PRAYER PAUSE
Tuesday 8 May 2018, John
Sullivan
THE
CROWD JOINED IN
Enter
into the stillness of God within.
Reading: “The crowd joined in and showed its hostility
to Paul and Silas, so the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be
flogged.” (Acts 16:22-34)
Reflection. I have only had minor
experiences of “mob psychology”. A crowd can easily develop an emotion of its
own and become unreasonable. Paul had a
good reception in Philippi in the beginning.
But he drove out a spirit that was bringing someone money and there was
a reaction and the mob was induced to turn against Paul and Silas. It can happen today when politicians rouse unemployed
youth to stir up trouble. It is
frightening to be at the receiving end of it.
Jesus works throough all these human twists and turns of emotion - both
in mobs and in individuals. Slowly his
work progresses despite all the scars. I
heard only yesterday, “It is our scars that make us interesting”. Thing sdon’t often go straightforward. Our
failures generate new successes.
Prayer. Lord, give us courage when
things go wrong. Help us to be steady
and trust: you are at work among us. Amen
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