October 08, 2022
Daily Devotion:
"Extraordinary Steps"
Acts 21:26
New International Version
26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
Circumstances alter situations," so it is said. What might be appropriate for one set of circumstances might not be appropriate for another set of circumstances. Knowing when to do what under just the right circumstances is the mark of a mature and wise person. How else are we to understand Paul's strange actions? In his various letters, Paul repeatedly Chides Jewish converts for holding onto the Law, yet here we see Paul openly practicing ritual purification; and on another occasion we see Paul having Timothy Circumcised pursuant to the Law. But then there was the time when Paul chastised Peter for playing to the circumcision crowd and withdrawing from Gentile Converts who were not practicing circumcision or other rituals required by the Law. Either Paul is hypocritically inconsistent or he is mature and wise. Which do you think? Perhaps the answer lies in Paul's statement that he had become all things to all people in order that he might win them to Christ. It does not mean that we are to “do" drugs in order to reach addicts for Christ. Or convert prostitutes by visiting their beds. Or even to worship alongside Hindus, Buddhists, Or Muslims in hopes of showing them the path to Christ. But it does mean that we are to build whatever bridges we can so as not to offend religious sensitivities, in particular, in a bid to win hearts and souls for the Lord. If that means doing some things that might seem inconsistent, consistency is found in our pure motives, our uncompromised Christian commitment, and our love for almost a dying world. If we can't take people where we find them, we can't take them anywhere.
The Extraordinary accommodating question is: What extraordinary steps have I taken lately to win some soul to Christ?
