Day 5: Suffering and the Kingdom
Reading: Acts 14:21-28
The Return to Antioch in Syria
21 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-12
A Final Charge to Timothy
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devotional:
After facing persecution, Paul and Barnabas returned to the very towns where they'd been threatened, "strengthening the believers" and teaching them "we must suffer many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." This isn't popular preaching, but it's biblical truth. Following Jesus means turning from the world's values and facing its opposition. Yet Paul didn't present suffering as defeat—it's the pathway into God's kingdom. He established churches, appointed leaders, and returned to Antioch having completed what God called them to do. God's mission succeeded despite—and sometimes through—the suffering. Your commitment to Christ may cost you comfort, reputation, or relationships. But you're participating in God's unstoppable rescue plan, and nothing compares to that privilege.
What is God asking you to risk for His mission? How does knowing His mission will ultimately succeed give you courage today?
The Return to Antioch in Syria
21 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-12
A Final Charge to Timothy
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devotional:
After facing persecution, Paul and Barnabas returned to the very towns where they'd been threatened, "strengthening the believers" and teaching them "we must suffer many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." This isn't popular preaching, but it's biblical truth. Following Jesus means turning from the world's values and facing its opposition. Yet Paul didn't present suffering as defeat—it's the pathway into God's kingdom. He established churches, appointed leaders, and returned to Antioch having completed what God called them to do. God's mission succeeded despite—and sometimes through—the suffering. Your commitment to Christ may cost you comfort, reputation, or relationships. But you're participating in God's unstoppable rescue plan, and nothing compares to that privilege.
What is God asking you to risk for His mission? How does knowing His mission will ultimately succeed give you courage today?
Recent
Archive
2026
January
February
The Power of God's NameSurrendering To God's PlanDeclared InnocentWhat Is Truth?Evidence of His GoodnessIt Is FinishedThe Empty TombJesus AppearsBreathe and BelieveBlessed Are Those Who BelieveThe Invitation To FollowWhen Waiting Becomes WorshipThe Gift of Second ChancesFrom Darkness To LightThe Mission Of Love
March
From Disciple To ApostleThe Power Of The Holy SpiritWitnesses Of The ResurrectionSigns That Point To JesusMaking Discipleship Your Life MissionThe Cost Of DiscipleshipJesus or Jesus Plus?Get Behind Me SatanTrusting Jesus With EverythingHope Has A NameThe Identity ShiftThe Cost Of FollowingLiving For Christ AloneAmbassadors Of ReconciliationWait Actively On The LordThe Power Of Worship In WaitingObedience Before UnderstandingThe Danger Of DistractionCommunity In The WaitingInviting God To InterruptSheep of Goats? Examining Our IdentityTriumphal Entry - Misplaced Hope
April
From Hosanna to Crucify - The Fickleness of Human HeartsLove in Action - Serving The Least Of TheseReturning To The Good ShepherdThe Empty Tomb - Evidence of VictoryWhy Do You Look Among The Dead?Crucified With Christ - Your Personal ResurrectionFrom Fear To Faith - The Disciples' JourneyLiving Resurrection Life DailyDay 1: The Heart of DiscipleshipDay 2: The Power of Your StoryDay 3: Waiting with PurposeDay 4: Community Makes DisciplesDay 5: Healing and Purpose in JesusDay 1: The Consuming Fire of God's PresenceDay 2: Waiting in WorshipDay 3: When God's Timing Exceeds Our PlanningDay 4: Baptized and Filled with the Holy SpiritDay 5: Pierced Hearts and Transformed LivesDay 1: Waiting in WorshipDay 2: Unqualified but ObedientDay 3: The Holy Spirit's PowerDay 4: Church as Family
May
Day 5: Your Life MissionDay 1: What Do You Have to Give?Day 2: Community Over CharityDay 3: Discernment in GivingDay 4: Walking in the LightDay 5: Mission-Focused HelpingDay 1: What Do You Have to Offer?Day 2: Faith That Helps Others StandDay 3: Healing as a Sign Pointing to JesusDay 4: Different Kinds of Healing We All NeedDay 5: Becoming a Healing CommunityDay 1: The Power of the SpiritDay 2: Rejoicing in PersecutionDay 3: United in MissionDay 4: Generous Hearts, Growing ChurchDay 5: Obedience Over ComfortDay 1: Everything Belongs to GodDay 2: The Heart Behind the GiftDay 3: Unity Through the SpiritDay 4: Obedience Over ObligationDay 5: Trusting God's Provision
June
Day 1: The Foundation of Our MissionDay 2: United in PurposeDay 3: God's Heart for the VulnerableDay 4: Sustained by CommunityDay 5: Your Mission FieldDay 1: The Battle Belongs to GodDay 2: The Cost of Following JesusDay 3: Separated for a PurposeDay 4: Spirit-Filled and Spirit-LedDay 5: Hope in the DepthsDay 1: Scattered But Not SilentDay 2: From Slave to ChildDay 3: The Beautiful FeetDay 4: Waiting in HopeDay 5: Living Testimony
Categories
no categories
No Comments