Continuing from yesterday, the mayor—or more accurately, the city clerk—is trying to reason with the crowd, urging them to go through the proper legal channels to register their complaints and disperse, lest they be charged with rioting. In his estimation, there was no legitimate cause for the disruption, and Rome did not take kindly to such disturbances. Roman rule was no joke. If you will remember, it was this same concern that caused Pontius Pilate to rush his decision regarding Jesus.

It appears the city clerk's logic won the day, as the people did not want the heavy hand of Rome to descend upon them. Order was strictly enforced, and Roman soldiers had the authority to restore it by whatever means were necessary if the people could not resolve matters themselves. It was in everyone's best interest to bring the situation to a peaceful conclusion.

As a quick reminder, this all began because Demetrius was upset that Paul's preaching was winning converts to The Way. As a result, the Gospel message was costing him business, so he decided to take matters into his own hands by stirring up his fellow craftsmen and spreading lies about Paul.

Such was the life of Paul. Everywhere he went, there seemed to be a target on his back. That is often the case for those who are making a dent in the devil's kingdom. Opposition is frequently an indication that the Gospel is advancing. What Paul experienced was nothing Jesus had not already warned His followers about:

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” — John 15:18 (NLT)

I, for one, am thankful Paul stayed the course. Because he remained faithful despite the opposition, the Gospel continued to spread, lives were transformed, and we are still reading about the fruit of his obedience two thousand years later. May we have the same courage to stand firm, speak the truth in love, and remain faithful regardless of the cost.

Mob mentality—there is no reasoning with it until it calms down, yet think of the damage that can be done in the meantime. When I read my Bible, it says that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). So, when confusion is running rampant, you can be sure the enemy is at work. James 3:16 (NKJV) states:

“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

Remember, this whole controversy started because Demetrius was worried about his dwindling business, yet he tried to make it about the goddess Artemis. That's how lies often work. They disguise the real motive and redirect people's attention elsewhere. In the meantime, they can cause tremendous damage before the truth has a chance to come to light.

We see the same playbook at work today. Satan has not changed his tactics. Second Corinthians 4:4 refers to him as "the god of this age," saying that he blinds the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the Gospel. Most people don't recognize that spiritual reality, which is precisely why deception is so effective. If you want to know who ultimately stands behind the evil, division, and chaos in this world, Scripture points us to Satan. Sadly, he often accomplishes his purposes by using unsuspecting, deceived, or gullible people, preying upon their emotions and stirring them to react before they know the whole truth.

It is so important for us to let cooler heads prevail in times of confusion.

Thank God for the "mayor," or more accurately, the "city clerk," of Ephesus. While the NLT refers to him as the mayor to convey his civic authority, the Greek text calls him the city clerk (grammateus). In reality, he functioned much like a modern city manager or chief civic official—one of the highest-ranking leaders in the city.  He wisely calmed the crowd and restored order by exposing the false accusations that had fueled the riot and directing everyone back to the proper legal process. One level-headed voice prevented what could have become a terrible tragedy.

How many times have we reacted to something we later discovered wasn't true? Don't you feel foolish when the truth finally comes out and you have to "eat crow," as the saying goes?

When I consider the political landscape of the last several years, I see a great deal of confusion over what is true. Stories spread rapidly—especially in the age of social media—and they often stir people's emotions long before the facts are known. We see people passionately demonstrating or protesting for various causes, yet sometimes, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that not everyone fully understands the issue they are supporting. As believers, that should remind us to be careful. We should never allow our emotions to outrun the truth.

The enemy thrives on confusion, but God calls His people to be discerning. Proverbs tells us, "The simple believe every word, but the prudent consider well their steps" (Proverbs 14:15). Before we repeat a story, join a cause, or form a strong opinion, we should first ask, "Is it true?" and "What are the facts?" Following Christ means loving the truth, even when it challenges our assumptions.

In a world filled with confusion, may we be people who seek wisdom, pursue peace, and refuse to be swept away by the emotions of the crowd.

I think Demetrius showed his hand here. If you remember from yesterday, he was upset because his wallet was being squeezed. People were no longer buying his handmade silver shrines because they were turning from idols to serve Jesus. He was trying to rile up his fellow craftsmen because what affected him financially would eventually affect them as well. While the loss of income alone may not have been enough to agitate everyone, he went for the jugular by implying that Paul was robbing the goddess Artemis of her great prestige. Mess with people's religion, and you are sure to get a reaction.

Soon the whole city was in an uproar and rushed to the amphitheater. Why the amphitheater? It served as the ekklesia—the official civic and legislative assembly—and could hold approximately 25,000 people. Interestingly, the Greek word ekklesia is the very same word Jesus used when He said, "I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). The word simply means "an assembly" or "called-out gathering." In Ephesus, it referred to the assembly where citizens gathered to vote, hear public announcements, and debate matters affecting the city. Thanks to Demetrius, Paul's preaching had now become a city affair.

The crowd dragged two of Paul's companions into the amphitheater, and the scene quickly descended into chaos. Paul wanted to go in and address the crowd, but the believers begged him not to. Even some of the city officials who were friendly toward Paul urged him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater. A mob mentality had taken over, and when that happens, people often act first and ask questions later—sometimes after it is too late.

It is remarkable how quickly public opinion could turn against Paul. In one city he was praised, and in the next he was stoned. One moment people wanted to honor him; the next they wanted to kill him. Doesn't that sound familiar? The same thing happened to Jesus. On Palm Sunday the crowds shouted, "Hosanna!" and less than a week later many of those same voices were crying, "Crucify Him!"

Public opinion is a fickle thing. If we build our lives on the approval of people, we will constantly be riding an emotional roller coaster. But if we build our lives on pleasing God, we can remain steady whether people applaud us or oppose us. As Paul would later write, "If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).

Paul very much followed the leading of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be compelled by the Spirit? Jesus said He was sending us the Holy Spirit to be, among other things, our Guide through this life. When you travel to a new country, it is best to follow a guide so you can learn your way around.

How does He lead us? The best way I know how to explain it is that the Holy Spirit often speaks to us through our conscience. You may sense Him holding you back if you are headed toward trouble. Sometimes you will know things you didn't know before, almost as though you received an instant download of information in the form of a revelation. At other times, you will feel prompted to do something that, in the natural, you have no desire to do. He speaks to us in many different ways, and as we walk with Him, we begin to recognize His voice and His leading more readily.

