Like Paul

Last week, I took a walk in Paul's footsteps. My ankle was still too unsteady and uncomfortable for long walks, but I didn't know when I'd get the chance to do it again, so I stuck to my plan. Acts 17-19, which I've been reading for a while, came alive on this trip. Being on the roads and the spaces where Paul was active was surreal. I couldn't help but be amazed at the courage and commitment of this missionary at work. In short, Paul was a man who was totally "crazy" about the gospel - he gave his life to spread it. Even though we have embraced the gospel, we are so far away from Paul, and I feel ashamed of myself for not having the same intensity as Paul.

I visited Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus. In his commentary on the book of Acts, John Stott emphasizes the importance of these three cities. In Paul's day, Athens was a center of philosophy and education, Corinth a center of trade, and Ephesus a center of religions. In these cities, a Jew from Tarsus stood majestically, preaching the resurrection of Jesus and calling for repentance. While some accepted his message, most met with fierce resistance, especially in Ephesus, where a great uproar ensued, and Paul was forced to leave the city.

Seeing ancient Ephesus in person, which is still being excavated, was a mind-blowing experience. It was a city of great civilization. It had a splendid library and public restrooms. I walked the 1.6 kilometers of Ephesus roads where Paul also walked and preached the gospel. But he had to leave because of a considerable commotion caused by those who wanted to frame and execute him. I saw the very site of the commotion, a 24,000-seat open-air theater carved out of the side of a mountain. Here in this well-developed city, Paul called people to repentance from their dark lives and tried to convince them to receive the gospel. The gospel he preached is still relevant today. Because no matter how much the world develops, human sinfulness continues. So I pray to live like Paul: "Oh, God, let me preach the gospel boldly like Paul did. Let me dedicate myself to the gospel like Paul did!"

Blessings,
Pastor Minho Song