Stoned

Picture this. God tells you to go tell everyone you can about Him. In one of the town's everyone starts trying to worship you because they think you are a God. Until some other guys come and turn all those people against you. Next thing you know all the people that were trying to worship you start throwing rocks at you. Not little rocks either. I'm talking, these people are killing you. Somehow they think you are dead and drag you out of town. Considering how they just "killed" you I imagine they weren't exactly gentle with the dragging. Pretty soon all your friends gather around you and you get up. Not only get up but go back into the town full of rock throwers. Spend the night and move on to the next town to tell other people about Jesus. Pretty ludicrous right? I mean I may be abnormally wimpy but if a group of people threw rocks at me I would get out of that town and never look back. If they did it to the point they thought I was dead, then dragged me out of town I'm fairly certain I wouldn't stand up and walk back into town. I'd whimper pathetically to my friends and ask them to carry me to the closest hospital as long as it's in a different town. I would probably take a few days, maybe a few weeks off. Inquire of the Lord if there was any other way I could minister for him. Maybe find a nice community of believers that would be interested in a new Pastor. One thing is sure I would be very hesitant to get back on that traveling circuit.
But that's not what Paul did. He got up and got back to work

  11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” 12 They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. 13 Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Acts 14:14-20

These days stoning isn't quite as popular as it was back then. But from what I understand they didn't use river rocks or even those 4 inch rounded rocks that look nice in gardens. They used the biggest scariest looking rocks they could find and throw. Baseball rules did not apply here. You could use both hands to pick up a stone so those things had to be heavy. I'm thinking paving stones would be a good picture of what I'm talking about. Aside from the weight those things had plenty of jagged edges to cut into the skin as they made contact. I once fell off my bike on a gravel rode. (forethought was not my strong suit at the time) The impact gave me about a 6 inch bruise/cut on my leg. 20 years later I still have a scar. When I think about the way that looked and felt it gives me a little bit of an idea what Paul must have looked and felt like. Assuming he didn't actually die. My bible commentary says that many scholars believe Paul did die and the other believers gathered around him and prayed for him. Bringing him back to life. Either way. Dead or almost dead. What he went through was at the least physically painful. Most likely traumatizing (or it would be for me.) But did Paul quit? no. Did he run away? no. Did he even take a break? NO! 

Sometimes I read my bible and nothing really stands out to me. Other times 2 sentences make me stop and think. Examine what's going on and question my own life in contrast. I don't believe that it's wrong to take an occasional break or sabbatical as the case may be. But at the same time, we cant allow the attacks that come with obedience to God to stop us from doing what he called us to do. Sometimes attacks come from people, other times circumstances. Maybe your car broke down, maybe your parents disowned you. Maybe people think your crazy, maybe your sick, maybe your uncomfortable. Whatever it is that you are allowing to get you thinking about quitting. It's not worth it. Paul said this in Philippians 3:13-14

 but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

The heavenly prize is what is worth it. No matter what you are going through or how you feel. Press on toward the mark. Don't give up. Forget the past, keep moving forward. (yes, I stole that from "Meet the Robinsons") As I was writing this my computer froze and I had to restart it. I lost some of my work. I started to whine to myself about it and then I started laughing. Sometimes, I allow myself to get so caught up in what's happening right now that I start to feel sorry for myself and lose track of what I'm supposed to be doing. Even while I'm trying to write about how important it is to keep moving I almost gave up. Why am I sharing that? I mean I could let you all think that I have this part nailed. I'm talking about it because I've conquered it. But no. I'm working it out. I'm walking through each part of my faith everyday. I'm pressing on and looking forward to what lies ahead. What are you going to do?