Trouble is stirring for Paul in Ephesus—per usual. Demetrius has felt the impact of Paul's teaching in his wallet, and he is not too happy. So many people were coming to the Lord and turning away from their false gods that it was affecting his business. Demetrius was a silversmith who made silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis (also known by her Roman name, Diana). The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and served as a bustling center of commerce, tourism, and pagan worship. His business was suffering because people were no longer buying his idol shrines.

Hit people in their wallets, and they often become upset. Demetrius had many craftsmen working for him, so this wasn't just affecting his own livelihood, but also the income of those who depended on his business. Calling them all together, he stirred them up against Paul and his companions by implying that Paul's preaching was degrading the Temple of Artemis. In reality, however, his greatest concern wasn't the temple—it was his pocketbook.

This story continues, which we will pick up tomorrow, but it leaves us with an important question: How often are our decisions driven by our pocketbooks? Are the choices we make influenced by the Holy Spirit or by money? Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve both God and mammon. Whatever has the greatest influence over our decisions is, in reality, what we are serving.

Following the Holy Spirit may not always make financial sense in the short term, but it will always lead us into God's perfect will. Following money alone may increase our wealth for a season, but it can also lead us away from the One who is our true Provider. Answer honestly which one influences your decisions the most, and you will have a good indication of whether you are following God or mammon.

Does the enemy know your name? While this story may seem almost comical, it reveals the importance of being connected to the One who has all power and authority. I am not sure what these seven sons of Sceva were thinking, but they got far more than they bargained for in this encounter, no doubt opening their eyes to the reality that Jesus alone is truly all-powerful. Not only that, but news of what happened spread quickly throughout Ephesus, and a solemn fear descended upon the city.

There are moments in our lives when we experience something so out of the ordinary that we have to acknowledge there is Someone far greater than ourselves in our midst. I have had a few of those moments, and I understand what the Scripture means when it says a "solemn fear" descended upon them. It is the type of awareness that causes you to not even want to breathe lest you draw attention to yourself. The tangible presence of the Lord is no joke. It is enough to bring any person to their knees and cause them to seriously rethink the direction of their life.

As Isaiah exclaimed in Isaiah 6:5:

“Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These seven sons of Sceva no doubt had the opportunity to rethink their ways, along with many others throughout the city who practiced sorcery. As true repentance often demonstrates, they renounced their former practices and publicly burned their books of incantations in a great bonfire. This was likely more than a symbolic act—it represented a significant financial sacrifice as well, since these practices were part of their livelihood. Burning those books was unmistakable evidence that they had turned away from their old life and embraced a new one.

There is a real spiritual power behind sorcery—one that should never be taken lightly. Many people today think nothing of dabbling in witchcraft, tarot cards, spirit guides, horoscopes, or other occult practices, believing they are harmless or merely entertaining. Yet Scripture consistently warns that these things open the door to dark spiritual forces whose ultimate purpose is to deceive, enslave, and destroy.

The deception is that people think these powers work for them, when in reality the opposite is true—they eventually become servants of the very darkness they believed they could control. Satan never gives anything without demanding something in return, and the price is always much higher than people imagine.

Thankfully, through Jesus Christ, no one is beyond redemption. The moment a person turns to Him in genuine repentance, the power of darkness is broken, and they are transferred into the Kingdom of God's beloved Son.

God used this dramatic encounter to open the eyes of many in Ephesus, and many placed their faith in Jesus. What Satan intended to use for evil, God turned into an opportunity for the Gospel to spread even further. It serves as a powerful reminder that the name of Jesus is not a magic formula to be spoken casually—it carries authority because of the Person behind the name. Our victory over the enemy is not found in simply saying the name of Jesus; it is found in belonging to Him.

When people reject the message, there is not much you can do but take the message elsewhere. Jesus instructed His disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against those who rejected the Gospel. There are plenty of people who want, need, and are waiting to hear the message. Don't become discouraged when someone refuses to listen. Rejection by some should never keep us from reaching others.

So Paul, after being rebuffed at the synagogue, went to a different location—the lecture hall of Tyrannus—and ministered there for two years to both Jews and Greeks. God confirmed what He was doing through Paul with unusual miracles, healings, and deliverances. When things like this happen, word travels quickly, and I'm sure the message spread throughout the region.

We must never forget that it is God who does the healing, even though we may be the conduit through which He works. The Holy Spirit within us is the One who distributes His spiritual gifts as He wills, not according to our whim or desire. Consider that Jesus Himself said He only did what He saw the Father doing. He lived in complete dependence upon the Father's will.

Not everyone who was sick was healed during Jesus' earthly ministry, yet everyone who came to Him in faith found exactly what they needed. Sometimes it was physical healing, sometimes forgiveness, sometimes deliverance, and sometimes a deeper work that reached beyond the body to the soul. Faith is a key ingredient—not faith in a person, a minister, or even a particular method—but faith in God and in His goodness. We must always remember where our healing comes from.

We all place our trust somewhere. We can trust in our own resources, our own abilities, or even modern medicine, which is a gift from God. Yet above all of these stands the Great Physician Himself. God's resources are limitless. Nothing is impossible for Him, and His grace is always sufficient. We may not always understand why He heals one person immediately while another waits, but we can trust that He is good, He is compassionate, and He always acts according to His perfect wisdom and will.

Our responsibility is not to manufacture miracles but to believe, pray, obey, and leave the results in God's hands. As James reminds us:

"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."
—James 5:16 (NLT)

May we never stop believing that God still heals, still delivers, and still works powerfully today. At the same time, may our faith rest not in the miracle itself, but in the Miracle Worker.

Here is the second instance where believers, as in the case of Apollos and now the believers in Ephesus, were only familiar with John's baptism, signifying repentance from sin and water baptism.

Paul's question is telling: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" The same question could be asked of us today. This passage demonstrates that one can truly believe in Jesus while still lacking an understanding of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. There are entire denominations today that are similar to the believers in Ephesus in that they neither teach nor pursue what the Scriptures describe as the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

As Paul explains here, Jesus is the One who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire. The Holy Spirit does not take up residence in us until we have been redeemed and sanctified through the blood of Jesus. He is holy, and His dwelling place must be made holy. That does not mean we are instantly perfected when we receive Christ, but we are clothed in His righteousness through faith. We stand before God, not in our own righteousness, but in His.

I didn't receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit when I first believed. Like the Ephesians, I knew nothing about the Holy Spirit when I was saved. I only knew about Jesus. But I can tell you this—when you receive the Holy Spirit, you know it!

