Believe God

We’re familiar with Paul’s story, right? Persecutor turned witness of Jesus? Yes, that Paul.

As zealous as he was in his mission as a Pharisee, so he was with the instruction that God gave him. After his encounter on the road to Damascus, he immediately started to carry out this new mandate given by God, with great intentionality, which was to witness of Jesus Christ. Among the many cities he planned to visit was Jerusalem, and although Paul was acting in alignment with God's will, the suffering was great. In fact it was prophesied, and people tried to dissuade him from going but he could not be swayed.

In the book of Acts between chapters 21 and 28 you’ll find that while fulfilling God’s purpose, Paul was:

1. falsely accused

2. beaten

3. jailed for years

4. on a hit list

5. caught in a storm at sea

6. shipwrecked

7. starved near to death, and 

8. bitten by a venomous snake

So many things happened to Paul that when they made it to the shore of Malta in chapter 28 where the snake bit him, the people said this man must be a murderer! He must be someone terrible, having escaped death at sea only to have a snake bite him, injecting poisonous substance into his bloodstream.

You may feel pity having heard this story but what I find inspiring about this recount is that nowhere in the scripture does it say Paul doubted that he was in the Lord’s will. Nowhere does it say Paul cursed God. I didn’t read anything about Paul wanting to give up. He was certain that he was sent, and he most definitely kept going amidst the difficulty. Paul had a word; a promise. Each time he appeared before a King he declared that Jesus is Lord and will be the first to be raised from the dead. Every single time he was brought to court he boldly proclaimed that he had done nothing but the will of the one who sent him, and he refused to deny God. Many believers give up or deny God for less, but Paul endured. He never surrendered his mandate.

Regardless of what was happening to him, he used every opportunity to do what God said. To his very visitors in jail he witnessed Jesus. While he was still a prisoner in literal chains awaiting his appeal to Caesar, the Bible says he ministered healing to Publius’ father and countless others who came to him along the shore. Later in that chapter he preached, again, still a prisoner, and declared that “...I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel - the Messiah - has already come” (Acts 28:19 NLT), and many were saved that day.

I want to be like Paul: Unrepentant of the call. Enduring. Faith-filled. Paul believed God, and because he believed God he endured great hardship. Yet, nothing could stop him from fulfilling God's purpose, not even venom.

While in the storm at sea, hungry after the crew threw almost everything overboard, Paul encouraged them saying, “But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. (Acts 27:22-25 NLT)

So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just. as. he. said.

Paul was sure he was sent and that the Lord was with him in spite of his terrible circumstances. So should you. Don’t doubt the promise. Believe God.