Wed. Devo - How to be Abased and How to Abound

Read Acts 14
Human nature is amazing to watch. One moment you are a hero and the next you are being stoned. Even with signs and wonders following your words the hearts of men are still hardened. That is the journey Paul and Barnabas were on. It was a road of ups and downs, being exalted and being abased. No wonder Paul wrote in Phillipians 4: 11-13 that he knew how to be abased, how to abound, how to be full and how to be hungry; how to have more than enough, and how to suffer need. And in whatever state he was in to be content because he found he could do all things through Christ who gives him strength.
In today's reading they preach in Iconium and the word brought total chaos and division. The word of God is a two-edged sword that divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and thoughts and intents of the heart. You've got your soul, joint, and thoughts vs. your spirit, marrow, and intents of the heart. The truth leaves no gray areas. No one rides the fence. Truth mixed with miracles to back it up stirs up every demon in hell. Jealousy leads to murder. That is why everywhere they went their opposition wanted to kill them. The devil is out to KILL, steal, and destroy the works of God.
The people wanted to make Paul and Barnabas gods even though they tried to convince them they were human. There were Jews that had followed them from Iconium and Antioch to discredit them. They convinced the same people who wanted to worship them to stone them instead. By law he was dead, but as the disciples stood around him he rose up. This was a miracle. He not only got up from his stoning and was alive but he traveled to the next town and preached without any "down time". He even dared to go back through the cities where they had tried to have him killed and preached again. His message was that they had to go through tribulation to enter into the kingdom of God. Did someone preach that to you when you got saved? Maybe we would have changed our minds. But, it is the truth. Truth comes with a cost.......your comfort, your reputation, your time, your money, your life. But every time you will rise up on eagle's wings to new life.