Remember, this is the very same Holy Spirit Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for in Jerusalem until they were "endued with power from on high." The Holy Spirit is not merely a suggestion or an optional experience. Receiving the Holy Spirit was a command from Jesus. We were never intended to navigate this life without His help, nor can we accomplish God's purposes in our own strength. Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would receive power, and that power was given to enable them to be His witnesses throughout the world—bold witnesses, I might add.

So why is there such a disconnect when it comes to the Holy Spirit? Satan attacks whatever poses the greatest threat to his kingdom, and few things threaten him more than born-again, Spirit-filled believers who know who they are in Christ. Using the same strategy he has always employed—lies and deception—if he cannot stop someone from becoming a believer, he will try to keep them from learning about the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we receive power. That power is a direct threat to Satan's kingdom. It is the same power through which Jesus healed the sick, delivered the oppressed, and raised the dead. It is the same power that raised Jesus Himself from the grave. And amazingly, that very power now resides in those who have been filled with the Holy Spirit.

Why wouldn't we want that power?

The Holy Spirit also provides the grace we need to overcome the areas of our lives that have not yet been fully sanctified. Sanctification is an ongoing process, and the Holy Spirit is the One who faithfully works within us. As we yield to Him, He equips us with His gifts and produces His fruit in our lives, gradually transforming us into the likeness of Christ.

So read about the Holy Spirit. Study what the Scriptures say. Get to know the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is not merely a force or an influence; He is God, our Helper, Counselor, Teacher, Comforter, and Guide. We were never meant to walk through this life alone. We were meant to walk hand in hand with Him every step of the way.

How can we effectively defend the faith if we don't know the Scriptures? Here we see that Apollos was extremely effective because he knew the Scriptures well. Yet we also see that he was teachable, as he accepted the instruction of Priscilla and Aquila, which is another essential quality in the Kingdom of God. Never think you know it all, because that attitude prevents further learning, and there is always something new to discover.

I feel strongly that it is important to know what you believe—and why. Consider the words of Peter in 1 Peter 3:15:

“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”
‭‭
If someone asked you why you believe in the Lord Jesus, what would you say? What reasons would you give besides, "Because that's what the Bible says"? While that answer is certainly true, God desires us to know Him personally and to understand why we believe what we believe.

The Bible is described as the sword of the Spirit, and a sword is meant to be wielded. In other words, it is a weapon used to destroy faulty arguments. As Paul stated so eloquently:

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.”
2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

With the Word of God, we are able to "knock down the strongholds of human reasoning" and "destroy false arguments." Notice, however, that our battle is not against people—it is against ideas, philosophies, and beliefs that keep people from knowing God. We are not called to destroy people; we are called to dismantle the lies that have taken them captive.

That is why knowing the Scriptures is so important. The enemy has always attacked the truth with deception. In the Garden of Eden, he simply asked, "Did God really say?" Since that day, his strategy has remained remarkably consistent. If he can cause people to doubt God's Word, redefine God's Word, or ignore God's Word, he can lead them away from the God of the Word. The only way to dismantle his lies is with the truth.

Someone who did this masterfully in our day was Charlie Kirk. He would set up speaking events on college campuses and invite people to challenge him publicly on a wide variety of issues. Some people hated him for it, but he understood that truth has nothing to fear from honest examination. He welcomed questions because he had taken the time to study the issues and was prepared to give an answer—and to do so respectfully. Unfortunately, the same could not always be said of those who challenged him. As the saying goes, when people lose the argument, they often resort to name-calling, and many did.

As believers, we should never be afraid of sincere questions. Christianity has withstood two thousand years of scrutiny because it is rooted in truth. Our faith is not blind faith; it is reasonable faith. God has given us historical evidence, fulfilled prophecy, eyewitness testimony, changed lives, and, above all, the living witness of the Holy Spirit. While not everyone will accept the evidence, every believer should be growing in their ability to explain the hope they have in Christ.

The truth is not our enemy—it is what sets us free. Truth is not hate speech, even though our culture increasingly labels it that way. Paul's words to the Galatians seem more relevant today than ever:
"Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16)

Truth spoken without love becomes harsh. Love without truth becomes compromise. Jesus demonstrated both perfectly, and we are called to do the same. We should never use the truth as a weapon to wound people, but neither should we blunt its edge to avoid offending them. Our goal is not to win arguments but to win people.

I am reminded again of these wise words I once read: "If someone disagrees with you, don't get upset. If what you believe is true, it will withstand the challenge. If what you believe is false, your friend has done you a favor." That kind of humility keeps us teachable. It allows us to continue growing in our understanding of God's Word while remaining firmly anchored to its truth.

Apollos possessed two qualities that every believer should desire: he knew the Scriptures, and he was willing to learn more. Knowledge without humility produces pride. Humility without knowledge produces instability. But when a teachable heart is joined with a solid understanding of God's Word, God can use that person in powerful ways.

So the question is not simply, "Can I defend my faith?" The greater question is, "Am I humble enough to keep learning?" Like Apollos, are we willing to be shown the way more accurately? Are we teachable? That is the real question.

I love how the Scripture says Paul didn’t come to argue with the Jews; he came to reason with them. It reminds me of the words of God in Isaiah 1:18-20 NASB1995:

““Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;
But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.”
Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭20‬

Reasoning is like saying, "Come. Let's talk this through." It is two-sided; it is cordial. God even uses the word together. It is important for people to come to the table and discuss their differences in the hope of arriving at a mutual understanding. Unfortunately, today there seems to be little appetite for coming to the table. Instead, people take sides. Rather than sitting down to talk, they'd rather go out behind the shed and duke it out.

There is Truth, and we are all on varying sides of our understanding of it. It wouldn't hurt to have a conversation or two to resolve our differences, yet people become so entrenched in their truth that they can no longer see things from another perspective.

Paul certainly encountered this attitude time and time again, but that didn't stop him, and it shouldn't stop us either.

Hear God's heart through Isaiah: "If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." This is an immutable truth. It is not that God simply has to have things His way—He is the Way. To follow any other course ultimately leads to destruction. How often people misread the heart of God.

Though God is infinitely more than this illustration, consider Him as an interpreter and guide in a foreign land. When I traveled to Japan for golf tournaments, I always had an interpreter who helped facilitate the trip. I never questioned what they told me because they knew far more than I did. Without their help, I would have been completely lost in a foreign country.

