It has been stated, in some form or another, that if a horse bucks you off, the best thing for you to do is to get right back on him. We can understand the logic in such a statement. To get back on the horse helps you overcome fear and discouragement and puts you in a position to succeed. In the apostle Paul's first missionary journey, he encountered a situation that could have left him fearful, discouraged, and ready to quit. But thanks be to God, he got back on the horse.
On this first mission trip, things were going well. A Roman government official on Cyprus had obeyed the gospel. Almost all in the city of Antioch heard the gospel and many disciples were made there. A great multitude of both Jews and Gentiles were converted at Iconium. There was some resistance to their preaching, but no harm had come to them. But in the city of Lystra, militant Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and stirred up a mob and had Paul stoned and dragged out of the city. They thought he was dead. Paul must have been hurt to the point of being unconscious. Can you imagine a stone striking him in the head?
Barnabas must have been preaching elsewhere in the city. The disciples might have fled. I picture them cautiously coming out of their hiding places and creeping up to where Paul lay. But soon, he starts to move and eventually stands on his feet. He then goes back into the city in which he was stoned, perhaps to be treated for his wounds in a disciple's house. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe (Acts 14:19,20 NKJV). Wow! Paul went back to preaching Christ after almost being stoned to death for it!
Paul must have been hurt badly. He would later write a letter to the disciples in this area saying, I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus (Galatians 6:17b). Can you envision the "marks" those stones made on his body? But he did not let this event scare him, discourage him, or dissuade him from his mission. He was an example of endurance to those early disciples. He would go on to tell them, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22b). Here was a man who led by example, who led from the front, not the rear. Others would follow his example (cf 1 Corinthians 11:1).
We know that we are not exempt from suffering today. Look at what Paul wrote years later to Timothy: But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:10-12). Have you been bucked off the horse, figuratively speaking? Have you suffered some injury, physically or verbally, for Christ? Have you been hurt emotionally by a fellow Christian? It may be very difficult, but do not give the devil an opportunity. Get up, dust yourself off, and keep walking with the Lord. Paul never quit even when others did. At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me (2 Timothy 4:16-17a). You can always count on the Lord. Hopefully, you can begin to count on your brethren as they follow your example.
Brotherly, Jamie
