A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Unhindered"

By all appearances things were not looking good for Paul and the gospel. He was in Rome chained to a Roman centurion 24/7. His only freedom, it seemed, was that he was allowed to live in a home and have visitors. His meeting with the Jewish leadership in Rome to present the gospel with them was to no avail. They showed some interest. But accept Jesus and believe on His name? Not for them. There he sits, chained to the guard, unable to go out into the streets and proclaim the gospel and plant churches. His life was in the balance. He had appealed his case to Caesar. There was no way to know how long it would be before he gained Caesar’s audience and when he did his chances were slim at best to be released. Indeed, by all appearances things did not look good. There are far too many hindrances for the gospel to advance.

As Luke brings his accounting of the movement of the early church to a close, he leaves us with a different perspective than anticipated. The final words in the Book of Acts read: For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.  Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. (Act 28:30-31) This is surely unexpected. The gospel continued to be proclaimed unhindered! The seemly insurmountable obstacles that faced the young church God made into speed bumps. The chains that were to bind became communication cables to announce the good news. The house arrest that should have limited access to the gospel became a bed and breakfast where the main meal was the Word. We are not left with a sense of desperation. Rather we are left with a sense of divine optimism. The gospel, the advancement of the Kingdom of God cannot be hindered. It is unhindered.

If the chronicling of the movement of the early church by Luke in Acts reveals anything, it reveals that when Jesus told us we would go to the “ends of the earth” as witnesses proclaiming the gospel (Acts 1:8) He meant it. Nothing could hinder that movement. When Jesus told us that the gates of hell could not withstand or hold back the building of His Kingdom (Matthew 16:18), he meant it. Let the world throw what it will. Let those who oppose of the gospel erect their walls and attempt to silence the Word. All their efforts will accomplish is to provide new opportunities to present the gospel and witness to the unalterable fact that the church is unhindered!

Beloved, let us boldly and without hindrance proclaim the Kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ – in word and action! For in Christ we are unhindered!

Keep Close to Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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