Devotionals

When the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, he begins in chapters 1 – 3 to teach believers about our new lives as the children of God: how we are forgiven, adopted into God’s Family, we are redeemed from the slavery of sin, loved by God, strengthened with His power, and we are recipients of the riches of Christ Jesus.

Paul continues in chapter 4 to urges us, as believers, to walk in unity in our new way of life and as the Body of Christ. Paul wants us to be equipped as the Church, or as the Body of Christ, to be able to work together as one in Christ Jesus as we utilize the gifts Christ has given us so we can do His work and build up His Church. “This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son (Jesus) that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (v. 11-13)

As we seek for “Unity in the Body” (v.1-16) each of us must no longer live as “Gentiles”. This means that we must completely let our old sinful lives go and live out our new lives of salvation. Within this place we are living as Christ’s Word teaches us to live, and as Christ Himself lived as the walking example for our walking lives. We must allow the Holy Spirit to guide our souls (our minds, wills, and emotions), otherwise, this world and Satan will fill our souls with darkness, harden our hearts against the Trust, and cloud our judgement to operate against the Word. If the world and Satan guide us, we will not have shame and we will live our lives for this world in lust, pleasure, deception, and impurity. Let’s keep our new nature on and allow the Word of Christ to flow in, through, and out of us, just as we were created to be like God, Himself, Who is righteous and holy.

Ephesians 4:17-24 (NLT)
Living as Children of Light

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the Head of our Body, Your Church. Help us, Lord, to work together to grow in our faith, as Your Church, so that we can mature in You, and work to grow Your Kingdom. Help each one of us, Your Church, to continue to be guided by Your Word. Holy Spirit, please continue to renew our thoughts and attitudes. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday night in our LIFE lessons class we talked about how God has used imagery, symbols, parables, shadows, religious practices, cultural depictions, as well as words in Scripture to teach us about his character and motives. Scripture is God’s self-revelation. A type, symbol, shadow, etc. may be the avenue God uses to send a prophetic foretelling of future events. Our heavenly Father remains excited about his plans for us, so he has dropped hints throughout Scripture to prepare us. I love the hints, but most of the time they lack specific details which I am convinced is on purpose so we do not get ahead of the leadership of the Lord.

Just as Moses was sent to Egypt, by God, to deliver and lead God’s people of faith out of bondage, God sent Jesus from heaven to deliver and lead God’s people of faith out of bondage to sin and death. Moses provides a shadow of the work Christ will finish 500 years in the future. We know Christ is the Deliverer and that no evil can stand before him. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can be delivered from evil every day. However, we need to receive that grace and power by faith through our positive response to his work—obedience.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul wants us to understand God has given us a lot of details (not just hints) as to how we are supposed to live as believers. Father wants us to create a life-style of worship—living according to the holy covenant by the Lord’s power and strength. If we choose to be holy, it means we must separate from the ways of the world and face the struggle in order to conquer sin. Also, if we choose to be holy, it means we are separated or set apart for God or to be his representatives in this fallen world. Because of sin, our image musts be transformed. To be holy, by the work of the Holy Spirit, is to be made in God’s image once again.

Ephesians 4:17-24 NLT Living as Children of Light
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the shadows, as well as details you have provided throughout Scripture, so we know how you desire for us to live and reflect your character and attitudes. Christ has made things very clear through his lifestyle and sacrifice. Please help us to live the Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Anger is quick to present itself as an optional response to most anything these days. Angry people are plentiful. When someone is denied control or is not happy with certain circumstances, the default is to first explode with anger and think later. Although believers have the same opportunities to become angry [because someone around us is going to say or do something thoughtless and selfish] we are going to need to practice the power to forgive, because harboring unrighteous anger gives a leadership opportunity to the devil (Eph 4:26-27).

In our passage today, Moses has ascended Mount Sinai to meet with God, so he leaves Aaron in charge to lead God’s people. While Moses is gone, the people grow so impatient they pressure Aaron to agree to do something he knows is wrong as a leader, but wants to please the people. About that time, Moses comes back down the mountain with the stone tablets of the law etched with the finger of God.

