Read: Leviticus 25:17-19; Psalm 25; and Acts 22
“We
fear what we do not know.” ~ Unknown
S.O.A.P.
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
S:
The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and
forgive all my sins. Look upon my
enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred. Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me
be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
Psalms 25:17-20
O:
I imagine the above Scripture passage was a prayer Paul might have
prayed often. The Psalms are a great
prayer prompter for the things we are facing in our lives!
As I read through the Leviticus
passage I was impressed with the fact that God’s got a plan and He has it all
under control! (See Leviticus 25:17-19) All we have to do is follow His plan!
A man by the name of Dan Brown writes
in The Lost Symbol this quote, "What we don't understand, we fear.
What we fear, we judge as evil. What we judge as evil, we attempt to control.
And what we cannot control...we attack." UNKNOWN
I think that quote sums up Paul’s life
after his conversion. The religious
Jewish leaders did not understand Paul’s conversion. They were fearful of him and what he was
teaching. They judged him harshly and as
“not religious” and therefore evil. When
he tried to explain and give his testimony they listened up to the point he
began telling them about the Gentiles; then they began to attack him. Their prejudices and jealousy kept them from understanding
and it kept them bound to fear.
When we deal with people who do not
understand our conversion stories do not be surprised when instead of being
received we are attacked. Partly it is
from a lack of understanding and fear on their part and partly from reading
Psalm 25 I think it is because the enemy of God uses people to afflict us and
to tear us down, not because of you and I, but because of the One who lives in
us.
The enemy was doing everything in his
weak power to thwart the message of Paul, but time and time again God won
through Paul and used him mightily to further His Kingdom. We must do as Psalm 25 says and WAIT ON THE
LORD! We must be patient. God is at work and He does have everything in
control and HE HAS A PLAN!
A:
Wait on the LORD. Walk in the
ways He shows me and to trust in Him.
P:
To You O LORD do I lift up my soul.
It is in You God that I trust. Do
not let me be ashamed or let the enemy exult himself over me. LORD I pray for good understanding. I pray that You would teach me Your ways and
truth. Thank you for being my
Salvation! I will wait on You all the
days of my life. Through Christ I pray,
Amen & Amen.
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