Have you heard about the great resignation? The last few years have seen an inordinate number of resignations and job changes in the United States. Ministers have joined the trend and left their posts. From anecdotal evidence and surveys, this appears to be a serious concern. Meanwhile churches are still in need of pastors. A friend who works for a convention in another state says they have two hundred churches of all sizes without pastors. Their normal total is thirty to forty pastorless churches.
Have you ever been tempted to just quit? What about in your walk with God? Elijah resigned once, but God refused his resignation and met him on a mountain with new marching orders (1 Kings 19). Paul must have been tempted to resign in Corinth. Members of the synagogue opposed Paul and became abusive (Acts 18:6). This pressure must have weighed on Paul and made him consider moving on. God had other ideas.
God’s words to Paul help us as well. “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” How could Paul do these things in the face of opposition? God offered Paul the promise of his own presence as well as the presence of his people. God’s powerful presence through his people in the city would protect Paul from enemy attack. So Paul stayed and preached another year and a half. How many souls were added because he did not quit?
This is no time to quit your work for God. He is with you, always with you. God has many people in our city, state, country and world. We live life in the shelter of each other. Remember Paul’s words to the church in Galatia, “Do not grow weary in doing good. At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Wherever you are, keep planting seeds of gospel love and kindness. A harvest is coming.
