“But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” -Acts 17:6 (NKJV)
Tracing the progress of Paul and Silas on their missionary journey, they left Philippi where they had been successful in gaining many converts for the Kingdom of God. They traveled overland through Amphipolis and Apollonia and stopped in Thessalonica. There they found a community of Jews and a synagogue in which to meet. For three Sabbath days Paul met with the congregation and spoke to them from the Scriptures, declaring that Jesus was indeed the Christ. Some were persuaded and followed Christ, among them devout Greeks and “leading women,” or women of the aristocracy of the region. Paul and Silas were faithful in their witness but trouble was brewing.
The Jews who would not believe incited a great protest. They rounded up a mob to help them and went to Jason’s house where Paul and Silas were lodging. They couldn’t find the missionaries there, and Jason, whose privacy had been sorely invaded, was not about to reveal where his Christian friends were. They dragged Jason and his friends down to the city rulers. There the accusation was made, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here, too.” Out of the mouths of unbelievers came a true assessment of what was happening as the missionaries went about faithfully preaching. For those who were making the choice to follow Jesus, the world was being turned upside down—the believer’s world, and the influence to those who would hear and heed the Good News of salvation. Jason and his friends had to post heavy bond, but at Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were never apprehended. It was as if God was turning the world of those who would bring harm to the missionaries upside down. He was protecting His mission team. That night Paul and Silas were secretly helped from that town and went on their way to Berea where they continued their mission of turning the world upside down.
What am I doing to turn the world upside down for Christ? Has my life made a difference? It is not too late to have Christ become paramount and His mission become my mission. Turning the world upside down amounts to touching lives with the message and love of Christ. Like with Jason and his friends and Paul and Silas, there may be opposition, but Christ will be present and give the strength and mercy needed. These times demand that we, too, turn the world upside down.
The Jews who would not believe incited a great protest. They rounded up a mob to help them and went to Jason’s house where Paul and Silas were lodging. They couldn’t find the missionaries there, and Jason, whose privacy had been sorely invaded, was not about to reveal where his Christian friends were. They dragged Jason and his friends down to the city rulers. There the accusation was made, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here, too.” Out of the mouths of unbelievers came a true assessment of what was happening as the missionaries went about faithfully preaching. For those who were making the choice to follow Jesus, the world was being turned upside down—the believer’s world, and the influence to those who would hear and heed the Good News of salvation. Jason and his friends had to post heavy bond, but at Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were never apprehended. It was as if God was turning the world of those who would bring harm to the missionaries upside down. He was protecting His mission team. That night Paul and Silas were secretly helped from that town and went on their way to Berea where they continued their mission of turning the world upside down.
What am I doing to turn the world upside down for Christ? Has my life made a difference? It is not too late to have Christ become paramount and His mission become my mission. Turning the world upside down amounts to touching lives with the message and love of Christ. Like with Jason and his friends and Paul and Silas, there may be opposition, but Christ will be present and give the strength and mercy needed. These times demand that we, too, turn the world upside down.
c Ethelene Dyer Jones;Thursday, April 29, 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment