“Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, ‘We will hear you again about this.’ So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
“When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 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.’ 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. 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. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 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.'” Acts 17:32-18:10
In a culture where many identify by political beliefs or gender or particular persuasions, there is a more important occupation. From the time of the early church, there were crowds who mocked, accused, jeered, and disbelieved, rejecting the gospel. But there were individuals on whom the Lord set specific affection, and saved unto notable lives. Dionysius the Areopagite, Demaris, Priscilla and Aquila, Titius Justus, Crispus. Paul, Silas, Timothy. Laborers, church and synagogue leaders, itinerant missionaries. The Lord identifies His people by faith, not the heritage or hues or parameters of this world.
God’s people may be in a minority in a community, city, or country, but they are many- known, named, and numbered by their Savior. Difficult circumstances may leave us thinking we are alone. Persecution, ostracism, and criticism all peck away at a human sense of security and belonging. But when we are in Christ, we are not only assured of our unbreakable adoptive relationship to Him, but we are bound up forever in the family of believers. (1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 139:1-16; Isaiah 43:1; 49:1-5; Ephesians 2:19-21; 1 Peter 2:4-5)
Do we feel alone? Are we making a practice of going solo? How might our perception or isolation be tainted by our own doing? The Lord assigned us different roles and places to spread His salt and light, but it is vital we meet together and grow through fellowship with the saints. There is much encouragement in numbers. How can we, together, bring more into the minority who honor Him and spread His gospel? (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Father, help me think rightly about who and whose I am, and earnestly build up others in the faith that we might glorify You and make You known.
As the rain and snow 