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- Oct 26, 2007
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Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, [you] whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?" Acts 23:3 NKJV
Ever spoken too quickly, too loudly, too angrily? Apart from Jesus, everyone has—even as great a man as the apostle Paul.
One beauty of God’s Word is its absolute honesty. Scripture often shows when His chosen people failed. In Acts 23, Paul succumbed to an angry outburst, which he walked back just two verses later.
The high priest, object of Paul’s ire, deserved a rebuke—he had just ordered Paul struck in the face for a simple comment he’d made. Ananias’ behavior contradicted both scripture and every common-sense view of legal proceedings.
But when the kangaroo court accused Paul of breaking a biblical command. (Exodus 22:28): “You shall not…curse the ruler of your people”), he immediately admitted his wrongdoing, no matter how unfair the treatment that preceded it.
There’s plenty of unfair treatment in this world, and much of it will target us as Christians. Ideally, we’ll be so sensitive to God’s Spirit that He’ll guide us through without a stumble. But if we fail, like even Paul did, God “knows our form; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). And “great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (v. 11).
Prayer: Lord, I want to do right—but I appreciate Your mercy when I fail.
Ever spoken too quickly, too loudly, too angrily? Apart from Jesus, everyone has—even as great a man as the apostle Paul.
One beauty of God’s Word is its absolute honesty. Scripture often shows when His chosen people failed. In Acts 23, Paul succumbed to an angry outburst, which he walked back just two verses later.
The high priest, object of Paul’s ire, deserved a rebuke—he had just ordered Paul struck in the face for a simple comment he’d made. Ananias’ behavior contradicted both scripture and every common-sense view of legal proceedings.
But when the kangaroo court accused Paul of breaking a biblical command. (Exodus 22:28): “You shall not…curse the ruler of your people”), he immediately admitted his wrongdoing, no matter how unfair the treatment that preceded it.
There’s plenty of unfair treatment in this world, and much of it will target us as Christians. Ideally, we’ll be so sensitive to God’s Spirit that He’ll guide us through without a stumble. But if we fail, like even Paul did, God “knows our form; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). And “great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (v. 11).
Prayer: Lord, I want to do right—but I appreciate Your mercy when I fail.