The leadership reactions of both Aaron and Moses reveals their need for more wisdom. Aaron denies responsibility for being a poor leader; instead he blames the people . Moses gets mad at the people and in anger confronts Aaron; but God has to remind Moses he is the one who actually smashed the tablets in anger. Leadership is about using wisdom and learning to discern the difference between a righteous or unrighteous display of anger. BTW, God is angry with all of them (Ex 32:7-11)!

Exodus 32:19-24 NLT 19 When they came near the camp, Moses saw the calf and the dancing, and he burned with anger. He threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it.

21 Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?”

22 “Don’t get so upset, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know how evil these people are. 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!”

Prayer: Lord, all of your children are being groomed to be leaders of the gospel of Truth. So, help us to gain the necessary wisdom to handle our responses righteously; even when we get angry, give us the power to handle it without sin. In Jesus’ name.

I enjoy a big brunch buffet and recently I pulled my chair up to one. No one puts on a breakfast feast the way my sister-in-law does; she thinks of everything and provides a lot of it! However, as amazing as her brunch was last week to my taste buds, Jesus promises to provide a miraculous Messianic feast in the future that will defy description.

Jesus invites the world to his Kingdom feast. Certainly the inauguration of this feast arrived with the beginning of Christ’s ministry, but the final feast at Messiah’s table will be fully enjoyed in his Kingdom. This feast will be for those who have responded to Christ and turned from sinful living—unbelief. Our salvation is a journey and we are transformed as we obey and follow our righteous Lord. The thoughts of feasting on the righteous love, justice, and grace of God makes me more hungry for Jesus, because he feeds me good things and brings satisfaction and restoration to my soul (Mat 5:6).

This world is decaying from the work of human pride and power that exalts sinful dead living—this reflects rebellion against God. When God is not welcomed to rule his world through his Word, love is lean and Satan tempts people to feed on hatred, corruption, and evil. We cannot have our worldly cake and eat at Christ’s table, too! We were created to enjoy God’s presence; he is our righteous Manna.

In our passage today, Isaiah reminds us about the Lord and his Kingdom. Please stir your appetite for Christ, because we are being made in Christ’s image each day. Darkness has no hold on us and our eyes have been opened to the truth. The world may not see, but God’s children see clearly. What do we see? We see the transformation of Christ in us. “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord — who is the Spirit — makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Cor 3:18).

Isaiah 25:6-9 NLT
6
In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will spread a wonderful feast
    for all the people of the world.
It will be a delicious banquet
    with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.
7 
There he will remove the cloud of gloom,
    the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.
8 
He will swallow up death forever!
    The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.
He will remove forever all insults and mockery
    against his land and people.
    The Lord has spoken!
9 
In that day the people will proclaim,
“This is our God!
    We trusted in him, and he saved us!
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.
    Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling us to join you at your table each day. We can choose to eat from the righteousness you provide and be satisfied. Stir our hunger and thirst for the things you offer and help us push ourselves back away from what the world is serving up and wants all to eat. We cling to your authority over all things and our hope is in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Recently, John and I did some camping in southwest Georgia. We visited a State Park called Providence Canyon—known as “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.” I did some hiking around a three-mile-loop; a loop that went around the rim of these beautiful geological formations.

Providence Canyon stands as a monument and lesson to the power of erosion, as well as improper or overused farming practices that destroyed the Coastal Plain—low lying land adjacent to the sea coast. Over time, small gullies grew into impressive 150 foot canyons. These huge stone pillars made me think about the power of visual things to help us remember and learn from the past.

In our passage today, Moses builds an altar and a monument of stone pillars to remind people of the Truth—the day they made a commitment to honor God’s character and conduct their lives in such a way to reflect the Lord’s glory. God did not force the people to make an oath to honor the terms of the covenant; they willingly made the commitment. However, God knew these visible twelve pillars (depicting the oath of the people from the twelve tribes) would help them remember their word and remain loyal and faithful to God.

Rocky and jagged cliffs of some form exist in all the biblical lands. Many times, God’s people hid around the cliffs to find security from their enemies. David was one of them. As I think of the altar and stone pillars at Mount Sinai, I cannot help but remember the oath I made to the Rock of my salvation—Jesus. I promised to follow my Lord’s commands—to allow the Holy Spirit to make me anew in his image. Every day, Jesus is my Rock—the Cornerstone of my remembrance to remain faithful to my word.

