Thought of the Day !!

When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up.
Acts 17:13

The first thing that should be said about this Scripture is that it is not anti-Semitic. There were Jews that were believers and those that were not in all the places that Paul went. Also, in the Gospel of John when the word Jews is used, it is used to mean the Jewish leaders. I am figuring on the same here.

Secondly, and most importantly for us today is this. The devil, through the use of other people, followed Paul wherever he went and tried to cause havoc. He does the same with us today. There are those who truly give their lives over to Christ. And then there are those who allow the devil to use them. These are the ones who seek revenge...who allow anger to control them...or who simply get a kick out of causing trouble.

But how do we respond to these people? Do we allow them get under our skin and thus become like them, retaliating with unkind words or gestures or actions?

Remember that there are always going to be people around you ready to cause trouble to some degree. There will always be someone out there that will smart off or be condescending because they're a moody person. There will always be someone who doesn't like to be disagreed with and will throw temper tantrums. Just don't let these kinds of people become who you are. And when you encounter them, remember that Jesus teaches us to be patient and humble. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (not as they've done unto you).

In the love of Christ,
greg