In many ways, we are living in a foreign land. God has given us an Interpreter in the person of the Holy Spirit, yet so many prefer to navigate life on their own, resulting in countless wrong turns and unnecessary detours. If we would simply consent and obey, we would enjoy the very best of what God has prepared for us.

Sometimes we simply need to be reasonable—willing to come to the table, willing to listen, willing to be taught, and willing to follow the One who knows the way.

It seems the enemy waited to attack Paul again until he thought the political winds were in his favor. The enemy needs the cover of something to do his dirty work. Whether it be darkness, political corruption, or religious zealotry, he waits to inflict maximum damage.

Consider this Scripture found in Luke 4:13 NLT:

“When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.”

Many speculate that when Paul referred to the "thorn in his flesh," he was speaking of some physical ailment. However, Paul described it as "a messenger of Satan" sent to buffet him. Everywhere he went, he experienced opposition and persecution, although in this instance it appeared he received a brief reprieve. Not so much for Sosthenes—welcome to the ministry!

Since doing this study through Acts, I have been amazed at how threatened the enemy is by the truth. His M.O. is to immediately—and often very loudly—attack it. That realization has caused me to think more carefully about what I see in the news and in the public forum. What ideas are being attacked? What people are being marginalized? And why? Once you begin looking beneath the surface, you often discover that things are not always as they first appear.

History is filled with atrocities committed in the name of God. Jesus Himself warned us that there would be people who would persecute His followers, believing they were actually serving God. That is why it is so important to know the Scriptures for ourselves, lest we be misled. So let's read what Jesus said in John 16:1-4 NLT:

““I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.”

If God were the vengeful God some portray Him to be—one who simply wanted to wipe humanity off the face of the earth—He would never have sent Jesus to save us. People need to reconsider who they believe God truly is. We are easily misguided when we are misinformed, and the enemy counts on our ignorance of God's Word.

"You will know people by their fruit," Jesus said. He also said that people would know we are His disciples by our love for one another. Perhaps that is why, as we draw closer to the end of the age, Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:9-14 NLT:

““Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”

Hatred and divisive political climates often provide fertile ground for the enemy to sow confusion, deception, and destruction. That is one reason Scripture repeatedly instructs us to pray for those in authority. It is difficult to complain faithfully about what we have never faithfully prayed over. We have access to the King of kings, and He has invited us to partner with Him through prayer by seeking His will to be done on earth. If we began there, instead of treating prayer as a last resort, I believe we would see far more of God's wisdom, peace, and righteousness at work.

One last Scripture to challenge us:

““I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”
Ezekiel‬ ‭22‬:‭30‬

Will we be that person for God? Are we willing to stand for righteousness? It is righteousness that guards a nation. May we be people who know His Word, walk in His love, faithfully pray, declaring His will be done in the earth, and courageously stand in the gap for our families, our churches, our communities, and our nation.

Each Sabbath, you knew where to find Paul—at the synagogue. Where are we each Sabbath? This walk with God only really works when we make Him a priority. For believers, gathering with the church is an absolute must, not only for our own well-being but also for the benefit of others. We are each gifted in our own unique way, endowed by the Father with abilities and talents that are meant to bless those around us. We each have something to bring to the table, but that only works if we come to the table.

I am amazed these days at how "optional" church has become for some. Then they wonder why their lives are falling apart. Often, when we receive calls from people asking for help, one of our first questions is, "Where do you go to church?" The answers vary, but the same pattern often emerges: they are not part of a community of believers and, therefore, do not have healthy relationships with people who can walk alongside them and help carry their burdens.

Some people want the blessings of God, but only on their own terms, with little or no commitment to Him or His people. That is not to say we won't help where we can, but we are generally more effective in helping those who are willing to take steps toward change themselves. Unfortunately, there are also those who prey upon well-meaning people with no intention of changing the behaviors that contributed to their situation in the first place. Life truly begins when we turn to God. We fool no one but ourselves if we think otherwise.

Consider Paul's reaction in dealing with the Jews who opposed him for saying that Jesus was the Messiah:

“But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood be upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”

Everyone deserves the opportunity to hear the Gospel message, but if they are not ready to receive it, there comes a time when you move on to those who are willing to listen. Sometimes there is an expectation that we are to help everyone at all costs, but help is not truly help if it fails to address the real problem. If people continually reject the solution God offers, there is only so much we can do. God never forces anyone to receive Him, and neither should we. We lovingly present the truth, pray for them, and entrust them to the Lord.

Tough words... but necessary ones.

“For in Him we live and move and exist.” Such a powerful statement made by Paul as he shares the Gospel message with those in Athens. As I mentioned yesterday, Paul points out that if we are “His offspring,” made in His image, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol created by human hands. We don’t create God—He created us.

Another powerful statement Paul makes is that God overlooked our ignorance about these things in times past, but now He commands everyone, everywhere, to repent of their sins and turn to God. He has set a day to judge the world with justice by the One He has appointed, referring to Jesus, whom He affirmed by raising Him from the dead. Some scoffed when Paul mentioned the resurrection, which leads me to believe there may have been some Sadducean influence in the group, for they did not believe in the resurrection. Yet there were a few who believed and joined him.

Looking back to the time I first heard the Gospel, it was all new to me, and it got me thinking. A seed had been planted. Then God brought others across my path who watered that seed, and I eventually came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. For many of these people in Athens, a seed had been planted as well. Never underestimate the power of a seed. It takes time, but it will grow and eventually burst forth. So don’t give up on those with whom you have shared the Gospel.

With that being said, our job is to carry the seeds of the Gospel and faithfully share them. We scatter them far and wide. Some take root, and others don’t, but the results we leave up to God. God is good about giving people ample opportunities to turn to Him. Trust Him to never stop reaching out to people, for He loves them even more than you and I ever could.

Great start to Paul’s sermonette. In Athens, they worshipped many “gods,” as represented by all the shrines throughout the city. Paul happened to notice one shrine with the inscription, “To an Unknown God.” What a great opener! It was as though he was saying, “I know you all are very religious, so let me tell you about this God that you don’t know yet.”

Idolatry is one of the big “no-nos” in the Ten Commandments. We are to worship God alone, and He cannot be confined to an image made by human hands. We, in fact, are stamped with His image, having been made in His image and likeness, so it is no wonder Paul was distressed by what he saw.

It is understandable that people want to build something to honor God. David wanted to build Him a temple, which led to an interesting exchange in 2 Samuel 7. God basically told David that He did not need a house because no human structure could contain Him, yet He would allow Solomon, David’s son, to build the Temple.

Consider what the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 66:1-2:

“This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.”

