Continue in the faith

There are two major points that stuck out to me during the next few chapters of Acts that I’ve studied. The first comes from Acts chapter 13 verse 45. To give you context Paul/ Saul and Barnabas are preaching in the city of Antioch. After traveling to the synagogue and preaching to the Jews, the Gentiles desired to hear what they had preached the next Sabbath. The next Sabbath day rolls around and the whole city has gathered together to hear the words of the apostles. However because of the massive group of people that came the Jews “were filled with envy, and spake against those thing which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming” (Acts 13:45). Upon reflection I find that often people, including myself, can try to ruin good things out of jealously. Because someone has better grades, a boyfriend/girlfriend, strong testimony of the gospel shouldn’t mean we should try to tear them down. Instead we should be rejoicing in their success and be supporting them. Secondly, one of my favorite scriptures in the New Testament is found in Acts 14:22. After Paul has been stoned and left for dead after preaching, he meets up with other disciples and “exhort(es) them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God”. Wow! I hope that this scripture will help buoy up your spirit when you are feeling down or overwhelmed as it does for me.  I know that Heavenly Father gives us trials and challenges that will help us become the person he would like us to be, and while times might seem dismal in the present—know that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Endure. You have the strength, the capacity to become the best person you can be and fulfill the divine role you have inherited.