It is of God

In Acts 17 we read of the troubled times of Paul and Silas.

Some of those who heard their message followed their teaching.

Others were not pleased caused trouble.

They formed a mob and spread turmoil.

Failing to find Paul and Silas, they turned upon Jason and those with him.

Acts 17: 6-8 (NET) - When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, screaming, “These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world have come here too, and Jason has welcomed them as guests! They are all acting against Caesar’s decrees, saying there is another king named Jesus!” They caused confusion among the crowd and the city officials who heard these things.

Jason and those with him had to post bail before the city officials would release them.

While this was going on, Paul and Silas traveled to Berea.

At first the people of Berea were open minded and welcomed them.

They examined the scriptures carefully to make certain their message was true.

The message in Berea was accepted but trouble was on the way.

Acts 17:13 (NET) - But when the Jews from Thessalonica heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God in Berea, they came there too, inciting and disturbing the crowds.

Wherever the Good News was spread, trouble always followed.

This was true in the world of Paul and Silas.

It is true in our modern world as well.

Try as people might, the message was not silenced in ancient times.

Nor is it silenced today.

Persecution is not only confined to the past.

Every day, Christians around the world spread the Good News.

Some risk a great deal.

Some even die.

Yet the message lives on and continues to spread.

How is this possible?

Even a Pharisee who was among those who opposed the apostles in Acts 5 understood this.

Acts 5:38-39a (NE) - So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing, but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God.”

The message continues to spread.

It continues to spread because it is from God.

May those who are persecuted for spreading the message take comfort in the words of the Psalmist.

Psalm 18:17-20 (NET) - He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me,

for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD helped me. He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me. The LORD repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 10, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 17, 2016