READING: Acts 17:1-18:18
“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”
Acts 17:6
Whenever we speak the Word of God to someone, we can expect some kind of response. Today’s reading reminds us that some people will reject the Word, but others will respond affirmatively and follow Christ. For example, some in Thessalonica publicly rejected Paul’s preaching: “But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city” (Acts 17:5). They responded this way, though, because the gospel was changing lives around them—“Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women” (Acts 17:4)—and they did not like losing their power.
In fact, they called these believers “men who have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). The opponents of the gospel surely meant these words as negative, suggesting that Paul and his team were creating chaos in the cities. They were creating trouble wherever they went as they proclaimed a new king: Jesus.
They did not know it, but the jealous Jews were speaking some truth. When the gospel invades a heart, everything changes. Believers change the way they live in their personal walk, in their family, and in their workplace. Their local body of believers becomes part of their family. They love their enemies, raise their children well, and pray for their government. Their call to holiness is likely a thorn in the side of a world that promotes ungodliness; thus, they agitate the world by their very presence.
May God make us a people who turn our cities upside down today!
ACTION STEPS:
- Walk with God so fully today that people recognize that you’re different.
- Speak the good news to someone today, and trust God to change a heart.
PRAYER: “God, use me to speak Your message today. Use me to turn our city upside down.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Thessalonians 1-5