Acts 21:30New Living Translation (NLT)
30 The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him.
Paul was truly needing a cease fire with this angry mob who were totally out of control. If you read further into the text, they were trying to kill Paul. For what reason? It was possibly pride or religion. They were following the Book of the Law, but they were forgetting its Author.
I want to ask for you to think about this question today, “How do we save life while pointing fingers?” That is what was happening with Paul here. Fingers were being pointed at Paul because of their own religiosity. The rioting people were more concerned with their religious past than their spiritual futures.
If you read in Galatians 2:21-22, is says, ‘Is there conflict, then, between God’s Law and God’s Promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare that we are prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.’
If you dig deep into what Paul is saying here, you will find law and grace compliment each other. The law was not given to provide life, and law was not given to reveal sin. The law was given to prepare the way for Christ.
The Jewish Zealots had missed the mark, but Paul was right on target with Jesus Christ. Jesus says it best in Matthew 22:34-40, ‘Love God with all your heart, mind, and spirit and love people. On these two hang all of the law.’
Let’s be men with cease fire attitudes. Love God more and love our fellow man with less pointing fingers and more grace.
Strength and Courage
Michael
