December 17, 2012
Some people are just plain disagreeable. They look for ways to stir up trouble. Paul and Silas were doing what they always did—sharing with others about the scriptures—"but some others became jealous" and they did everything in their power to stir up trouble.
Jealousy—the root of so many problems. It is often masked or hidden, but the root is jealousy and like a dandelion root, it runs deep. To eradicate it there has to be a heart change. Self-reformation does not work. Just like the dandelion, if a small piece of the root remains it will come back. Because of their jealousy they rounded up evil people, formed a mob; and started a riot. If you look enough you can find others to join you in your angry desire to "get them."
I'm reminded how it appears the first lawyers my sister and brother-in-law contacted turned them down. But that didn't stop my sister and brother-in-law, they kept going, looking for someone to join them in their pursuit of us. They eventually found someone who would join them in their mission to destroy us, our immediate family, and our extended family. But, evil cannot trump God. Cannot!
The mob went looking for Paul and Silas. When they couldn't find them, they went after people who knew Paul and Silas and were also believers. (My sister and brother-in-law have done the same. They have put our business lawyer on notice. If they aren't successful in getting money from us they are going after him.) The leaders of the city made the believers put up a sum of money and then freed them. (That is precisely what they are hoping to accomplish with our business lawyer. They know there was not any malpractice, but they are hoping to force him into some sort of settlement to get rid of them.)
Forcing payment from other believers wasn't enough to satisfy the mob. Nothing ever seems to be "enough" to satisfy someone motivated by jealousy. They heard Paul and Silas were preaching in another area, so they went there, upsetting the people and making trouble. It didn't stop Paul and Silas. Instead, they went to a new area and began to preach there. Because of their actions of trying to prevent the ministry of Paul the exact opposite happened. The message was spread even further. God works that way. What was meant for evil is used for good. Paul stood before the people and said:
What a dangerous response. What dire consequences. Don't laugh—believe. Don't wait—believe.
We choose to believe!
Today is our 40th wedding anniversary. The kids surprised us by taking all of us to Ruth's Chris Steak House for dinner last night and then sending my husband and I to a B&B in Marshall, Michigan. Thanks, kids! We love you all!
Next Entry: Acts 18:1–28
Some people are just plain disagreeable. They look for ways to stir up trouble. Paul and Silas were doing what they always did—sharing with others about the scriptures—"but some others became jealous" and they did everything in their power to stir up trouble.
Jealousy—the root of so many problems. It is often masked or hidden, but the root is jealousy and like a dandelion root, it runs deep. To eradicate it there has to be a heart change. Self-reformation does not work. Just like the dandelion, if a small piece of the root remains it will come back. Because of their jealousy they rounded up evil people, formed a mob; and started a riot. If you look enough you can find others to join you in your angry desire to "get them."
I'm reminded how it appears the first lawyers my sister and brother-in-law contacted turned them down. But that didn't stop my sister and brother-in-law, they kept going, looking for someone to join them in their pursuit of us. They eventually found someone who would join them in their mission to destroy us, our immediate family, and our extended family. But, evil cannot trump God. Cannot!
The mob went looking for Paul and Silas. When they couldn't find them, they went after people who knew Paul and Silas and were also believers. (My sister and brother-in-law have done the same. They have put our business lawyer on notice. If they aren't successful in getting money from us they are going after him.) The leaders of the city made the believers put up a sum of money and then freed them. (That is precisely what they are hoping to accomplish with our business lawyer. They know there was not any malpractice, but they are hoping to force him into some sort of settlement to get rid of them.)
Forcing payment from other believers wasn't enough to satisfy the mob. Nothing ever seems to be "enough" to satisfy someone motivated by jealousy. They heard Paul and Silas were preaching in another area, so they went there, upsetting the people and making trouble. It didn't stop Paul and Silas. Instead, they went to a new area and began to preach there. Because of their actions of trying to prevent the ministry of Paul the exact opposite happened. The message was spread even further. God works that way. What was meant for evil is used for good. Paul stood before the people and said:
"The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; he has everything he needs. God began by making one person, and from him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us: 'We live in him. We walk in him. We are him.' Some of your own poets have said: 'For we are his children.' Since we are God's children, you must not think that God is something that people imagine or make from gold, silver, or rock. In the past, people did not understand God, and he ignored this. But now, God tells all people in the world to change their hearts and lives. God has set a day that he will judge all the world with fairness, by the man he chose long ago. And God has proved this to everyone by raising that man from the dead." Acts 18:24–31When the people heard Paul's message they responded in three ways: 1) some laughed; 2) some said we'll decide later; and 3) some said "we believe" and joined Paul. Paul "went away" from those who laughed or said maybe later.
What a dangerous response. What dire consequences. Don't laugh—believe. Don't wait—believe.
We choose to believe!
*****
Today is our 40th wedding anniversary. The kids surprised us by taking all of us to Ruth's Chris Steak House for dinner last night and then sending my husband and I to a B&B in Marshall, Michigan. Thanks, kids! We love you all!
Next Entry: Acts 18:1–28
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