JULY 20, 2022

  "If you want to figure out the players that will go on to bigger and better things, look at how they fail, in a game of failure. It’s easy to stand tall in baseball when things are going well. But those who stand tall while getting shelled – which happens in baseball often – and shake it off prior to the next outing or at bat, those are likely the players to look for in the multi-tiered stadiums at a later time." 

PSALM 31-33

16No king is saved by the size of his army;

no warrior escapes by his great strength.

17A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(33:16-18)

ACTS 21:15-40

27When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29(They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. 35When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”

JOURNAL 

So Paul had a bad day...This was predicted and Paul is facing it head-on...he is not retreating or complaining or whining. This is a life transformed by God, this is a life that has been infused with the spirit and will change the world. 

Today is a glorious day...it is a gift, yet it will only be so if I see it as such. What makes it great are not my circumstances, not what I get to do or don't get to do. What makes it great is that I am here, I am breathing, thinking and have the capacity to make decisions and take action. 

I must always consider that because that is the truth of today. To dismiss it and not embrace it is to make trivial God's gift. To see it as a gift is to approach it with joy and passion. Paul saw the day...knowing he would face persecution and instead of retreating, complaining or whining he walked boldly right into the fire. He could only have done this if he understood the gift of the day, the gift of his life and that his gift to God was his obedience and humility in living and giving his best. 

I am not facing a death mob or any kind of persecution. But rather,  I am facing a day with opportunities in a country that is at peace. I have no excuse not to give my very best in all moments today. To encourage, to love, to work, to seek God in all things. What a glorious day, what a wonderful life. 

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^a whenever you face trials of many kinds,

JAMES 1:2