Stirring Up Trouble
Today as I read Acts 19:21-41, I was reminded how much people like to stir up trouble, especially if things are not going their way. A silversmith named Demetrius, was making a great deal of money creating and selling silver idols for the temple of the goddess Artemis. So he says the following in Acts 19:25-27:
Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 28 An you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.
Later in Acts 19:32, the people have gathered and seized Paul's traveling companions to do them harm and the scripture notes, "The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there." Isn't that the case with those who are stirring up trouble, they cause nothing, but confusion, because their motives are purely selfish and often based in greed?
God's love brings order out of chaos, love out of hate, and stirs up only a desire to do what it right.
Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 28 An you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.
Later in Acts 19:32, the people have gathered and seized Paul's traveling companions to do them harm and the scripture notes, "The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there." Isn't that the case with those who are stirring up trouble, they cause nothing, but confusion, because their motives are purely selfish and often based in greed?
God's love brings order out of chaos, love out of hate, and stirs up only a desire to do what it right.
Proverbs 21:7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
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