30/11/2024
*RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*
*STAY ENCOURAGED AND PRESS ON*
Friday, November 29th .
Pastor Chris
_*I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy (Romans 11:11).*_
In your efforts to win souls, disciple new converts and bring them to church, there're those who may never accept your message or agree to join your local fellowship; don't be discouraged. Take a cue from how God dealt with the world. First, Jesus took His message to the Jews, His own people, for He came from among them. He brought them the message of the Kingdom but they rejected Him. What did He do? He then took the message to the Gentiles—to the rest of the world. And even today, many continue to receive that message.
Paul experienced the same thing. As a Jew, he first preached to the Jews, but they argued with him and rejected his message even though he was one of them. They knew him as the man who once persecuted Christians, and when he turned to Christ, they wouldn't listen to him. Many of them even turned against him. But Paul didn't let that stop him.
When the Jews wouldn't accept his message, he turned to the Gentiles and had great success. Your focus should be on those who are open to receive the Gospel. Luke captured some of these. In Acts 13:46, for example, the Bible says, _*"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."*_
Also, Acts 18:6 tells us, _*"And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles."*_ Apply the same principle. Don't allow those who reject your message to determine the condition of your spirit or your mood. Pray for them,