Rumors... Solomon described them as... dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. Proverbs 18:8 NLT Interestingly enough, these same words are repeated in Proverbs 26:22 To repeat yoursef, shows a value of importance to you. Makes me consider that maybe Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, must have suffered from other speaking rumors of him. I know I've been the subject of a rumor or two. And it sure stings when you hear about it. Like why would anyone makeup stuff that isn't true about you? Until I realize that they simply don't know the real me. They haven't lived in my world, walked in my shoes, understood life from my perspective. So they make assumptions, speaking them as if somehow it gives them power or authority over me. Rumor: a story or statement in general circulation, without confirmation or certainty as to the facts This is a great reason NOT to buy into them; NOT to pass them on... no matter how juicy a morsel they may be. But if we back up,
just one verse prior, we see just what can happen to those who take the bite, swallow the temptation, swallow the bait. The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. Proverbs 18:7 Hence the caution NOT to engage in them. Sadly, our friend Paul was the subject of many a rumor. This, one of the most godly men in all bible history. Suffering for the cause of Christ; arguably leading more people to salvation for eternity and planting churches in the widest span of geograpy for his limited resources of the day. In the latter part of his ministry, he realized that the rumors being spread were so serious that they threatened his very life. This his address when he returned to Ephesus, to the elders of the church... When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike... the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus... the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:18-24 NKJV So as I reflect upon those rumors spread about me, I realize they were nothing compared to this. My life was never in danger. And to be honest... if it were, I'm not so certain I'd take this same dedicated stance. And Paul pressed on... following his convictions to please God rather than man. When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship. Acts 20:36-38 Paul knew... the people of this church realized, that this would be his last journey befoe he was punished once again. And this time it may be to his death. All because rumor had twisted the purpose of his calling. And this was what he faced when he arrived in the new place, where the Spirt led him. The elders of the church confronted him, telling the rumor which the local people believed... the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They’ve heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs. What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. Acts 21:21-22 You see Paul was an instrument used by God to open the gospel to all people... not just the 'chosen' Jewish nation; many of whom had rejected it. And he preached to the Gentiles that they need not be circumcised since it was a religious ritual, which God no longer required under the grace which Jesus made available through His death and resurrection. So the Jews got offended beause this was their sacred tradtion passed down from Moses. And they thought that Paul was a false teacher, a heretic. But Paul would not be dissuaded from preaching in this city. So the next time he went to the temple, it was not for a silent time of worship. Rather he was pointed out and this is what they began to proclaim about him... This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple, and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles. and then... The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. (prophecy fulfilled) He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!” Acts 21:28,30-36 This is what can happen when a rumor gets out of hand. This once dainty morsel had been swallowed by too many hearts, corrupted by untruth. Rumor can turn into a riot. Yet none of the accusations these people listed, were even true. Did it stop the mob? Did it quiet the cries to kill him? Men's hearts had been ruined, trapped by untruth which they began by repeating rumor. Who stopped to question, Paul, is this true? Paul, what are you really saying? Or even consider... I hear you, but want to truly understand your viewpoint even if it doesn't match mine. Why is it that we can understand and accept people with different tastes in food... Like, I may prefer chocolate cake, when you want vanilla. But we can't accept people with different tastes in belief; different, and possibly revealing tastes in truth? You'd probably be willing to take s bite of my cake if I offered it... knowing it wouldn't kill you to try it. So why won't we stop and take a bite of someone's belief to see if we like it? What if we are missing something? What if my new favorite thing lies beyond me because I'm simply not willing to taste... to ask, to investigate the truth? Maybe the morsel I'm eating now, isn't actually what's best for me? It wasn't for these people who rioted against the rumor. They had never even asked Paul for a bite.., for a taste of his truth. Thank God... literally, for the guard. Those who chained Paul and lifted him above the crowd. For now we have much more to learn tomorrow... when the riot is spoken into. (Meet me back here for the conclusion!) But as for today, won't you consider with me to leave the tasty morsel alone? Do we even enjoy that flavor? Was it ever that satisfying? Even if it's never caused a riot that we may have witnessed... how do we know that one didn't erupt within someone's soul? Word of God train me today... To hold my tongue when I hear rumor, not partaking in the tempting morsel. To be bold enough to ask another for a taste of their truth before I speak, opening my heart to withhold judgement.
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January 2019
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