Yet we also read throughout Scripture that memorials were set up as reminders of what God had done. I believe the lines become blurred when we begin worshipping the altar, the memorial, or the idol rather than the God it was meant to represent.

Consider Isaiah 44:10, 19-20 NLT:

“Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit?…The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?””
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Memorials are good, but they should never become objects of worship. They are meant to point us to God, not replace Him. Whether it is a cross around our neck, a church building, a cherished tradition, or any other sacred symbol, we must always remember that these things have value only because they direct our hearts to the living God. Worship the One they represent, not the object itself.

Food for thought…

So I decided to look up what the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers believed. Epicureans and Stoics sought the same ultimate goal: mental tranquility. They went about it quite differently, though. Epicureans focused on the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain, while Stoics believed that happiness was achieved through accepting whatever happened—whether pleasant or painful—while prioritizing virtue and civic duty. Stoics felt they reached their goal through civic engagement, while the Epicureans did so through retreat and avoidance. Both philosophies were well-meaning but void of God.

Apparently, they weren’t the only ones in Athens. The city seemed to be a hotbed for entertaining new ideas. They would sit around the marketplace discussing the "latest" philosophies and ideas.

Paul was in the right place at the right time, and the Athenians were open to hearing Paul's "new idea." Never give Paul the floor unless you want your thinking to be challenged—he was about to take them up on their offer.

This is the importance of being well versed in the Scriptures. I have found that if I take the time to read the Scriptures, meditate on them, and hide them in my heart, I am always amazed at what the Holy Spirit brings to my remembrance during times of discussion.

Consider Hebrews 4:12, which states:

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
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Paul tells us how to take on the empty philosophies of the world in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, as he is about to do here in Athens:

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”

I also like how Peter tells us to always be ready to explain our hope as a believer in 1 Peter 3:14-16 (NLT):

“But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.”
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The Gospel is the story to be told by every believer, but it is never to be forced. People should see a difference in our lives that prompts their curiosity to ask what is different about us. Our witness begins long before we ever speak a word. It is seen in the way we love others, how we respond under pressure, the peace we possess in the midst of trials, and the hope we have when the world seems to be falling apart. Those qualities open the door for us to share the reason for our hope.

Sadly, some of us blend in so well with the world that people fail to notice a difference. ? Ouch! If no one can distinguish our lives from those who do not know Christ, perhaps it is time to ask ourselves whether we are truly living as ambassadors of His Kingdom.

Paul didn't arrive in Athens looking for an argument; he arrived looking for an opportunity. He understood the culture around him, but he did not compromise the truth to fit into it. Instead, he met people where they were and pointed them to the God they did not yet know. That is our calling as well. We are not called to win debates but to win people. We are not called to force the Gospel on others but to faithfully proclaim it, trusting the Holy Spirit to convict hearts and reveal the truth.

May we know God's Word so well that when the opportunity arises, the Holy Spirit can bring it to our remembrance. May we speak the truth with conviction, but always with gentleness and respect. And may our lives so reflect Christ that people cannot help but notice there is something different about us—and ask why.

Food for thought...

We should be more like the Bereans. I love how Scripture says that the Bereans were more open-minded and searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul was saying was true. How many times do we dismiss ideas that are contrary to our own? Are we teachable? There is a difference between being teachable and discerning versus being gullible and suspicious.

What makes people think they have learned all there is to learn? I know I certainly haven't. How about you? It is not what I know that concerns me—it is what I don't know, because we don't know what we don't know. The good news is that there is One who knows everything, and He has made Himself available to us. James tells us that if any of us lacks wisdom, we are to ask God. Consider his words in James 1:5-8:

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”

James makes an incredible promise here. God is not reluctant to give wisdom; He is generous with it. He does not shame us for asking, nor does He grow impatient with our questions. Instead, He invites us to come to Him in faith, trusting that He alone possesses the wisdom we need. The issue is not God's willingness to give—it is often our willingness to receive. Sometimes we ask for wisdom, but deep down we have already decided what answer we want. We are not really seeking God's mind; we are looking for His approval of our own.

Paul encountered that very attitude in Thessalonica. Many of the Jews were not interested in honestly examining the evidence before them. They had already reached their conclusion. Rather than allowing the Scriptures to shape their beliefs, they attempted to shape the Scriptures around their beliefs. When the truth challenged their traditions, they chose to reject the truth instead of reevaluating their position.

The Bereans, however, responded very differently. They listened carefully, searched the Scriptures daily, and allowed God's Word to be the final authority. They were neither gullible nor cynical. They exercised discernment. They understood that every teaching should be measured against God's Word, not against personal opinion or long-held tradition.

Paul later reminds us in 1 Corinthians that Christ Himself has become our wisdom. True wisdom is not simply accumulating more information or winning theological debates. It is found in knowing Christ and allowing Him to transform the way we think. The more we walk with Him, the more our hearts and minds become aligned with His.

The Truth has always been a divider of hearts. There is a difference between relative truth, which changes with culture and opinion, and absolute truth, which never changes because it is rooted in the very character of God. We do not create truth, vote on truth, or redefine truth. Truth simply is. As God declared to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." His nature is the standard by which everything else is measured.

That is why fighting against the truth ultimately harms the one resisting it. Truth does not bend to accommodate us; rather, we are called to conform our lives to it. While that may be uncomfortable at times, it is also the pathway to genuine freedom, for Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Thank God Paul refused to give up. Though his road was marked by rejection, persecution, and suffering, he never stopped proclaiming the Gospel because he knew the eternal value of what had been entrusted to him. May we have the same humility as the Bereans to search the Scriptures daily, the same courage as Paul to proclaim the truth faithfully, and the same willingness to let God's Word change us whenever it exposes an area of our lives that needs to be brought into alignment with Him. After all, the goal is not simply to be right, but to become more like Christ.

Jealousy is a destructive force. I think all of us have experienced it to some extent at one point or another. It is not pretty, and it eats us from the inside out. At its root is the fear of losing something we have. In this case, the Jews believed they were losing the people of their synagogue. Why is it that people are often so threatened by those who think differently? On the one hand, you have Paul using the Scriptures to reason with the people, and on the other, you have those who rejected the message threatening those who believed.

