August 26
Bible Reading: Acts 14:1-7
Acts 14:1-2, “Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.”
Even though the Hutu and Tutsis tribes had for years previously coexisted side-by-side as neighbors, the Rwandan Genocide of 1994 led to the mass slaughter of about 800,000 Tutsis (and moderate Hutus) in over just 100 days. What happened? Extremist leaders from the Hutu ethnic majority poisoned minds by broadcasting hate speech that dehumanized the Tutsis. They spread false rumors, convincing the Hutus that their survival depended on eliminating the Tutsi population. Though none of that was true, the constant barrage of propaganda worked to poison minds, inflaming tension and inciting violence.
Paul and Barnabas brought the good news of salvation by faith in Jesus to the city of Iconium. A great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. As we’ve seen thus far in the book of Acts, Satan opposes every forward advance of the gospel. Here, that opposition came by unbelieving Jews who stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Poisoned minds lead to ruined lives.
Literal poison works to cause bodily harm. Metaphorically speaking, poison refers to introducing destructive ideas that work to destroy a person’s thinking. The devil, who is always working to deceive, employs countless poisonous thoughts to wreak his destruction. Innumerable deadly ideas exist in the world’s marketplace of beliefs, though never labeled to be poisonous. With destructive thoughts, we can’t even trust our own hearts and minds (Jeremiah 17:9). Mind poison can be toxic indeed! How important is it then for us to exercise discernment and “test everything” and “hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)? We can only do that, of course, by sifting all that we hear and think through a “but what does the Bible say?” filter.
Whether of the physical or metaphorical variety, it is always best to be careful to avoid poison.
LORD, SPEAK TO ME THAT I MAY SPEAK
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of your tone.
As you have sought, so let me seek
Your erring children, lost and lone.
Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wand’ring and the wav’ring feet.
Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Your hungry ones with manna sweet.
Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious truths which you impart.
And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
Oh, fill me with your fullness, Lord,
Until my very hearts o’erflows
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Your love to tell, your praise to show.
Oh, use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as you will, and when, and where
Until your blessed face I see,
Your rest, your joy, your glory share.
LookingtoJesus 