Daily Devotional for Thursday, March 30th

The Lecture of Demetrius

“So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth,” Acts 19:27.

People can be quite territorial. By nature, we want to protect what is ours. Some things we ought to be protective of, such as our families and our homes. Sometimes we just do not like the idea of our apple cart being upset, so to speak. We love things just the way they are and can get quite upset if it looks as if others are infringing on our norms. Once we get upset, we tend to lash out at those who are threatening our territory.
Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths were upset to say the least. They made their living crafting idols and shrines to the goddess Diana, and apparently, it was a good living. Then, these Christians wandered in preaching about the one true God. Not only that, but this God forbade physical idols representing Him!
People often get upset because their norms are threatened. Specifically, people get upset when they hear that the way they live might not be acceptable to God. They get upset when they hear about sin and falling short of God’s standard of perfection. In other words, people will often come after us simply because we preach the gospel.
If you are seen as threatening others’ norms, they will come after you as well. What will you do when that happens? Will you hunker down and circle the wagons? Will you attack back? Or, will you just keep on preaching the gospel message? That is the message that matters, and nothing else.

JUST A THOUGHT: We ought not to be surprised when people attack us for our faith. Jesus told us this would happen.

Wally Fry