September 16
Bible Reading: Acts 17:1-9
Pineapple Upside Down cake is yummy, though “upside down” because the idea is to bake it that way. But with humans, it is better to have our lives flipped around by God, so we are right side up.
Because of its central location, the city of Thessalonica served as a valuable epicenter from which to spread the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8). Paul and Silas came there and spent three Sabbath days in a synagogue reasoning with the Jews from the Scriptures (Acts 17:3). Some were persuaded and joined them. Many devout Greeks did too (Acts 17:4). But some jealous Jews formed a mob and caused a riot. Having dragged some brethren before the city authorities, they cried out, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also” (Acts 17:5-6).
They said what they said derisively. It was an accusation meant to trouble Paul and Silas before the civil authorities, but there was truth to it—they had indeed “turned the world upside down,” or, actually, “right side up.” J. Vernon McGee said of their statement, “Now don’t put that down as an oratorical gesture or hyperbole. When they said that these men were turning the world upside down, that is exactly what they meant. When Christianity penetrated that old Roman Empire, it was a revolution. It had a tremendous effect.”
And, of course, it wasn’t ultimately the men themselves who were doing it, but the Holy Spirit and the message of the gospel He empowered them to proclaim. It was the Risen Christ who was at work radically transforming the lives of those who placed their faith in Him. It is sin that works to put things in a radical topsy-turvy state. The gospel alone can set things aright. It is as A. W. Tozer explained: “Why did Christ come? Why was he conceived? Why was he born? Why was he crucified? Why did he rise again? Why is he now at the right hand of the Father? The answer to all these questions is, ‘in order that he might make worshipers out of rebels; in order that he might restore us again to the place of worship we knew when we were first created.”
There was a day when you heard and believed the good news of Christ’s death for sins and resurrection from the dead. Praise God that He worked to flip your upside-down life around!
“Once I was lost in sin’s degradation, Jesus came down to bring me salvation.”
NOW I BELONG TO JESUS
Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow’r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Now I belong to Him;
Refrain:
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.
Once I was lost in sin’s degradation,
Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
Lifted me up from sorrow and shame,
Now I belong to Him; [ Refrain]
Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me,
Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me
His precious blood, He came to redeem,
Now I belong to Him; [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 