Don’t Give Up—Jesus is with You!

GETTING STARTED

Growing up I had a swim coach who had the amazing ability to motivate and encourage me. I can distinctly remember many practices where I would want to give up. It was right at this time that Coach Gaydos would walk in. His presence and his words would always make me see the big picture, giving me that extra boost to push through a tough practice. Although Coach Gaydos was an amazing encourager, in a much grander way, God desires to encourage and motivate us as we listen to him and walk with him.

  • Do you live as though you believe this truth? Why or why not?

READ THE WORD: ACTS 18:5-11 (ESV)

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

(Today’s questions focus on verses 9-11.)

  1. Reread verses 9-10 and define in your own words the message Christ was giving to his apostle, Paul. What does this tell you about Jesus and his concern for his messengers?
  2. How did Paul respond to this message (vs. 11)?
  3. If you saw the encouragement in verses 9-10 as being a message spoken directly to you, how would this motivate you to hold strong in your faith?

RESPOND TO GOD

Zig Ziglar, an author, speaker, and Christian, once humorously responded to a critic by saying, “Some people say motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing; that’s why we recommend it daily.” Each and every day, God desires to encourage and motivate us to live a life full of amazing encounters with him and to remind us that he is with us. He desires to speak directly to us every time we read his Word and every time we turn our hearts toward him throughout our day. Do you live as though you believe this? If not, God wants to change this!

  • Ask the Lord to give you the strength to hear his voice of encouragement as you go about your day today.
  • Ask God to speak directly to you and to replace the lies of this world with the truth he wants to speak to you today.