The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 20:2-3,
“He [Paul] traveled through that area [Macedonia], speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.”
The world is a hostile place toward God and those that are his. Here we read of Jews plotting against Paul in Greece. Later in the chapter Paul reminds the Ephesian elders of the plots of the Jews against him in that city. He also tells them that the Holy Spirit had warned him that prison and hardships faced him in Jerusalem where he was headed. Paul faced hostility where he had been, where he was and where he was going. Throughout the book of Acts we see hostility toward God’s people from Jews and Gentiles alike. In Paul’s previous life he participated in this hostility himself prior to his conversion to “the Way”. In Stephen’s words, just before he was stoned, “Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him”. Acts 7:52.
Jesus taught, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:18-19. Those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ belong to God and as such we are hated by those who do not belong to him. They have made their choice and resent those of us who have embraced God. Many of us today may never face hostility as Paul did, but nonetheless we are despised because of our choice to join God’s kingdom, leaving them and the world behind.
The reality is that those of us who have embraced God wish the others - who are hostile toward us - would embrace God as well. Of people of faith, the writer of Hebrews says, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” How wonderful the future we have on our Lord Jesus Christ! How wonderful he invited us to join him and leave the world behind!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!
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