Why do you go back to a city, to a place that is not your home?  Is it because you have fond memories of that city or you may have friends or relatives living there.  For whatever reason there are cities to which we return.

Paul had been stoned and left for dead in Lystra, then Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe.
[See yesterday’s devotional for the details.]
(Acts 14:19)  There, they preached the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

What was preached?
(NASB) 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

(NASB) Acts 14:21 “After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.”

Why would they return to Lystra?  Clearly it was a dangerous place for them.
Not only did they return to Lystra, but they then traveled to Iconium!  In Iconium they had learned of a plot against their lives, yet they returned there also.
They then traveled back to Antioch from where they had originally been called and sent out by God the Holy Spirit to go on the first missionary journey.  (Acts 13:2-3)

Why did these two men return to cities that persecuted them?  They had preached in those cities and many had turned to God through faith in the Lord Jesus.  They did not return to be martyrs, they did not go back to dare the opposition to kill them.
They went back to each of those cities to strengthen the minds, emotions and wills of the followers of Christ.  The new believers were encouraged to continue in their new-found faith in Jesus.  They were strengthened and encouraged to live a godly life in the middle of an unbelieving culture.

Where do you live?  Are you continuing to live a godly life?  If at all possible, read and study God’s word each day.  Be encouraged and strengthened in your faith day by day.

Like Paul, you also may be asked to endure.  The Lord Jesus had told Paul, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”  (Acts 14:22)

Why did they return to those cities?  New churches were “planted” and Paul and Barnabas were responsible to establish leaders in each of those churches.  They appointed leaders after praying and fasting.  They also committed them to the Lord, the Lord God in whom they trusted and believed.  And from Scripture we learn they did this in each city where a new church was established.

To where do you need to return, to complete the work God has called you to do?

What is your focus, your motive, your purpose to return?  You know where you are to return.  You know the reason you are to return: to fulfill God’s purpose in the lives of God’s people.