Acts 17:1-15 | Leaving the Results to Godಮಾದರಿ

It’s the Reason, not the Response

Paul was chased out of Thessalonica and then out of Berea. This wasn’t new to him; in Lystra he was nearly beaten to death, but went back into Lystra and began preaching the gospel (Acts 14). Despite all the rejection Paul faced, he persisted.

It’s easy to imagine he got discouraged. Were all his efforts in vain? Was he having any positive effect? Was all this suffering for nothing? Even if he did, he didn’t let that stop him from spreading the gospel.

Paul knew his job was to share the gospel and leave the results to God. It was the reason for sharing, not the response, that motivated him.

The good news of Jesus meant everything to Paul. It saved him and changed him. No matter how anyone responded, he loved Jesus because he came to see Jesus for who He truly is. He gave his life to Jesus and wanted the world to know about Him. This — this! — motivated Paul. Regardless of the outcome of his evangelistic efforts.

The irony is that in places like Thessalonica and Philippi which were filled with hostility, people still came to faith and the church still grew. The irony is that it’s these places, which looked like evangelism failures, that eventually led to New Testament letters like Thessalonians and Philippians, which have gone on to witness, convert, and edify Christians for 2000 years. Paul’s witness to the Bereans led to many Bereans being saved. Praise God! But Paul’s witness to the Philippians and Thessalonians led to God’s enduring message for two millennia, despite the fact that at the moment, it may have looked like failure.

So witness. Don’t worry about the results. Leave that to Jesus. Just give testimony to Him.

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