A Change of Direction

July 2

(Acts 13:46-47 NIV) “Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. {47} For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

(Isaiah 49:5-7 NIV) ““And now the Lord says-- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength-- {6} he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." {7} This is what the Lord says-- the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel-- to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: "Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.””

After Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in the synagogue, they were verbally abused by the Jewish leaders. Being confident of their calling, they boldly answered those critics by quoting from the prophet Isaiah. If the Jews were going to turn a deaf ear toward Jesus, Paul and Barnabas would do something new -- they would take the salvation message directly to the Gentiles. Instead of changing the message, they changed directions. In marketing terms, they didn’t change the product, they changed their marketing strategy. They would now preach Jesus to a completely different demographic. Great criticism can often be the stimulus for great change. Positive results can come out of negative feedback. Perhaps the constant criticism you have been receiving is God’s way of prompting you to change direction and take the gospel somewhere new. Be open to change. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day