JULY 12, 2016

“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” 
― Stephen King

PSALM 7-9

David is reflective and humbled by the power of God...

1Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

in the heavens.

2Through the praise of children and infants

you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

3When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

4what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?^c

ACTS 17:1-15

Paul again is wrongly accused...

1When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

5But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.^a 6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.

JOURNAL 

Paul is relentless...he seems to only get stronger the more he faces persecution and jealousy. He seems completely undeterred in his mission. Just as he was determined to root out and destroy Christianity...here he is determined to preach it all over the world. It is easy to see how God used who Paul was...his talent didn't change, just his allegiance.

6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^a faith; 7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^b do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

 ~ ROMANS 8:6-8