Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Acts 18:10 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid: keep on speaking, do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city."
NEVER ALONE
October, 1517: 33 year old Professor Luther wrote against the abuse of the Gospel and the Reformation was begun.
April, 1521: Luther was summoned to Worms, and tried before the emperor and princes of his world. Standing there in peril of his life, the lone monk refused to retract the Scripture truths which he had taught.
Nine years later, at Augsburg, a Lutheran Confession was presented to the same emperor, but this time Martin Luther was not even there. He was still declared outlaw, and could not attend. But by now the Lord had called to his side more and more people, including princes, dukes, and electors to open confession of Christ's saving work. The lone monk was alone no longer. Of course, the truth is: He never was alone.
After Paul left Athens, he came to Corinth, the political capital of southern Greece, a city teeming with both poverty-stricken and wealth-stricken people, a city so filled with immorality that to describe debauchery and corruption the saying was: "They live as they do at Corinth."
Here Paul proclaimed Jesus-- crucified, dead, buried, and risen again! And when the Jews opposed Paul, they became abusive. That was when the Lord spoke to him: "Do not be afraid." Paul afraid? Yes, Paul could also fear, just as you and I do. And why should he not fear? Two reasons: "I am with you; no one is going to attack and harm you," and "I have many people in this city." Never alone!
