Day 283 "Getting Beat Up"

Passage: Acts 18:17

Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Devotion:

If you have a talent for remembering difficult names, you might say, "Wait a minute, wasn't Crispus (from verse 8), the synagogue ruler?" You will also recall that he along with his whole household became believers and were baptized. I'm sure the Jews didn't want a Christ follower to rule the synagogue, so he was replaced with Sosthenes. In our passage today, apparently the Jews felt that Sosthenes had not made a strong enough case before the proconsul (Gallio) so they beat him -- perhaps hoping this demonstration of lawless would motivate Gallio to change his mind about Paul. Ultimately, it did not as "Gallio showed no concern whatever."

Later on in 1 Corinthians 1:1, Paul greets Sosthenes, so guess who else got converted while Paul was in Corinth? That's right, Sosthenes, the beaten synagogue ruler. As I was studying and reflecting on our passage today, I realized that often times people are brought to salvation when, like Sosthenes, they are beaten up. Do you know someone right now who is not a believer and is in the process of being beat up? Perhaps you should consider not protecting him or her. Many times, just allowing the process to run its course will bring a person to salvation by revealing a need for Jesus.

How many times have you heard someone telling their story of salvation -- about how it was only after they had reached the lowest point in their life that they came to know Jesus? If you are like me you have heard such a story repeated hundreds if not thousands of times. What about Christians rediscovering their faith in the midst of the greatest trial or tribulation of their life? Same thing, hundreds of times -- right? Then why are we so quick to jump in to protect or rescue someone, when an experience that turns them to a complete reliance on the Lord is what they need most?

Questions to Ponder:

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that a good beating is all anyone needs to get to know the Lord. What I am saying is -- when all of our solutions haven't worked out; when we're all out of ideas; when there are no more resources to tap; and the world as we know it stops making sense -- that is when we are most open to God -- either to know Him for the first time, or to become refreshed. Have you protected and rescued someone (a loved one?) before an experience has been allowed to run its course? Has your kind heart gotten in the way of someone's opportunity to meet the Lord face to face? Based upon what we have seen in today's devotion what might you do differently next time??