Led Astray

October 3

(Acts 19:26 NIV) “And 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.”

(Matthew 7:13-14 NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. {14} But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Anyone who takes their Christian faith seriously will begin to walk a different road than the rest of the world. In turn, popular culture will see you as “off the beaten path” or even as “off your rocker”. Christians have been labeled as “wacko” since the days of Jesus. If you haven’t been called a “wacko” or something worse, you have likely been hiding your light. Demetrius and the other establishment idol-makers saw the early believers as people who had been “led astray”. The “folly” of this new religious sect was found in their rejection of “man-made gods”. Those on the wide road to destruction cannot comprehend why disciples of Jesus persist in going a different direction, but we who follow Jesus have been commanded to walk the narrow road. If we obey, we are indeed guilty of “straying” from the wide road. We must learn to live with the world’s ridicule and disdain. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

A Different Kind of Buyer

October 2

(Acts 19:24-26 NIV) “A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. {25} He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. {26} And 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.”

(Matthew 6:19-24 NIV) ““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. {20} But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. {21} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. {22} "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. {23} But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! {24} "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.””

As more and more people in Ephesus were saved, a recession hit the idol making business. Paul taught that the silver idols of Artemis had no divine power, and people stopped spending money on them. Demetrius called the union bosses together and launched a public relations campaign against the Church. These new believers, led by Paul, were cutting into the idol- maker’s profits. They were taking their faith too seriously, and it was harming the local economy. These new people of the Way had changed their spending habits and had become a different kind of buyer. Every Christian should be a different kind of buyer. Money that was once spent foolishly will now be offered to Jesus, or wisely saved for future needs. If your God has not affected the way you spend money, your God is not the God of Scripture. Becoming a disciple of Jesus will make you a different kind of buyer. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Disturbing People of the Way

October 1

(Acts 19:23 NIV) “About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.”

(Acts 4:1-4 NIV) “The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. {2} They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. {3} They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. {4} But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”

(Matthew 2:1-3 NIV) ““After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem {2} and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." {3} When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.””

The early church had been derisively called “Christians” at Antioch. In Ephesus someone decided to label them as “The Way”. Both labels were meant to be derogatory. Wherever those early disciples lived, they caused a disturbance as they lived out their faith. As others became believers, their lifestyle and spending habits changed. They were rocking the boat, messing with the system, stirring the pot, and this caused friction. They didn’t fit the mold, and what they had seemed to be contagious. They disturbed the status quo. Contrast that with many church people today, whose main goal seems to be blending in. We wouldn’t want anyone to think we are weird, and so we become adept at flying under the radar. Something has been lost in the translation. We were saved to shine! Live out your faith, and pray that you can become part of the disturbance in a way that honors the Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Call to Go

September 30

(Acts 19:21-22 NIV) ““After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." {22} He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.””

(John 20:19-22 NIV) ““On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" {20} After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. {21} Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." {22} And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.””

(Matthew 10:16-20 NIV) “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. {17} Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. {18} On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. {19} But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, {20} for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Paul was a missionary apostle -- he never stopped thinking about where he should go next to share the gospel and strengthen the church. He wanted to preach in Rome, but first he would return to Jerusalem by way of Macedonia and Achaia. He sent Erastus and Timothy as an advance team to Macedonia, while he stayed in Ephesus a little longer. He had been discipling these two young men, and now he sent them out on the road. When we follow Jesus, he may send us on the road too. He may not send us across the ocean -- our call may be just across the street, or a few miles down the road. But as followers of Jesus, we have all been called to go somewhere, and if we never go anywhere with the gospel, perhaps it is not Jesus we are following. Christ’s call is to go into all the world and make disciples. Near or far, let Jesus direct your steps as you obey His call. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day