STEPPING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE
Today’s One Year Bible reading (Acts 21:37–23:3.5) opens in the middle of a riot. Yesterday’s reading in the previous verses describes how the riot began—a group of troublemakers from out of town accused Paul of taking a Gentile man into the Temple. Their accusation sparked a riot.
Fortunately, the Roman authorities intervened and took Paul into protective custody. Paul asked to be able to address the mob, who—surprisingly—calmed down enough to allow him to be heard. The mob was quiet while Paul gave his testimony—he explained who he was, told how he persecuted Christians, and how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. But when Paul stated that God said He would send him to the Gentiles, the crowd erupted furiously. The Roman authorities again protected him from the unruly mob.
The next day the Roman commander ordered the leading Jewish priests to come and “make their case” against Paul. When Paul testified before them, he pitted the Pharisees against the Sadducees, so they were divided against each other instead of unified in their opposition to Paul.
One common theme through these events is the hostility between different groups of people. God had declared to Israel through the prophet Isaiah, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (49:6). God intended that the Jews lead Gentiles to know God. But these Jews weren’t interested in doing that. They were too busy despising the Gentiles. (And in the case of the Romans at least, the feeling was mutual.)
Likewise, when Paul testified to the Pharisees and Sadducees, it took only a single statement—“I am a Pharisee … I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead”—to goad them into fighting each other. Their strong disagreement prevented them from acting together in unity to achieve their common purpose.
We can fall into the same trap. Hopefully we don’t feel hostility toward others who are different than us. However, we each have our own comfort zone; we’re most comfortable with people like ourselves. But God calls us as believers to step out of our comfort zone and reach out to others who are different than us, that they too may come to know the Savior, and we can enjoy fellowship together. (And our lives will also be richer as a result.)
Fortunately, the Roman authorities intervened and took Paul into protective custody. Paul asked to be able to address the mob, who—surprisingly—calmed down enough to allow him to be heard. The mob was quiet while Paul gave his testimony—he explained who he was, told how he persecuted Christians, and how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. But when Paul stated that God said He would send him to the Gentiles, the crowd erupted furiously. The Roman authorities again protected him from the unruly mob.
The next day the Roman commander ordered the leading Jewish priests to come and “make their case” against Paul. When Paul testified before them, he pitted the Pharisees against the Sadducees, so they were divided against each other instead of unified in their opposition to Paul.
One common theme through these events is the hostility between different groups of people. God had declared to Israel through the prophet Isaiah, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (49:6). God intended that the Jews lead Gentiles to know God. But these Jews weren’t interested in doing that. They were too busy despising the Gentiles. (And in the case of the Romans at least, the feeling was mutual.)
Likewise, when Paul testified to the Pharisees and Sadducees, it took only a single statement—“I am a Pharisee … I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead”—to goad them into fighting each other. Their strong disagreement prevented them from acting together in unity to achieve their common purpose.
We can fall into the same trap. Hopefully we don’t feel hostility toward others who are different than us. However, we each have our own comfort zone; we’re most comfortable with people like ourselves. But God calls us as believers to step out of our comfort zone and reach out to others who are different than us, that they too may come to know the Savior, and we can enjoy fellowship together. (And our lives will also be richer as a result.)
by Darrel Eppler, Elder
Posted in Read Through the Bible
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