使徒保罗成为神“拣选的器皿，要在外邦人和君王，并以色列人面前宣扬（耶稣）的名”（徒 9:15）。保罗在小亚细亚、马其顿和希腊传道时，他的习惯是先到犹太会堂，然后到外邦人那里，分享耶稣的好消息。使徒行传 18:1-8描述了保罗在哥林多的事工。
那里的一些犹太人信了福音，但有些人“抗拒、毁谤（保罗）”。于是保罗抖了抖衣服表示抗议，然后继续前行，说他要去向外邦人传道。
在士每拿也出现了类似的情况。耶稣的教会受到一些人的迫害，这些人说他们是犹太人，是神最初的选民，但其实他们受到了撒但的影响。
虽然耶稣在那地方的教会很健康，但也面临着一些艰难。耶稣说，祂知道人们会因跟随祂而遭受苦难。祂也知道他们的贫穷。在士每拿这个繁华的城市，商贾如云，但除非你向城里的神灵上香，否则你就不能在那里做生意。没有收入，你就成了穷人。然而耶稣却说他们是富有的！神的国度会以另一种形式运作：奇妙的恩典！
朋友们，在耶稣里要刚强。所有在基督里的神的儿女都将戴上得胜的冠冕。
信实的天父，请帮助我们刚强地见证你伟大的信实和慈爱。阿们。
启示录 2:8-10；使徒行传 18:1-8
8“你要写信给士每拿教会的使者说：‘那首先的、末后的、死过又活的说：
9我知道你的患难、你的贫穷，你却是富足的；也知道那自称是犹太人所说的毁谤话，其实他们不是犹太人，乃是撒旦一会的人。
10‘你将要受的苦你不用怕。魔鬼要把你们中间几个人下在监里，叫你们被试炼，你们必受患难十日。你务要至死忠心，我就赐给你那生命的冠冕。
1这事以后，保罗离了雅典，来到哥林多。
2遇见一个犹太人，名叫亚居拉，他生在本都，因为克劳迪命犹太人都离开罗马，新近带着妻百基拉从意大利来。保罗就投奔了他们。
3他们本是制造帐篷为业，保罗因与他们同业，就和他们同住做工。
4每逢安息日，保罗在会堂里辩论，劝化犹太人和希腊人。
5西拉和提摩太从马其顿来的时候，保罗为道迫切，向犹太人证明耶稣是基督。
6他们既抗拒、毁谤，保罗就抖着衣裳说：“你们的罪归到你们自己头上，与我无干。从今以后，我要往外邦人那里去。”
7于是离开那里，到了一个人的家中，这人名叫提多．犹士都，是敬拜神的，他的家靠近会堂。
8管会堂的基利司布和全家都信了主，还有许多哥林多人听了就相信、受洗。
"Paul devoted himself . . . to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they . . . became abusive, he . . . said . . . 'From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'"—Acts 18:5-6
The apostle Paul had become God's "chosen instrument to proclaim [Jesus'] name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel" (Acts 9:15). As Paul ministered across Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece, his method was to go first to Jewish synagogues and then to the Gentiles, sharing the good news of Jesus. Acts 18:1-8 describes Paul's ministry in Corinth.
Some of the Jewish people there believed the gospel, but others "opposed Paul and became abusive." So Paul shook out his clothes in protest and moved along, saying he would go and preach to the Gentiles.
In Smyrna a similar situation developed. The church of Jesus was being persecuted by people who said they were Jews, God's original chosen people, but they were being influenced by Satan.
Though Jesus' church there was healthy, it faced troubles. Jesus said he knew the people's affliction and suffering for being his followers. He also knew their poverty. In the bustling city of Smyrna business thrived, but unless you offered incense to the city's gods, you could not do business there. Without an income, you became poor. Yet Jesus said they were rich! The kingdom of God operates on a different scale: amazing grace!
Friends, be strong in Jesus. All who are children of God in Christ will wear the victor's crown.
Faithful Father, help us to be strong in testifying to your great faithfulness and love. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
