KEEP THE GOOD STUFF

READING: ACTS 13:42-52

Verse 50: “But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them form their region”

At times people have a way of disregarding God’s provision. This is often because they accept human interpretations of events, rather than God’s perspective. There is a popular expression that vividly illustrates this problem. The expression is “throwing out the baby with the bathwater”. There is also a scriptural illustration of this human fault, which demonstrates how sin can result. Verse 50 describes an event when almost the whole city of Antioch turned out to hear the Apostle Paul speak the Word of God. The Jews of Antioch were so envious of Paul’s success that they took strong opposition to what he was saying. Their human reaction of envy caused them to throw out, not bathwater, but the gift of God that was present for them. In the process, they also discarded the messenger of the Lord. Let’s pray that, for choices being made in our time, people will receive and not reject our precious gifts from Jesus. We should remember that in the Kingdom - there is no waste. We’ll keep both the baby and the bath water! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. When have you most recently seen a human interpretation accepted instead of a godly perception?
2. What do you need in your relationship with the Lord that will help you avoid “throwing out the baby with the bathwater”?