Thursday, July 24, 2008

Searched

We are currently following Paul’s second missionary journey. There is a link in the “sites” section that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 17
10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. 14 The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. 15 Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.


Searched. I love the fact that the people of Berea searched the Scriptures. They didn’t lazily accept everything Paul taught. They didn’t ignorantly reject everything Paul taught. They searched and decided for themselves. One of my biggest frustrations with fellow Jesus followers is their willingness to blindly accept what someone else says (even and especially me). We each have a responsibility to search and to test and to discern. Shortly after this incident, Paul wrote a letter back to the people in Thessalonica. In that letter, he used this example of the Bereans to encourage the Thessalonians to search and test and discern. Or did he? Don’t take my word for it. Use the Bible Gateway link in the “sites” section and search 1 Thessalonians. Use the Study Notes link in the “sites” section and search 1 Thessalonians. Search. Test. Discern.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Disturbing

We are currently following Paul’s second missionary journey. There is a link in the “sites” section that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 17
1 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3 He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” 4 Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women. 5 But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. 7 And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.” 8 The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. 9 So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.


Disturbing. The teachings of Jesus are very disturbing. They disturb your finances (Matthew 6:24). They disturb your relationships (check out Matthew 10:34-37). They disturb your goals (Matthew 16:24-26). They disturb your priorities (Matthew 22:35-40). They disturb your plans (Matthew 28:18-20). They disturb our desire for security and our pursuit of the “American Dream”. Have the words of Jesus disturbed you lately? Maybe you need to read them again.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Apologized

We are currently following Paul’s second missionary journey. There is a link in the “sites” section that will allow you to interactively track his journey.

If you are new to the blog or haven’t stopped by in a couple of days, I encourage you to check out the previous two entries, Exasperated and Listening, in the “archive” section to get caught up on today's scene in the story.


Acts 16
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. 35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” 36 So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison - and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” 38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. 40 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.


Apologized. In this part of the story, we get to watch two apologies unfold. The one is expressed gently with actions that demonstrate sincere regret. The other is expressed hurriedly with words that demonstrate self preservation. If you are like me, you have experienced and expressed both apologies. It is interesting how revealing an apology can be. It is sad how damaging something meant to bring healing can be. It is amazing how healing someone who caused damage can be. What do your apologies reveal about you?

Monday, July 21, 2008

Listening

We are currently following Paul’s second missionary journey. There is a link in the “sites” section that will allow you to interactively track his journey.

Acts 16
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”


Listening. I can understand that Paul and Silas are praying to God. Given the fact that they had been unjustly beaten for helping a young girl (check out Exasperated in the “archive” section), I might have been “praying” too. My conversation might not have been as gracious as their conversation. And gratitude, I’m almost positive that wouldn’t have been included in my response; but if you listen carefully, this part of the story will tell you why it should. As a follower of Jesus, your response to every season of life … the good and the bad … the just and the unjust … the triumphant and the tragic … is being listened to. You never know when God may use your gracious, grateful response toward him to be the key that literally opens the door to someone’s heart. You never know who is listening in on your life.