We each have the right to make our own choices and are free to believe as we wish. We also bear the responsibility for the consequences of those beliefs on judgment day. What we do not have the right to do is force those beliefs on others. Now, some may have different definitions of what "forcing" looks like. Having a debate or an honest conversation is not forcing. Forcing is when you gather a mob, beat someone, or throw them into prison simply for discussing the issues. Some people do not want to give up their beliefs, and that is their choice. But when they attack others because of their beliefs, that is another matter entirely. I personally believe the truth always wins out. When the argument is lost, people often resort to violence, just as we see happening here.

How many great truth-tellers have been silenced because people would rather believe a lie?

How difficult it is to know the truth and watch others reject it. Do we remain silent? Or do we tell them? Yet when we share the truth, we are met with one of two responses: some receive the Word gladly, while others feel threatened by it.

Paul learned this truth through bitter experience and wrote:

"Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us."
2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (NLT)

There are a minefield of obstacles before us because we live in a world where the current is anti-Christ and anti-truth. Paul also exposes how some use the truth to take advantage of people for their own personal gain. That is not the heart of Christ. His is the example we are called to follow.

Consider Isaiah 42:1-3 and Matthew 12:15-21:

“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.”
Isaiah 42:1-3 (NLT)

“But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world.””
Matthew 12:15-21 (NLT)

These passages paints a beautiful picture of the heart of our King. Jesus did not build His kingdom through intimidation, manipulation, or force. He did not shout over His opponents or crush those who were weak. Instead, He ministered with gentleness, compassion, truth, and unwavering strength. His authority was never diminished by His humility.

How different this is from the kingdoms of this world. The world often advances its agenda through fear, coercion, outrage, and power. Jesus advanced His kingdom through sacrificial love, truth, mercy, and service. He never compromised the truth, but neither did He weaponize it. He spoke what was right, gave people the freedom to choose, and entrusted the results to the Father.

As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect His character. We are to stand firmly for the truth while demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. We do not need to shout louder than everyone else or win every argument. We simply need to faithfully proclaim the truth in love and allow the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of those who hear it. Some will receive the message with joy, while others may reject it, ridicule it, or even oppose it. That response is not ours to control. Our responsibility is simply to be faithful.

Take note of those who seek to manipulate, intimidate, or oppress others into submission. That is not the way of Christ. True love never bullies. Truth never needs violence to defend itself. The Kingdom of God is built one transformed heart at a time, and its King is still calling people with the same gentle invitation:

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

May we never mistake loudness for authority or aggression for strength. The strongest Man who ever walked the earth was also the gentlest. Let us follow His example, speaking the truth with courage, walking in love, and trusting God to accomplish what only He can.

I remember the first time I heard the Gospel. It was at an Easter service my friend "made" me go to my freshman year of college. I was as green as they come, having no real experience with church or the message of Christ. I can't even tell you what was spoken during the service. What I do remember is hanging on to my seat to keep from responding to the altar call.

You see, our spirits know when we encounter truth. The Holy Spirit draws people to Christ, and I cannot deny that He was drawing me that day. I managed to remain in my seat, but afterward I had a long talk with my friend about it, and a few well-placed individuals in my life helped lead me to Christ over the next few weeks.

I am forever grateful to God for leading me to Himself. While my head was somewhat engaged in the process, it was my heart that accepted Him wholeheartedly. Our spirits know what is right, even when our minds or intellect don't fully understand.

Paul and Silas preached in a Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica for several weeks, reasoning with the people through the Scriptures that Jesus was—and is—the Messiah they had been waiting for. Some welcomed the message, but as was the case in most of the towns Paul visited, many rejected the truth. Paul was the original light bearer to many of these cities, and the resident darkness was not too thrilled. It stirred up the people against him. Just as in the parable of the sower and the seed, Satan comes immediately to snatch away the seed of God's Word from people's hearts.

I am not Jewish, so in some ways I feel my path to Christ was easier than it might have been for those raised not only in the Jewish faith but in any established religion for that matter. Most people already believe in something, even if it is not formally practiced. I didn't have a religious mindset competing with the message of Christ. Sometimes I think it is harder to embrace something new when there is already an established structure of belief in place.

Yet for the Jews, Paul's message was the very fulfillment of what they claimed to believe, and sadly, many could not accept it. This sad reality is expressed so clearly by John in John 1:10-13:

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”

How heartbreaking that the very people who had been entrusted with the promises of God were the ones who, in large part, failed to recognize their fulfillment standing right in front of them. Yet before we become too critical of them, we should remember that we all have blind spots. Sometimes God answers our prayers in ways we weren't expecting, and because His answer doesn't fit our preconceived ideas, we can miss what He is doing.

The truth is, believing in Jesus has never simply been an intellectual exercise. While there is overwhelming historical, prophetic, and eyewitness evidence to support the Christian faith, there still comes a moment when each person must respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit. Faith is not the absence of evidence; it is our response to the evidence God has graciously provided.

God has never left Himself without a witness. Creation declares His glory. The Scriptures reveal His plan. The prophets foretold His coming. Jesus fulfilled those prophecies with astonishing precision. The apostles testified to what they had seen and heard. The empty tomb still stands as history's greatest testimony, and millions upon millions of transformed lives continue to proclaim that Jesus is alive today.

The question has never really been whether God has spoken. The question is whether we are willing to listen.

Every one of us must eventually answer the same question Jesus asked His disciples: "But who do you say I am?" Our eternity hinges on that answer. No one can answer it for us—not our parents, our spouse, our pastor, or our friends. It is the most important decision any person will ever make.

For those who have already accepted Christ, may we never lose the wonder of what God has done for us. And for those who have not yet responded to His invitation, remember that the same Holy Spirit who drew me to Christ years ago is still drawing hearts today. If you sense Him knocking on the door of your heart, don't resist Him. Open the door. You will never regret saying "yes" to the One who first said "yes" to you through the cross.

Here is where this story becomes even more interesting. It appears the city officials simply wanted to teach Paul and Silas a lesson by letting them spend a night in jail. What they hadn't counted on was the fact that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, and it was unlawful to publicly beat them and imprison them without a trial. If there was anyone who knew the law well, it was Paul, the former Pharisee. These officials could have gotten into serious trouble if Paul had chosen to report them to Rome. Instead, Paul taught them a lesson by demanding that the officials publicly apologize to them and personally escort them out of prison. In doing so, their reputations were restored before the people, and the officials were held accountable for their actions.

I also find it interesting that the officials begged Paul and Silas to leave the city. The only other time we read of people begging someone to leave is when the people of the Decapolis region begged Jesus to depart after He delivered the demon-possessed man. In both instances, demons had been cast out of individuals. Likewise, the demons inhabiting the man begged Jesus not to send them into the abyss but instead to allow them to enter the herd of pigs.

