When The Door Slams
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. Acts 14:19
God has many ways to discourage us from sin. One is to provide reminders for us so that we never take disobedience against Him lightly. Weak Christians try to hide their sins, only to repeat them. Before his conversion, Paul assumed that he was righteous before God. In reality, Paul was so confused to God desire, that he arrested and executed Christians in order to please God! Paul was so blinded to God's will that when he watched Stephen being brutally murdered for his faith, Paul's heart was hardened, and he became even more determined to imprison other Christians.
Think about this: It is significant that there are two occurrences of stoning mentioned in the New Testament--Stephen's and Paul's. Was it coincidence that God allowed Paul to be stoned in the same manner as Stephen had been? God had certainly forgiven Paul for his involvement in Stephen's death, but God also left him with a reminder of what his arrogance had led him to do. If pride could blind Paul to God once, pride could do it again. Perhaps Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was a direct result of the stoning.
Christians may also ask God, when will You heal me?, Why did You allow my child to die?, Why did You allow the weak minded to lead the church? Why did You allow these painful reminders to stay in my life? Why do You allow the mentally challenged to be guardian over our government? This may have served as a visible reminder to Paul, and others, of the terrible consequences of their sin.
God is absolutely just. He loves, and He forgives, but He does not compromise His righteousness. God deals with us uniquely. He draws upon our experiences to teach us about Himself. God will forgive us of our sin, but He may provide painful reminders of the ugliness of sin. Let us thank God that He loves us enough to remind us of the destructive consequences of sin in our lives.
I know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him (Psalm 4:3). You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your presence (Psalm 90:8). May I be diligent to present myself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (Timothy 2:15).
Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Never Rest Ministries
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