimpse of hesitation. Paul showed weakness in his trials and God had to reassure him, speak to his fears, and comfort him. God showed up at his trial and prevented any prosecution (Acts 18:14-17), just as he said he would.  

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Have you ever spoken up for your faith and failed? Have you tried again and seen God’s faithfulness? If we run, we will get better, and if we speak the truth, eventually people will receive it. It is such a relief when you have that conversation. I am reminded of Hebrews 12:1-3: “… let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross … Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

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We are all called to this race of bringing the gospel to the ends of the Earth. The race is hard and exhausting. We all must maintain family, social, and professional relationships (which Paul also had to do to sustain his ministry while in Corinth). And we can find real comfort in these settings, just as Paul had also found comfort in speaking to the Jews who generally received him up until this point.  

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It will seem uncomfortable to go where God calls you. God removed the big hurdles for Paul in Corinth. When he removes those hurdles, that makes him more real! Rest assured that he is faithful to remove hurdles for you, but not necessarily all of them. It will be a grind sometimes. It is okay to be frustrated in the task that God has given you but trust him to shape you in the way that shows his glory.  

God, thank you for calling me to labor for your Kingdom. Please grant me the strength and endurance to run this race well. Let your presence give me the relief that I need and help me to see that these momentary and temporary sufferings are not for nothing. Moreover, give me satisfaction in these trials as I wrestle with myself and others. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.