Who is really doing the begging here?

The kingdom of darkness had been greatly impacted by the presence of Paul and Silas. Throughout Scripture, the act of begging often reveals that the one being begged possesses the greater authority. As believers, we have been given authority over the works of the enemy, yet how seldom we exercise it. Too often, we allow the devil to intimidate or push us around. Paul refused to let that happen. Rather than leaving quietly under a cloud of shame, he insisted that the truth be made known and that justice be done.

Consider Colossians 2:15, speaking of Jesus:

“In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”
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And 1 John 3:8:

“But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.”

We are called to be a light in a dark world. Inevitably, the light of Christ within us will provoke a reaction from the forces of darkness, for light exposes what darkness seeks to conceal. As believers, we should not be surprised when we encounter spiritual opposition. Instead, we should remember who has already won the victory.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and through Him we have been given authority to stand firm against the enemy's schemes. Never forget this truth: darkness bows to the light—not the other way around. Therefore, let us walk confidently in Christ, refusing to be intimidated, knowing that "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

This is such a wonderful turn of events. The jailer was about to kill himself because he thought all the prisoners had escaped, but Paul called out to let him know they were all still there. The gravity of the situation, coupled with Paul's quick thinking, saved not only this man but his entire household.

“What must I do to be saved?” Word must have gotten out as to why Paul and Silas had been incarcerated, so the earthquake was obviously viewed as more than just a coincidence. This man realized his endangered state before Almighty God—not unlike the centurion who stood at the foot of the cross after Jesus' crucifixion. Observing how Jesus died and witnessing the subsequent earthquake, he declared, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

There are times in life when circumstances unfold that are beyond the normal course of events, and we realize we are dealing with something far greater than meets the eye. Some things can only be explained by God. The jailer rightly perceived that he was dealing with more than just prisoners, and he wisely humbled himself before Paul and Silas and asked what he needed to do. Their answer was simple: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

What a wonderful promise! True to Paul's words, this man and his family believed, and all were baptized. I imagine not one of them slept for the rest of the night. Keep in mind, all of this was taking place after midnight.

Sometimes God does things so miraculously that His presence cannot be denied. It is what we do in those moments that defines us. This man chose wisely and responded to the Lord, resulting in the salvation of his entire household.

How would we have responded?

What moments in our own lives have caused us to realize there is One greater than ourselves? Are we ready to meet Him?

Food for thought...

The story becomes even more interesting from here, but we'll pick it up tomorrow.

It is so crazy to think that doing a good deed for someone could land you in jail. Like I said, when you affect someone’s pocketbook, things can get ugly—as they did here. Paul delivered a girl from a spirit of divination, and her masters did not take kindly to it.

Paul and Silas were beaten and then thrown into the inner dungeon with their feet clamped in stocks like common criminals. How threatened some people are by the truth. Truly, it is the god of this age who is most threatened, and he tries to make life difficult for those who follow the Way. Why? Because the Gospel impacts the kingdom he has established on the earth. Always remember that the victory has already been won, but we must walk it out. The only way we lose is if we quit.

Paul and Silas did not quit. In fact, here we find them praying and singing hymns to God, and it appears they had an audience as well, for the other prisoners were listening. What a witness!

Their posture before God did not go unnoticed, and God moved on their behalf in the form of an earthquake. Notice that God did not just set Paul and Silas free. Every prison door flew open, and every prisoner's chains fell off. The message here is clear—salvation, freedom, and deliverance are available for all!

The jailer, being the one responsible for keeping the prison secure, thought everyone had escaped and was about to take his own life rather than face the consequences. But God cared about him as well, as we will see tomorrow.

The best thing we can do in the midst of a storm is praise God. Praise and worship get God's attention and can be viewed as one of the clearest displays of faith in any given situation. They demonstrate that our trust is in God and is not swayed by our circumstances. God's promise to never leave us or forsake us is true, and there are times when our deliverance is possible only through Him.

So the next time you face what seems impossible, consider this promise found in Psalm 121:

“I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”

Amen. ?

Boy, when you mess with people's dark source of income, they get all rattled.

This girl appeared to have a spirit of divination and made money for her masters by telling people's fortunes. She was their slave, and while she appeared to be speaking the truth about Paul, it seems her intention was not to help people but rather to distract attention away from the Gospel and possibly draw it to herself. Whatever the case, after enduring it for some time, Paul had had enough and commanded the spirit to leave the girl.

The girl was set free from her bondage, but now her masters were out of the income she had been bringing them. In some ways, this could be compared to a pimp who forces girls into prostitution to make money. He just lost one of his girls.

It is upsetting to think that there are those who enslave others for their own personal gain. How many women and children have been trapped through human trafficking for the financial benefit of their handlers? It is slavery all over again—just in a different form. With the tragedy that has unfolded in Venezuela, there have already been reports of children being rescued only to be targeted again by traffickers looking to profit from their vulnerability. It is heartbreaking. Please pray that these children are protected and reunited with their families.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:24:

““No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
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And consider the words of Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:10:

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
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Such people need to be reminded that God sees everything. As Proverbs 13:11 (NASB) states:

“Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.”

Back to our story, Paul and Silas had stirred up a hornet's nest by interfering with these men's source of income, and they were furious. Just as we often see happening today, they stirred up the crowd by spreading lies about Paul and Silas. Before long, an angry mob had formed, leading to Paul and Silas being stripped, beaten with rods, and thrown into prison, as we will soon see.

Following Christ does not always lead us down the easiest road, but it always leads us down the right one. The enemy may stir up opposition when his kingdom is threatened, but God is never caught off guard. Time and again throughout Scripture, what looked like a setback became the very platform for God's greatest victories. Always remember this promise: what Satan means for evil, God always turns for good. No prison is too dark, no injustice too great, and no scheme of the enemy too powerful for the Lord to redeem for His glory.

Paul and his companions had tried to go into the province of Asia but were prevented by the Holy Spirit. Then Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading with him to come and help them. They understood this to be a directive from the Lord to travel to Macedonia. They boarded a boat headed that way and landed in Neapolis. From there they traveled to Philippi, a major business hub. Interestingly, it wasn't a man they met first, but rather a woman—Lydia, a well-to-do businesswoman and a worshiper of God. She was with a group of women praying by the riverbank on the Sabbath, and Paul sat down and spoke with them.

