Wednesday 17 Sep 2014

September 17: Acts 9:26-31

Key Verse: Acts 9:31
Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

Devotion:
We all seem to like things going along in the same old ways as it always used to go! We don’t always look at change as a welcome thing. We rather prefer to keep the balance and carry on just in case something breaks! And that is exactly what happens in our churches as well; we try to keep things the same so that we are more comfortable, and when things do change we try to water them down a little before they take hold and make us change!

When Paul hit the scene it was a bit of a shock rather than a little change! Paul was the one who was persecuting the church people and he was the one trying to wipe them out before they took hold. So seeing him now get up and say that he believed in Christ looked more like a trap than the truth. I don’t think either side would have known what to do with him at first; but once they realised the change was real their reactions were quite different.

How many would have still been blaming him for all that had gone on before? How many could not let go of the past? How many wanted him to bash others over the head to wake them up? How many wanted to hide in a hole fearing the truth? We all react to change in different ways because we all aim for different outcomes instead of listening to God and waiting for his direction for us all. And yes it is hard to accept some of the things that God wants to change in our lives, especially if we don’t get any glory… I have learned a long time ago that seeking glory for doing work for God is never going to work!

Paul got all sorts of attention when he worked with God instead of against Him. If we are willing to work for God as well, then we should be willing to put up with the things that will come our way as the ‘objectioners’ stand up and have their way! Be prepared for attention, but don’t expect it all to be good. Be prepared for open feelings, but expect hate as well as love. People are not always just. They want their own ways and they don’t always accept change… But keep going for God!

Points to Ponder:
Do you stop when people object?

Will you keep going for God?