August 25, 2020,Acts cont..., Proverbs cont....

 Acts 21 cont...

Paul Arrival at Jerusalem

When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 

When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: You see brother, how many thousand of Jews believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.

They have been in formed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.

What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. 

Paul has to purify himself upon arriving because they believe he is breaking the law and teaching others to break the law. They want him to be clean or purified according to their ideas, customs, and the Law. 

There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 

As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. 

 (Looking at others through the eyes of the Law or Love..) 

• The Jews that believed were zealous for the law
• They wanted to make sure Paul was in obedience to the Law
• The Law will cause them to Persecute Saul
• The Law shows no mercy; it will cause them to reject others
• to call people who do not keep the customs as unclean 
• Paul is the best person to encounter this because he was zealous for the law.

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. 

Proverbs 12

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, 

but whoever hates correction is stupid.

Good people obtain favor from the Lord, 

but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.

No one can be established through wickedness, 

but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, 

but a disgraceful wife is like decay in the bones. 

The plans of the righteous are just, 

but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. 

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, 

but the speech of the upright rescues them. 

The wicked are overthrown and are no more, 

but the house of the righteous stands firm.

A person is praised according to their prudence, 

and one with a warped mind is despised. 

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant, 

than pretend to be somebody and have no food. 

The righteous care for the needs of their animals, 

but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. 

Those who work their land will have abundant food, 

but those who chase fantasies have no sense. 

The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, 

but the root of the righteous endures.

Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, 

and so the innocent escape trouble.

From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, 

and the work of their hands brings them reward. 

The way of fools seems right to them, 

but the wise listen to advice.

Fools show their annoyance at once, 

but the prudent overlook an insult. 

An honest witness tells the truth, 

but a false witness tells lies. 

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Truthful lips endure forever, 

but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. 

Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, 

 but those who promote peace have joy. 

No harm overtakes the righteous, 

but the wicked have their fill of trouble. 

The Lord detest lying lips, 

but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, 

but a fool's heart blurts out folly. 

Diligent hands will rule, 

but laziness ends in forced labor.

Anxiety weighs down the heart, 

but a kind word cheers it up.

The righteous choose their friends carefully, 

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

The lazy do not roast any game, 

but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt. 

In the way of righteousness there is life; 

along that path is immortality. 

The writing is tough; but it is good for the soul. There are things I need to change and I can accept wisdom's straight forward approach.  It is stupid to refuse correction. 

Have a great day!