The Scripture says that the Lord "opened Lydia's heart" to respond to what Paul was sharing, and she and her household were baptized. It is one thing to believe in God and an entirely different thing to receive Jesus as Lord and King. Jesus invites us into a dynamic, life-changing, personal relationship—not merely a casual belief system. Lydia accepted Paul's message, and the fruit of her faith was immediately evident, for she insisted that Paul and his companions stay at her home.

The fact that the Scripture refers to "her household" has led many to conclude that Lydia was either widowed or perhaps never married, since there is no mention of a husband. While we cannot be certain, it is noteworthy that she appears as the head of her household, which again challenged many of the cultural norms of the day. Not only that, but her home appears to have become a meeting place for the budding church in Philippi. Many Bible scholars believe Lydia was among the founding members—and perhaps one of the principal supporters—of the Philippian church, the same congregation to whom Paul later wrote the joyful letter of Philippians.

Women in ministry seem to be a "hot topic" these days, and Lydia's example offers much to consider. She was not only a founding member and an important figure in the early days of the Philippian church, but also a faithful servant whose resources, hospitality, and influence greatly advanced the Gospel. We don't have to have a title to be effective. Lydia changed the course of the church in Philippi without ever being given an official title. Lydia was an influential businesswoman who helped support the work of the Kingdom and provided a place where believers could gather. That is one of the reasons we still know her name today. Her life demonstrates that influence in God's kingdom comes through faithful service, not merely through position.

We have our ideas, and then there are God's plans. Proverbs 19:21 states:

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
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Twice, it seems, Paul and Silas attempted to go into the province of Asia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit. For reasons unknown to them, the Holy Spirit was giving them a "check" in their spirits. It is important to listen to that inner voice—the Holy Spirit—when He speaks. How many times have we pushed through those warnings only to experience exactly what the Holy Spirit was trying to prevent? Then we say things like, "Gosh, I had a feeling not to do that!"

It is important to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. He is like a seeing-eye dog guiding someone who is blind. We do not know the future, but He does. Life can be a bit of trial and error anyway, so why make it any more difficult on ourselves than it has to be?

Some people enjoy the surprise of adventure—having no plan and simply seeing where they end up. Yet when I read the Scriptures, it is clear that there is a reason for our presence here, and that reason is found in God. He has plans for each of us, and our lives will be woefully unfulfilled if we fail to pursue the purpose for which He created us.

Consider the regret expressed in Proverbs 5:12-14:

“You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings! Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors? I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace.””

God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
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Ultimately, it comes down to whom we trust to lead us through life. We only pass this way once, and every decision either moves us closer to God's purpose or farther from it. The Holy Spirit is not trying to restrict us—He is trying to direct us. Every prompting, every warning, and every nudge is evidence of a loving Father who sees what we cannot. The safest, wisest, and most fulfilling place to be is in the center of His will.

After all the commotion about circumcision, I thought it was interesting that Paul decided to have Timothy circumcised. At first glance, it almost seems contradictory, but Paul recognized the difference between circumcision as a requirement for salvation and circumcision as a practical step to remove an unnecessary obstacle to the Gospel. He did not want to provoke another controversy over the matter, especially since Timothy was, after all, half Jewish.

This marked the beginning of a remarkable mentoring relationship between Paul and Timothy. Paul would later refer to Timothy as his "true son in the faith," a testament to the deep bond they shared.

Some relationships are forged by God. They are among the sweetest relationships we experience because the connection is not only personal but also spiritual. I like to call them divine appointments because God's purpose is being revealed in both lives. Each person strengthens, sharpens, and encourages the other as they walk together in His calling.

It is amazing to think that, in this day and age, what takes only moments for us took months—and sometimes years—for them. There was no postal service as we know it today, and most of the time you were your own mail carrier. Paul personally delivered the instructions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to the churches he had established during his first missionary journey. Keep in mind that this second missionary journey lasted about three years as Paul traveled approximately 2,700–3,000 miles, primarily on foot. That is some serious dedication!

Paul's example reminds us that ministry is about far more than preaching sermons. It is about investing in people. Jesus made disciples, and Paul made disciples. Timothy became one of the greatest examples of the lasting impact that intentional mentoring can have on future generations.

Who are we mentoring, and who is mentoring us? Ideally, we should have both in our lives. There is wisdom in learning from those who have walked with the Lord longer than we have, and there is joy in pouring what God has taught us into someone coming behind us. In God's kingdom, we are never meant to simply receive—we are also called to reproduce faithful followers of Christ.

Disagreements are inevitable. Paul was not inclined to bring John Mark along on his second missionary journey because John Mark had left them after the first leg of Paul's first missionary journey. Perhaps Paul no longer considered John Mark reliable.

Barnabas saw things differently, and the disagreement became so sharp that the two parted ways. It appears that, over time, the rift was mended, and the silver lining was that the Lord was now able to cover more territory. Paul and Silas visited the cities from Paul's first missionary journey, while Barnabas took John Mark to Cyprus.

On a personal note, John Mark was Barnabas' cousin, so it is understandable why he stood up for him. Barnabas had taken Paul under his wing when he was something of an outcast, so it is no surprise that this "Son of Encouragement" would go out of his way for John Mark as well. It is a good thing he did, because this same Mark went on to write the Gospel of Mark. So, after a somewhat slow start, Mark accomplished much, becoming known as Mark the Evangelist. He is also traditionally considered the founder of the church in Alexandria, Egypt, and served as its first bishop. Paul even described him as helpful to his ministry in his later years.

It is not how you start, but how you finish. Many begin with a flurry of activity fueled by excitement, but sometimes that excitement wanes when the trials associated with answering God's call arise.

Ministry is not for the faint of heart, and the cost must be counted before one says, "I do," or "I will." Believe it or not, everyone has a part to play, and when someone neglects their part, it leaves a void. I think this is some of what Jesus was trying to teach us when He said in ‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭28‬-‭29‬:

““But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.”

The good news is that we can always get back in the game. God's grace allows us to begin again. However, we should not commit to something if we have no intention of following through. My husband says it this way: "Don't pretend to be something you don't intend to be."

Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5:37:

“Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”

Our faithfulness is not measured by a perfect beginning but by a persevering finish. There may be seasons when we stumble, become discouraged, or even step away for a time, but God is able to restore and use those who are willing to return to Him with a willing heart. Like John Mark, our failures do not have to define our future. At the same time, integrity matters. When we make commitments to God or to others, we should do so thoughtfully and with a sincere desire to follow through. Faithfulness honors both the Lord and those who depend on us.