Message summary: Today we pray for each reader and also for ourselves, the messengers, that we will be wise biblically, full of discernment and understanding so that we will walk righteously in the ways of the Lord. Let's not just follow the crowd!

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“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong" (Exodus 23:2). "Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together" (Acts 19:32). "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them" (Hosea 14:9).

Yesterday in our Adult Bible Fellowship class our lesson was on the background of Timothy. So we considered his ministry through the book of Acts beginning with the first mention of Timothy in Acts 16:1 when Timothy joined Paul and Silas on their second missionary tour.

As we proceeded we considered a text in Acts 19 that is quite appropriate to our own times. At any given time there are protests of some type, mostly in our cities and often connected with a college/university. Of course the now practically perpetual protests are pro-Hamas demonstrations which just simply boggles the imagination but is indicative of just how infiltrated our country has become and the utter gullibility and lack of discernment of so many.

The setting is in Ephesus and the entire context is Acts 19:21-41. They faced opposition to the delivering power of the Gospel message, in this case a silversmith named Demetrius who had gathered with other silversmiths to oppose Paul and his message. This was because they were feeling an economic impact due to loss of the idol-making business. "Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods".

It's true that people who turn to Christ will no longer be a driving force behind segments of the "economy" such as alcohol, illicit drug trade, tobacco, "adult" book store and the list gets longer.*

They arranged a protest which got ugly, "there arose no little disturbance" (v.23). To beef up their protest they also stirred the people up that the "great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship". Verse 29 states "So the city was filled with the confusion" which sounds like many modern protests that exist today.

But the main verse that caught my attention was this description, "Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together" (Acts 19:32).

Our teacher, Gordy, recalled a recent news story about a reporter who interviewed two college girls at one of the pro-Hamas protests and they really didn't know what it was all about nor do a lot of others who are there simply because of their friends. (I recall reading the same report.) They were essentially just following the crowd.

People can get stirred up so easily and so often are manipulated due to their lack of discernment or just following the crowd. Tony Perkins states, “There is no shortage of information today, but discernment based on knowledge is in dangerously short supply.”

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we thank You for the gift of discernment, which is essentially applying wisdom that comes with spiritual insight, at times from learned experience, though sometimes developed poor choices we've made in the past but after choosing to walk in Your ways we've learned the biblical way. Discernment comes from Your Holy Spirit that enables us to determine the true assessment of a situation, person, or opportunity. By having a healthy and respectful fear of You, Father, we will be wise in our understanding for Your Word says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom". Amen.

* It's interesting to consider just how much of the economy is driven by consequences of disobedience to God.

"Blessed Assurance"  Watch on YouTube  The closing song from our service yesterday. Here's something you probably didn't know: