Reading 27

Acts 16-19

In Chapter 16 of Acts, Luke recounts the story of Paul and Silas being arrested and put into jail in Philipi. It’s quite a story, beginning with casting a demon out of a female slave, a riot, severe beatings and imprisonment. It ends with prayer and singing hymns, an earthquake, prison doors being thrown open and a jailer (along with his family) becoming a follower of Christ and being baptized into the faith. Oh my gosh! Can you imagine being a child and listening to grandpa Silas recount that story around the table or at bedtime?

What caught my eye this time was what precipitated these events. In verse 16 Luke tells us that a slave woman with a future-predicting demon had followed them around for days shouting “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” What she was saying was true, but apparently it was how she was doing it that caused problems, because of what Luke says next: “Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around” and commanded the spirit to come out of her. Which it did.

I found myself chuckling atthe thought that the Apostle Paul acted because he was “annoyed”. It doesn’t sound very spiritual. I can see him in my minds eye, putting his hand to his forhead, then rubbing his eyes as he sighs and says, “I am so sick and tired of this. Demon, in Jesus’ name, get out of here!”

Now his acting from his irritation led to some rather unfortunate events, like getting beaten. But the end result was the salvation of a number of people and a story that inspires. How in the world could that be? I grew up with a brand of Christianity that touted self-control in all things, that irritation and annoyance weren’t spiritual because the truly spiritual were always unruffled. But not the Apostle.

I thank God for Luke including this statement that Paul “became so annoyed” because it reminds me that it is okay to be human, to be real. It does not excuse things that I might do, but it doesn’t diminish who I am, either. In fact, because Paul became so annoyed the events were set in motion that resulted in such amazing things. Had he kept everything tightly reigned in, it would never have occurred.

My point is this, God made Paul who he was with his strengths and weaknesses. He knew Paul’s temperament and his inclinations, good and bad, and even so God used Paul. God even worked through his failings. And that gives me hope that God is big enough to work through me when I follow Jesus. Even with my shortcomings and failings.

--Nils

Reading 27 (audio)