Welcome to Jill Hamming, a friend of mine from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and a regular participant on this web page. She will share her reflections on the readings from Acts 20-23.
Scripture: Acts 21:1-16
The elders are worried about how Paul will be treated in Jerusalem. Not just the Jews but even the Jewish converts will be angry with him because he does not obey all the old rules. The elders want Paul to join some men in their purification rites. That way Paul will look good to the people. These leaders were trying to find a way for Paul to not to be in trouble again. Paul did what they said. But he must have known that it would not work. The Lord had told him that hard times were coming! Paul could have run away but he chose to face it.
Can you imagine being in that angry crowd? What is it like to be beaten for Jesus’ sake? Perhaps Paul thought this was the day his earthly life would end –but it didn’t! God had further work for him to do…in prison.
We need to remember to pray and care for persecuted Christians all over the world. The Christians who come from Muslim families and who are treated as outcasts; the Christians in China, without work, imprisoned, beaten. Remember the missionaries whose lives are in danger.
Dear Lord, I wanted to thank-you that I live in a place where I don’t get beaten for speaking about You –but that sounds so selfish, why those in China and why not me? Lord I don’t know what I would do if to speak out meant a beating, because I am often afraid to speak now when it is maybe only disinterest I will get. Lord please make me bold to speak for You. And Lord please show me which persecuted Christians that You want me to pray for and keep me faithful to do so. Thank-you, Amen
To God be the glory for great things He has done! This passage reminds me of the disciples coming to Christ and stating “Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” Christ’s response was, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
How often today do we not have the same diffficulty. In faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, the Church becomes divided because of changed habits and rituals with the new believers. It almost sounds that man has the keys to decide who is of God and who is not. Paul certainly did live the Gosple as stated “as far as it depends upon me, I will live at peace with all mankind.” Yet to no avail It can be said of these people “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.”
Open my eyes Lord, that I may see Jesus every day and walk with Him in all I do and say!
Open my eyes, Lord
I want to see Jesus.
To reach out and touch him
To show him I love him
Open my ears, Lord
And help me to listen
Open my eyes, Lord
I want to see Jesus