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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Acts 17
I like how the CSB translates Luke’s words in verse 3. Luke said that Paul spent three Sabbaths teaching in the synagogue, “explaining and proving” that Jesus was the Messiah. Not trying to prove, but proving. The evidence is there, and it is true. That does not change because many refuse to believe it.
Acts 18:1-17
What does it say when somebody decides they don’t want something but then don’t want anybody else to have it either? It’s fair to say that this is a very human trait. I believe, though, that this behavior comes straight from the evil one. Evil isn’t just about refusing truth. It is about opposing truth. Thus, it is not enough for someone to reject it for themselves. Instead, the desire is to stamp it out completely. That is one way that we who live in Christ can discern what is true and from God and what isn’t. As Paul demonstrated, God never pushes His truth on anybody. Neither did Paul ever focus on stamping out the lie. Evil, on the other hand, is relentless in trying to push his lie while stamping out the truth. Thankfully, we know evil will never win.