Tuesday July 9th, 2019 Acts 19:21-41
?some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. (verse 32)
In preparing for today’s devotion, verse 32 was an “ah ha” moment for me. It took me back to when I was a delegate at a synod convention. The uproar in Ephesus because of the commercialized religion centered on the goddess Artemis relates to my convention experience where we had disagreements and conflict with more heat than light. The uproar during the synod convention was in the context of a horn of a dilemma issue where people took sides and were divided with no easy resolution of the conflict.
At a point of bedlam in the assembly, a pastor near me opened his Bible and read aloud verse 32.
The writer of Hebrews 4:12 tells us God’s word is sharper than any two-edged sword. This timeless word always works its wonders, be it in an uproar at Ephesus long ago, or in a divided synod convention.
This living word cuts through all our uproars, always reminding us of whose we are so that our way forward will have greater clarity and healthier resolutions of our divisions and conflicts.
God of wisdom, help us in all times of dissension to let our words be spoken with respect and dignity for all. Amen. — EAM
Contributed by Concerning confusion
In preparing for today's devotion, verse 32 was an "ah ha" moment for me. It took me back to when I was a delegate at a synod convention. The uproar in Ephesus because of the commercialized religion centered on the goddess Artemis relates to my convention experience where we had disagreements and conflict with more heat than light. The uproar during the synod convention was in the context of a horn of a dilemma issue where people took sides and were divided with no easy resolution of the conflict.
At a point of bedlam in the assembly, a pastor near me opened his Bible and read aloud verse 32.
The writer of Hebrews 4:12 tells us God's word is sharper than any two-edged sword. This timeless word always works its wonders, be it in an uproar at Ephesus long ago, or in a divided synod convention.
This living word cuts through all our uproars, always reminding us of whose we are so that our way forward will have greater clarity and healthier resolutions of our divisions and conflicts.
