"Dubious Disciples"
EPISODE 131
Judge Others Rightly
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I'm pretty skeptical when something seems too good to be true — maybe you can relate? Those get-rich-quick schemes, miracle creams, and diet pills usually promise a lot but deliver very little. But what happens when we're skeptical about the genuine article?
In Acts 9, we again meet a man named Saul, who was ravaging the church (Acts 8:3). But Jesus had big plans for him after their conversation on a country road (Acts 9:3-9). With Saul's radical transformation of faith underway, would the rest of the church be skeptical, or accept him as one of them?
Listen to the Lord
"But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. ..." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:13-15).
Are you able to see the potential in people that God sees, or are you too blinded by their past to think they could ever change? The Lord's plans are beyond our plans (Isa. 55:9), so let's get good at listening. Who knows, maybe that person we've written off — thinking they're too far gone — might become a powerful ally for the Lord someday!
See their Fruits
"And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? ..."" (Acts 9:21-22).
Are you holding people's past over their heads, neglecting to see who they are today? We're called to examine the fruit of people's lives (Matt. 7:20) and test every spirit (1 John 4:1-2). And when we see that someone is a faithful worker for the Lord, let's get to work alongside them rather than remaining skeptical.
Check with Others
"And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord ..." (Acts 9:26-27).
Are you quick to jump to conclusions, or willing to do some research before making a judgment about someone? As Levar Burton from Reading Rainbow used to say, "You don't have to take my word for it!" Ask around and make sure you see the situation with clarity. Chances are there's more to their story than meets the eye.
May God help us to judge among ourselves rightly today. And may we be willing to drop our skepticism and accept those who faithfully follow the Lord.
