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 the world we live in today, it feels like the culture is upside down. Right is often treated as wrong, good is called bad, and many celebrate things that God calls evil. We are living in the fierce times the apostle Paul described in his letters to the churches. When we look at all the trauma and confusion on the earth, it can be easy to lose hope and believe there is little we can do to make a positive impact.
In today’s reading, Paul and his team faced this same reality. At first, it looked like they were gaining ground in Thessalonica, but things changed quickly. A mob formed against them, and when the people could not find Paul, they dragged Jason and other believers before the city rulers. The charge brought against Paul’s team was remarkable: “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” The people recognized that Paul’s message of salvation through Christ Jesus challenged the world’s beliefs and authority structures. He proclaimed the Kingship of Jesus over every earthly ruler.
It is sobering that God’s people were falsely accused and persecuted, yet it is also encouraging that their impact was so evident that the outside world could not ignore it. Could the same be said of us today? Could we live in such a way that the truth of God’s love and power turns the world around us “upside down”? I believe the answer is yes. At least for now, in America, persecution is still minimal compared to what Paul and the early believers endured. If we use our voices today, if we live boldly for the Lord Jesus in our little corner of the world, we can help shift people’s focus from fear to faith in the God who saves, before it is too late.
You can start taking steps toward impacting the world around you, today. Show those in your sphere of influence the love of God by being the hands and feet of Jesus. Just as Paul and Silas faced resistance, you may also meet opposition. But their example reminds us that when we stand firm in truth and share the message of hope, lives will be transformed. The gospel still has the power to turn hearts, homes, and communities “upside down” for God’s glory. Begin now, while the cost is small, and you will be ready to stand strong when greater challenges come.
Here are some ways to apply this truth you your life:
- Share the message of Jesus with one person this week, even in a simple conversation
- Look for a practical need you can meet in someone’s life to demonstrate God’s love
- Speak words of faith and hope in environments where fear and negativity dominate
- Invite a friend, coworker, or neighbor to church or a Bible study
- Pray daily for courage to stand firm in your faith, even when it feels uncomfortable
Today I want to encourage you that the same Spirit who empowered Paul to boldly preach the gospel lives in you. You can make a difference right where you are, and your obedience can create a ripple effect that reaches farther than you can imagine. Start today, before it is too late, and let God use your life to turn the world upside down for His kingdom.
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.
Journal:
- What part of my world feels “upside down,” and how can I bring God’s truth into it?
- Who in my life needs to hear or see the love of Jesus through me this week?
- What small act of courage can I take today to live boldly for Christ?
The Daily Dose 