Thurs., 1/21/16 Devotion (Acts 21:29)

Today's encouragement comes from Acts 21:29, where we read these words:

"(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)"

This account (above) is in reference to the fact that some Jews from Asia who were very angry with Paul had seen him (Paul) with this Gentile man, in Jeru-salem. They then *assumed* that Paul had brought (the Gentile) into the temple—when, in fact, he had not done so. Then, on the basis of this errant notion, they created a riot in the city, and almost tore Paul into pieces.

But such is the nature of mindless religious irrationality. It fans hell’s flames in the fallen world. Someone's innocent association with someone else is con-strued to be heresy, blasphemy, or bad policy. As gracious Christians, let us seek to bring Jesus to all people—and be glad when they come to Him and His church. After all, what would folks think of Christ, if they saw *us* (as we are still in the flesh) with *Him*?

[Puritan quote of the day: "A godly man's comforts and grievances are hid from the world; natural men are strangers to them.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with Itself"]