Fry Like Sausage

Good Morning!

Acts 18:6 (English Standard Version)
6And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

Have you ever reached your breaking point? Don’t let my mild demeanor fool you. My children will attest that I have a temper and sometimes it shows when I really don’t want it to show. Over the years I have learned to control my temper somewhat – though I feel it comes to the front far more often than I would prefer. Well, Paul had a temper, too. His having a temper doesn’t justify mine – I am just making the statement that Paul had a temper. We see his temper exhibited in the verse above. Of course, what we don’t see is the long period of time that Paul had spent with the Jews in the synagogue in Corinth. He had spent several months there before Silas and Timothy arrived, reasoning and persuading the Jews in that synagogue. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul redoubled his efforts to explain that Jesus was the Christ – and to encourage the Jews to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Verse six tells us that some opposed Paul and began to fling insults at him. And Paul got mad. And he told them that they were on their own – if they perished, it was their fault – not his.

In our Bible study, Keith told us about a time early in his walk with Christ when he went visiting with an older gentleman who was going to “show Keith the ropes”. For the sake of this good morning, let’s call this man Mr. Smith – I don’t know his name. Well Keith and Mr. Smith went to visit Mr. Jones (again a pseudonym) who Mr. Smith had visited a number of times before without success. And once again, Mr. Jones refused to accept Christ, refuting Mr. Smith’s arguments for Christ. Finally Mr. Smith just let out a “well, you just go to Hell and fry like a sausage”. What a way to speak to a person! And I am sure Mr. Smith regretted his outburst. Imagine his surprise when the next Sunday Mr. Jones showed up at church. And imagine his REAL surprise when Mr. Jones made his way down the aisle to give his heart to Jesus. When Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones got together, Mr. Jones said the thought of frying sausage stayed in his head all the night long – and he realized where he was headed without Christ.

Sometimes it takes a direct approach to get a person to realize their plight. Christianity is confrontational. By that I mean this: people are sinners – but we don’t like to think of ourselves as being in sin – and we especially don’t like someone telling us we are in sin. But the only way a person can come to grips with his or her need for Jesus Christ is by confronting their sin. Most people realize it quickly – but some of us hard heads need a good knock to get us to take a look. Paul put in a good whack in that synagogue – and, if you read the remainder of the passage, you will see that Crispus – a leader in the synagogue – came to know Christ.

Well, I hope you have a good day today. I will ask that you pray for Jeanie and Harold this morning (her surgery) and for Ellen and Charlie Banks this afternoon (doctors appointments). God bless each of you this day!

Agape’

Mr. Jim
Fatdad5@comcast.net
"Preach the Gospel everyday - and if you have to, use words" ... St. Francis of Assisi