Exodus 24:1-8 NLT Israel Accepts the Lord’s Covenant
1 Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu (Aaron’s sons), and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. 2 Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.”
3 Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

4 Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar.

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”
8 Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many ways you set things into place and help us remember to operate our lives with your Wisdom. You are the Rock we need to build our new lives upon and we need to remember our oath to honor your character and ways. Father, thank you for the work of Jesus to be our Refuge who brings us salvation and for the Spirit to groom us in divine holiness. Please impart to us the hunger and the power to live for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

During yesterday’s time of worship, as Pastor Mary prayed, I felt a divine connect to today’s passage. I had previously been studying Psalm 37 and spending more time in God’s Word with King David (I know, it’s now 3 Mondays in a row, but this is where the Spirit has me). So, as the Holy Spirit spoke through Pastor Mary, my spirit was on fire when she said, “sin against God is just unbelief”, I knew I needed to go back to the livestream and listen to her prayer again (and again). So, after listening to it a few times, I was led to transcribe it for us. May this devotions, time in God’s Word, and time in communal pray, allow each one of us to individually grow in our faith and mature in the fruit of Christ’s Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23); may it also be a time of growing together as God’s Family, His Church, to shine His light of love into this extremely dark world.

I have a two-part question for you to allow the Spirit to move as you read today’s passage, 1. can you see the places where God has and is calling you; and 2. can you see the difference between the wicked and the godly within those places you are called? I ask this because Israel, in King David’s time was experiencing this, and so was David, and that is most likely what prompted him to write today’s passage.

If we are all being completely honest, there is no place where we have been called that every single person is sinless. In fact, we can see wickedness, or sin, within our families, we see sin within our homes, sin is prevalent within our workplaces, sin festers within our schools, our world just witnessed sin within the opening ceremony of the Olympics, we see sin within governments, we see sin within every business and organization, and unfortunately, sin can be seen within the Church. So, what do you and I do as believers, do we run away from sinners? If so, where do we go? The last I checked, sin is everywhere, you are a sinner, and I am a sinner, and Jesus came so that ALL sinners could turn to Him and choose to be healed. We are called, as the Church, to be a blessing, not to replay evil (sin) with evil (sin) (1 Peter 3:9). Last week, Curtis and I were sharing some time together and I mentioned that I love when Pastor Mary has referred to the Church as a hospital, he later shared it during Bible study, and I hope this Truth resonates within each of us as God’s Family. We are all in need of healing from our Great Physician, Jesus. Remember, He told the first disciple (and this message still applies to us as His disciples, today) that healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. That Jesus came, not for the righteous, but to heal those who are sinners and willing to turn to Him and repent, and that is all of humanity (Luke 5:31-32).

Friends, we cannot worry about the wicked. We must trust that God has it all under control. What we can do is ensure our hearts are His and that we are growing in His Word and in our relationship with Him.

Psalm 37

A psalm of David.

1 Don’t worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong.
2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

10 Soon the wicked will disappear.
Though you look for them, they will be gone.
11 The lowly will possess the land
and will live in peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.
13 But the Lord just laughs,
for he sees their day of judgment coming.

