Scripture – ““When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’ “ ‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”” “The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”” Acts 22:17-22
Observation – Paul is explaining to the crowd how Jesus appeared to him, blinded him and spoke to him and he went from persecuting Christians to being a follower of Jesus. God told him to leave Jerusalem because the Jews would accept his testimony and to go the Gentiles instead. Once he said this the crowd completely dismissed the incredible story he just told about his radical conversion and focused solely on what they perceived as an insult, their response was that Paul deserved to die.
Application – Truth is truth not matter how it is delivered. If someone tells the truth in a harsh offensive way the wise person will try their best to ignore the manner in which it was delivered and consider the validity of the statement. A fool focuses only on the method of delivery and ignores the truth. When a wise person tells a person the truth they do it with gentleness and respect in hopes the person listening will open their mind to consider if it is true or not.
Prayer – Dear Jesus, truth matters no matter how it is stated or who says it. I pray my heart would respond to the truth not matter who or how it is delivered. Amen.
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