Daily Devotional for Monday, March 20th

The Force of the Enemy

“But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters,” Acts 18:15.

These words saved Paul from certain harm. Just as the Jewish leaders hated Jesus, they hated his followers. They brought Paul before the Roman administration of the province, not local authorities, reckoning Gallio could make a wider, more substantial decree against Paul and other followers of the Way. Paul was about to defend himself, obeying God’s instruction in Acts 18:9 a few verses before, but Gallio fulfilled God’s words in verse 10: “no man shall set on thee to hurt thee.” Before Paul could speak, Gallio closed the case. In Scripture, many times we see God protecting and providing for his people through unbelieving men. Gallio is one such man. It was not his love or endearment to Paul but perhaps rather his desire to not be involved with Jewish religious matters that caused him to dismiss any charges the Jewish leaders wanted to pin on Paul. As verse 10 states, there was a significant number of God’s people in Corinth. Gallio thought it wise to not get mixed up in religious affairs. Even upholding justice was not worth it to him because he let Sosthenes fall victim to the mob.
Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33). God’s promise to Paul in Acts 18:10 was a promise of no harm, but it was not a promise of no attack. Jesus guaranteed we would face hardships as His followers, but His promises provide the strength to stand and endure. In Matthew 5:11, 12, he said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

THOUGHT: In following Jesus, we take a stand and take heart.

Kelli Reynolds