God's Got Your Back

If God has your back, there's really no need to keep looking over your shoulder!

I was reading in Acts 18 this morning about Paul's experiences in Corinth. In Acts 18:9-10 God tells Paul, "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

The most interesting part about this statement is that God was not just talking about the shepherds and the blacksmiths in the town, God really did have Paul's back. When the Jews came against Paul with a united attack the proconsul, Gallio, wouldn't hear anything of it. Then, in an interesting twist of events, the Jews turned on Sosthenes (18:17) -- Who the heck is Sosthenes? Acts 18 tells us that Sosthenes is the Synagogue ruler. So Paul not only has the Proconsul of the city fighting on his behalf, he has the leader of the Jews themselves - the ones that started the attack to begin with - on his side.

I guess it's safe to assume that God doesn't play. If He needs to get a high ranking official to protect His mission then he'll pull in a few Gallios and Sosthenes. On the other hand, if He needs a simple teenage girl that will obey Him, even in the face of potential humiliation and pain, then he goes and finds Mary (Luke 1:34). What I haven't found in the Scriptures yet is a situation where God is lacking for people to do His will. If God has your back, there's really no reason to look over your shoulder.

Keep your eyes fixed on what He's called you to and He'll bring in the big guns if He has to! Or, maybe you are the big gun and If you lose sight of why God has placed you in your position you may miss the opportunity to "set Paul free". Sosthenes may have had it rough in Acts 18, but check out 1 Corinthians 1:1 - I think he got back on track.