May 16: Acts 14:5-7

Key Verse: Acts 14:5
There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to ill-treat them and stone them.

Devotion:
One thing Jesus warned the disciples about was the way they would be treated badly just because they were trying to spread the gospel; the same continues to be true all over the world for Christians and many other religions too. When a religion looks like it is gaining popularity and may start causing instability in the local governing powers, people start to object because they are taught to do so.

It is not normally the case people will object because it is the true way they feel, rather it is the way they have been conditioned to believe by the local powers that be. This could be the local government, or it could be another religion… People always want to be on the winning side and having to face someone who may overthrow the winning side can be dis-concerting for some; especially governing people.

In this case the Jews and the Gentiles were working together because it looked like the disciples were gaining too much ground too quickly. The corrupt leaders from both Jewish people and the Gentiles were supporting each other so they could stay in power and the disciples would not gain support – because any support the disciples gained would shine a light on the corruption within the leaders…

It is OK to withdraw or retreat when we are in danger. We do not have to continue facing danger when we could be loving and supporting another community in the name of Christ… as long as we are not running away for the wrong reasons. The disciples knew they could reach many more people with the truth by side-stepping the current situation!

Points to Ponder:
Do you fear what others will say about you being a Christian?

Do you not know Christ said you will face objections just because you believe in Him?