14:1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to
the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews
and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles
and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a
long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of
His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with
the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by
both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they
became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the
surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.
The more things change the more they stay the same. Paul and
Barnabas changed cities but the circumstances didn't change. Every time it
happens again though I shake my head. The greatest resistance to Jesus is never
from idol worshippers or atheists. It is always from the very ones who should
have been ready and waiting for Him. To even mention Him among His own people
caused instant division. That divide was not a simple difference of opinion or
even an awkward cold war of silence. It seemed to always lead to murderous
intent. These are the "chosen ones". These are they who held the
Sacred stone tablets inside the box made of wood and overlaid with gold. On
those tablets are words inscribed by God. Four of those words are "You
will not kill". The irony is hard to miss. Their religious fervor and
insistence on protecting their turf lead them to violate the very Words they
professed to be upholding and guarding.
How is it with us? Do we ever become so passionate, so
obsessed about something we believe to be right that we violate our core
principles over it? In my zeal to teach my children "respect", do I
disrespect them? In "discussions" with my wife and other family
members does my passion to be right or prove my point trump basic kindness?
The slope gets slippery from there. History and the Bible
both teach that what has gone around comes around again. God raised up the
Jewish nation from nothing and placed them at the crossroads of the world to be
a light. He gave them principles to live by that were higher, better, and more
noble than the nations around them. Had they held onto and developed those
principles they would have drawn the nations and been a positive influence on
the world. It began to happen during Solomon’s reign but the wheels fell off
after that. The descent was so steep that in the end they murdered their own
Messiah in a cold and calculated way after several missed attempts. Now in Acts
the hunt continues. To the blood of Jesus has been added the blood of Stephen,
James, and who knows how many others.
Could this happen to us? Could the nations of the west built
on freedom and justice for all become more cruel than the nations of the world?
Could misguided passion turn us into that which we profess to be against? Could
our code of ethics and morality be sacrificed on the altar of self-preservation
at any and all costs?
Many Jews became believers and the rest became murderers. The
contrast is stark. Will history repeat itself?
Observation tells me the tide is already turning...
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