Smart

Text: Acts 21:37-40

Theme: Paul thought quickly on his feet to find a solution.

Key verses: “As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, ‘May I have a word with you?’ ‘Do you know Greek?’ the commander asked, surprised. ‘Aren’t you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out in the desert?’ ‘No,’ Paul replied, ‘I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people.’ The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic” (v. 37-40).

What I believe God said to me: Never lose your head, Dwayne. Never allow yourself to get so worried and worked up that you become irrational and quit thinking clearly. The ploy of the enemy is to get you distracted and cause fear to well up in your soul. He wants your mind to be overwhelmed with anxiety. It’s easy to see the worst in your circumstances, to assume things are hopeless and to feel powerless to do anything in the moment. But that is rarely the case. In almost every situation you can find an opportunity, an angle, a quick moment you can seize and use to your advantage. That is what Paul did. As that mob suddenly and violently rose up against him, he didn’t freak out or lose his wits about him. He stayed calm and focused. He considered the situation at hand and what tools were at his disposal. It was no accident that Paul spoke to that commander in Greek. Paul knew that would take him off guard and get his attention. He knew it would prompt the commander to ask about him. Paul may have even suspected the commander mistook him for someone else, a criminal and assassin from a different country. Paul was smart. He never stopped thinking. He was always attuned to his environment and to what was happening around him. There are a few things you can safely assume and need to realize were happening behind the scenes here: First, Paul was filled with and led by the Spirit everyday. He walked in wisdom with me. He was spiritually sensitive. He knew my voice and recognized my hand at work. I spoke to him and helped him “think fast” and recognize opportunities around him. Furthermore, what Paul did and what happened to him each day was ultimately being directed and protected by me. While this mob scene might look random and completely out of control, I was in the midst of it. I made sure the right commander would be in the right place to remove Paul from the mob’s rage and take him away safely. Finally, while it’s true Paul relied on me to direct him and go before him, he also understood his role. He used the good sense I gave him and made the most of who he was and what he could do. For example, Paul initiated the conversation with the commander. He didn’t wait for the commander to do it (or for me to do it through the commander). Paul was proactive in that moment. He took it upon himself to “do something.” Also, Paul used his education and ethnicity to his favor. He demonstrated he wasn’t some uneducated thug. He spoke to the commander in an educated language and made sure he knew Paul was a Jew and a citizen of “an important city.” What’s more, he pushed the commander to allow him to speak. What if he’d held back? What if he’d been timid and waited for me to intervene? Dwayne, you must strike a balance between waiting on me to act on your behalf and acting on your own. Use the intelligence I gave you. Stay alert and keep your mind sharp and attentive. At the same time, don’t lean on your own smarts, abilities and understanding. In each situation you encounter, think, pray, and do what you can do, always trusting me to do what only I can do for you.

What I said to God: Thank You, Father, for speaking so clearly to me today. This makes such good common spiritual sense. I see how Paul trusted you but also trusted his own instincts and decisions. What an example to us as leaders in the church and the household of faith. This is important even in business. Anyone who has a relationship with You and who stands up for their beliefs will find themselves threatened or bullied or discomforted by circumstances beyond their control. Please help us, help me, to stay calm and sharp even in the most scary of situations, knowing You are right there with us and You will help us navigate those moments with wisdom and “smarts” from above.