Prayer: Pastor Mary’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You so much. You are so incredibly good to us, God, You make a way sometimes and we have no idea how You are doing it, but You are do it. But our faith has to be in You, and what You have promised to do through Your Word. You are so faithful. And You are the everlasting God, there is no beginning, no end, You have been, You remain, and You will forever be our God. You are the One true God. We thank You God for making this even opportunity today, to bless us, to help open us up. Lord, may we open ourselves up to this Word today. May we allow You to minister and speak to us, not necessarily through our heads, although You made our minds, so we would understand more about You, but minister to our spirits because we are first and foremost a spirit, who has a personality, a soul (a mind, will, and emotions) and you placed us in these physically bodies and we are on a human journey to learn the divine ways. Thank You, God, for being so patient with us. We pray God that You would not only open us up, Holy Spirit, but that You would be the One Who speaks Truth to our hearts. We pray for the conviction, we do, because in light of living with You, we need to allow that conviction. It is not a negative, it’s a positive, it’s a way You instruct us. You teach us about Yourself. So, help us to be listening, to allow the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of the Truth. Then, Lord, help us to take it into our soul, and let You cleanse us and work through it. We know, God, that You are the One Who makes things possible. Our righteousness is like filthy rags, but Your righteousness that we are entering into and called upon, well, that is perfect. So, we just thank You for washing us with Your righteousness today. We pray, Lord, not only would we be ready, but that we tell others who do not know about You, how immense and unfathomable You are. We cannot comprehend You, God, even though we try to with these little human minds of ours. We pray, God, that You would help us to receive more of You because we are hungry for You. But, if someone has never tasted of You, we pray that today is their day. Jesus, save us from our selfishness and self-centeredness, save us from resting in our own human understanding, save me God, forgive my sin, and save me, because sin against You is just unbelief. We pray, Father, for belief to rise up even within those who have never said those words. Rise up, Holy Spirit, and help people say, I believe. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.

July 19, 2024

In 2012, I went with forty-one Asbury seminarians to Athens, Greece.  We explored the ancient building remains of the acropolis [citadel] above the city of Athens—the historical center for Greek culture, philosophy, and education.  Our professors taught about the Apostle Paul and how he left Thessalonica and traveled to Athens with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Paul had been asked to speak to the philosophers at a meeting of the Areopagus—aristocratic council—who met on a stone hill and sat on stone seats.  They had heard Paul was teaching about a new form of Wisdom—salvation.  Prominent men [Epicureans and Stoics] considered “deep thinkers” came to debate spiritual and cultural issues at Mars Hill. The Epicureans believed pleasure was the goal of life; while the Stoics believed the goal of life was growing in wisdom and to care for nature. Both groups really came to debate and defend the idols and gods they had created and worshiped.  Paul graciously and wisely led them to examine the truth and come to the only possible conclusion—Jesus.  I stood on Mars Hill and looked out across this famous location knowing the wisdom of Christ was revealed there through the Apostle Paul. 

In our passage today, we dig into the Scripture that tells about Paul’s time in Athens at the Areopagus.  His purpose was to awaken both Jews and Gentiles to the God who saves. Paul inspired the men and “enlightened” even the stoics who felt they already knew everything about life and worship. Paul delivered a dynamic evangelistic message that revealed the truth of God and his plan to redeem the world.  Remember, humanity has an inclination to misrepresent God. Make sure you have the wisdom in Christ to know He is the One True God!

Acts 17:16-31 NLT Paul Preaches in Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.

18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

19 Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21 (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for our lesson from the Apostle Paul, today.  We believe you are the One True God and the Creator of all things.  Thank you for your mercy and guiding love when we fail to understand, listen, or demand our own way.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

Things like uncertainty, hardship, change, and sorrow bring overwhelming pressure to the human soul—mind, will, and emotions. These things are a part of living in a fallen world. We must seek an accurate perspective of the whole truth [God’s perspective], so we can gain gracious wisdom in order to navigate through these things while still hanging onto to our faith, trust, and joy in the Lord. It is clear we always need the Lord—our Shepherd—a role of great responsibility and pure leadership.

The biblical concept of a shepherd serves as a metaphor for the kind of loving leadership God provides to bless his people: A holy, humble, benevolent, caring, soul-lifting Leader. God expected his shepherds to follow the Lord while leading his people into a right relationship where they could experience his blessings [moving out of exile and bondage to sin and into the Promised Land flowing with God’s goodness]. Therefore, as we understand from David, shepherds need to follow the gracious Good Shepherd!

In our passage, today, the Lord wants his followers to understand we can live without fear, because he has promised to provide for us. Our souls can know refreshment, because he is the Living Water. Our souls can know peace, because he is the Prince of Peace/Wholeness. Our souls can know the will of God, because he is our Righteous Way. Our souls can know comfort, because he is the Comforter. So, if you need to catch your breath, today, because the issues of life are trying to overwhelm you, remember the Lord wants you to follow him, because goodness is found in his care. He will revive every drooping soul!

