Monday, December 4, 2023

Before it is too late

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.  Acts 17:6

In today’s world, it feels like the culture we live in is upside down.  In many cases, right is wrong, good is bad and many call evil things good.  We are living in the fierce times that the apostle Paul talked about to the churches in many of his letters.  When looking at all the trauma on the earth today, it can be easy to lose hope and think that there is nothing more that we can do to impact our surroundings in a positive way.

In today’s reading, Paul’s team had many opportunities to feel this way also.  In this particular chapter, it looked like they were being successful in their mission at Thessalonica, but then things abruptly changed.  A group of people organized a mob to attack Paul.  But when they couldn’t find him, they dragged a group of disciples to the city rulers. These wicked men had an interesting charge against Paul and his team.  They claimed that Paul’s team was “turning the world upside down.”  I’m not sure exactly what they meant by that statement, but I’m pretty sure they were saying that the teaching of salvation was the opposite of belief and direction of the world.  They spoke of Paul teaching of the King of kings instead of the king of Rome.

It is alarming that God’s people were extorted and persecuted in this way, but it is also encouraging that those on the outside were noticing the impact Paul’s mission was having on the world around them.  Is it possible that we as God’s people could make that kind of difference in the world today?  Could we as believers began to touch the people in the world around us in such a way that the truth of God’s love and empowerment could turn today’s world upside down?  I believe we are still at a time, at least in America that the persecution is minimal and if we raise our voices now, at least in our little corner of the world, we can begin to turn the focus of those around us from fear to faith in the God of love and salvation, before it is too late.

Today I want to encourage you to take a small step in the direction of changing the world around you.  Begin to show those in your sphere of influence the love of God by being the hands and feet of Jesus.  Just like Paul and Silas faced challenges in their mission, you may meet some opposition when you reach out to others. However, let their example inspire you to stand firm in your convictions and your message of hope for the world. That message has the power to turn lives “upside down” and bring about transformation that will spread. then you will multiply the kingdom with the lives of those who receive this hope.  Start today while the risks are minimal and so that when the world heats up around you, you will already have His unstoppable momentum flowing in your life.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 17:1-9

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 

2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 

3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 

4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 

6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 

7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” 

8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 

9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.