Setback or Sitting Back
Acts 8
There will always be setbacks in life. Sometimes the results of our effort do not produce the success we desire, or our efforts fail altogether. The response to experiencing a setback is determined by our mindset. It is important to understand that setbacks are different than sitting back. If we’re not mindful and focused on holding onto the gospel as the motivation and power of our lives, our response to a setback can be sitting back.
In Acts 8, the early Christians experienced an intense season of persecution, causing many believers to scatter. The apostles, however, stayed in Jerusalem, with the exception of Philip. It doesn’t appear that Philip was fleeing persecution, but more so, going with the people to help remind them of the gospel and to teach the gospel to those who hadn’t heard. Their response to setback was not sitting back; they merely took their life and the message of the gospel somewhere else.
Philip ministered in Samaria and persuaded a well-known magician (Acts 8:4-13) as well as a particular eunuch of the court of the Ethiopian queen (Acts 8:26-39). The only detail given about Philip and those who scattered was that they preached the gospel where they went (Acts 8:4). The challenge for some people who experience setbacks is not just changing where they are living life, but they want to change how they’re living. For a Christian, there should never be a change in how we live life, for whatever we do and wherever we do it, we do it for the glory of the Lord (Col. 3:7; Col. 3:23-24; 1 Cor. 10:31). Our response to setbacks because of the gospel can produce new opportunities to share the gospel.
Be mindful and motivated by the gospel to take a step to B.L.E.S.S. others.
There will always be setbacks in life. Sometimes the results of our effort do not produce the success we desire, or our efforts fail altogether. The response to experiencing a setback is determined by our mindset. It is important to understand that setbacks are different than sitting back. If we’re not mindful and focused on holding onto the gospel as the motivation and power of our lives, our response to a setback can be sitting back.
In Acts 8, the early Christians experienced an intense season of persecution, causing many believers to scatter. The apostles, however, stayed in Jerusalem, with the exception of Philip. It doesn’t appear that Philip was fleeing persecution, but more so, going with the people to help remind them of the gospel and to teach the gospel to those who hadn’t heard. Their response to setback was not sitting back; they merely took their life and the message of the gospel somewhere else.
Philip ministered in Samaria and persuaded a well-known magician (Acts 8:4-13) as well as a particular eunuch of the court of the Ethiopian queen (Acts 8:26-39). The only detail given about Philip and those who scattered was that they preached the gospel where they went (Acts 8:4). The challenge for some people who experience setbacks is not just changing where they are living life, but they want to change how they’re living. For a Christian, there should never be a change in how we live life, for whatever we do and wherever we do it, we do it for the glory of the Lord (Col. 3:7; Col. 3:23-24; 1 Cor. 10:31). Our response to setbacks because of the gospel can produce new opportunities to share the gospel.
Be mindful and motivated by the gospel to take a step to B.L.E.S.S. others.
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