Psalm 23 NLV The Lord—Our Shepherd
1 The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. 3 He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. 4 Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. 5 You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need. 6 For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being true to your Word. You will always fulfill your promises when we are willing to follow you and your purpose for our lives. Thank you for the anointed and glorious grace and character you provide; it is your way to mark those who belong to you. When we feel overwhelmed, thank you for always being there when we call upon your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord and in your name we pray! Amen.

Hypocrisy loves to hide in human hearts [the core of one’s being], because the Truth brings it out in the open. People may be quick to criticize what they do not understand, but a spirit of hypocrisy is godless and filled with inconsistencies. When a person becomes a hypocrite he or she are self-deluded and do not see in himself or herself what everyone else can see; divided loyalty. Hypocrisy causes a person to fail at discerning Truth; it becomes impossible to practice what one professes and boasts about.

In our passage today, Luke draws attention to the fact even tax collectors have repented and opened themselves up to the Truth and accepted God’s righteous way of living. However, the Pharisees continue to deny God’s righteous ways, pretend to be holy even though they have rejected God’s purpose for them as shepherds. So, they continue to justify their attitudes and lifestyles while criticizing Jesus for socializing with sinners. Jesus responds with what he knows to be the Truth about these religious leaders’ hearts. He shines the Light of Truth to expose their hearts. They hate him because of it, but Jesus is unafraid and determined to reveal the Truth through a short story.

Luke 7:31-35 Amplified Bible
31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation [who set aside God’s plan], and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, and saying, ‘We played the flute for you [pretending to be at a wedding], and you did not dance; we sang a dirge [pretending to be at a funeral], and you did not weep [so nothing we did appealed to you].’ 33 For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a [heavy] wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews].’ 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated and shown to be right by all her children [by the lifestyle, moral character, and good deeds of her followers].”

Prayer: Lord, please help us guard our hearts against the ever-prevalent sin of hypocrisy. Instead, Lord, help us to approach each day with empathy and compassion for others, while still burning the flame of your consuming love. We have no idea how your grace has shielded our lives from evil, but we know we cannot invite evil into our beings by godless attitudes and living. So, we cast our hope on you to form us in your image, Jesus, and pray for our hearts to radiate your loving character when we encounter others each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts of hatred are always the work of evil. The psalmist reminds us, “The fear of the Lord [respect and awe] is actually hatred of evil” (Proverbs 8:13). These acts of hatred began in the Garden of Eden and continue to rise up in our present world. Evil wants dominion of the world, but everything in heaven and on earth belongs to the Lord (Ps 24:1). Even though it is a fruitless effort against God’s power, haters still seeks to persecute Christ’s followers. Scripture teaches us Jesus was hated without a cause, but clearly the reason was because he was the perfect representation of the Truth (John 15:25). Evil hates that which is pure [like God’s love] and works to kill the Truth!

In our passage today, as a follower of Christ the Living Truth, the Apostle Paul is now hated by his fellow Jews. He was once a part of their hatred, but Christ delivered him to see the persecution he was inflicting on the work of God’s true Kingdom. Paul faces a mob of very misinformed people who now decide to make it their mission to destroy and kill him. He is innocent of their accusations and charges. Yet, they hate him, because the Light of Truth in him shines a light on the evil motives within their hearts. Truth, can be a bitter pill to swallow if we fight the transforming work of God’s gracious love within.

Yet, God brings wisdom and makes holy connections to spare Paul’s life. The Jews are so steep in their hatred, they are blind to the Truth. The Romans are motivated by an unquenchable grab for power and they just want peace at all costs. Paul is in the middle of a political nightmare, but God uses it to reveal all hearts involved including his own.

Acts 21:27-36 NLT
27 The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, 28 yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.” 29 (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)

30 The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. 31 As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.

33 Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. 34 Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. 35 As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. 36 And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!”

Prayer: Lord, please forgive us for allowing the enemy to stir any discord or hatred in our hearts. We may even say we love you, God, but if we cannot love other human beings, your Word tells us our love is a farce. We pray for our souls to have a life-changing encounter with you, Jesus. Help us to stop thinking the enemy is flesh and blood and start realizing hatred flows from being lied to by the enemy. Make us strong and resilient in the face of a fallen world. Keep us focused on the Truth of your character as we seek to prevail until you return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.