Post by Woody Williams on Jul 13, 2007 6:55:46 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Acts 19:21-31
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Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the
Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to
Jerusalem. He said, "After I have gone there, I must also see Rome."
So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,
while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia. About that time
no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way. A man named
Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought
no little business to the artisans. These he gathered together, with
the workers of the same trade, and said, Men, you know that we get
our wealth from this business. You also see and hear that not only in
Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and
drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made
with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade
of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great
goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her
majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her. When
they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, Great is Artemis of
the Ephesians! The city was filled with the confusion; and people
rushed together to the theater, dragging with them Gaius and
Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Pauls travel companions. Paul
wished to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let him;
even some officials of the province of Asia, who were friendly to
him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theater.
Devotional
----------
Testimony to Jesus may often cause a cultural crisis because our
human culture is often built on a foundation of monetary gain or
power. The values of Christianity challenge that foundation. This
happened in Ephesus. As Paul gained converts, support of the temple
of Artemis declined, because people were no longer buying the silver
statues of Artemis. It caused quite a riot in the city. The issue was
settled without violence but Paul had to leave. Christianity and
culture often clash. Do you sense any conflicts of this nature in
your community?
Prayer
Lord, help me hold on to the spiritual foundation laid in my life
through Christ Jesus. Amen
----------
Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the
Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to
Jerusalem. He said, "After I have gone there, I must also see Rome."
So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,
while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia. About that time
no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way. A man named
Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought
no little business to the artisans. These he gathered together, with
the workers of the same trade, and said, Men, you know that we get
our wealth from this business. You also see and hear that not only in
Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and
drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made
with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade
of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great
goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her
majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her. When
they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, Great is Artemis of
the Ephesians! The city was filled with the confusion; and people
rushed together to the theater, dragging with them Gaius and
Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Pauls travel companions. Paul
wished to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let him;
even some officials of the province of Asia, who were friendly to
him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theater.
Devotional
----------
Testimony to Jesus may often cause a cultural crisis because our
human culture is often built on a foundation of monetary gain or
power. The values of Christianity challenge that foundation. This
happened in Ephesus. As Paul gained converts, support of the temple
of Artemis declined, because people were no longer buying the silver
statues of Artemis. It caused quite a riot in the city. The issue was
settled without violence but Paul had to leave. Christianity and
culture often clash. Do you sense any conflicts of this nature in
your community?
Prayer
Lord, help me hold on to the spiritual foundation laid in my life
through Christ Jesus. Amen