MONDAY - August 10

Read. Acts 16:16-24
16 One day, when we were on the way to the place for prayer, we met a slave woman. She had a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She made a lot of money for her owners through fortune-telling. 17 She began following Paul and us, shouting, “These people are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!” 18 She did this for many days.

This annoyed Paul so much that he finally turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her!” It left her at that very moment.

19 Her owners realized that their hope for making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the officials in the city center. 20 When her owners approached the legal authorities, they said, “These people are causing an uproar in our city. They are Jews 21 who promote customs that we Romans can’t accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attacks against Paul and Silas, so the authorities ordered that they be stripped of their clothes and beaten with a rod. 23 When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to secure them with great care. 24 When he received these instructions, he threw them into the innermost cell and secured their feet in stocks.

Reflect. This woman was said to have a spirit in her that would predict the future. It was believed that her mind was taken away in order for the gods  to put a different mind in her. 

• The men who owned her took advantage of this disability and exploited this fellow human. When Paul restored her to full health, no joy was felt by the men because their source of revenue was gone. When their source of revenue was threatened, they are up in arms and turn the crowd against Paul and Silas. 
• When faith attacks money or attacks the manner in which someone gains their wealth it is easy to get angry. This is dangerous. It is important to ask yourself, “Is the money I’m earning worth the price?” John Wesley (founder of Methodism) had a lot to say about how Christians should earn money. Reflect on his words and examine your heart:
• “We ought not to gain money at the expense of life, nor (which is in effect the same thing) at the expense of our health. … We are, Secondly, to gain all we can without hurting our mind any more than our body. … Thirdly, to gain all we can without hurting our neighbour. … [if the way you earn is sinful,] O beware, lest God say in that day, "These have perished in their iniquity, but their blood do I require at thy hands!” (The Use of Money0

Pray. Lord, search my heart and find me not as those who profited from the misfortune of another. Guide me to be blameless and faithful. Amen. 

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST


Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Helen. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Kibler family. Carolyn Harlow. Jeremy. Jeff Green. Lyric. Earl Graves. Mickey Huff. Huff & Welch families. Helen Leigh. Paul Huffman. Schools, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students. Church regathering plans. Layman family. Charlene Withrow. John. Brandon Casteel. Dirk Orr.