Read Luke 21:10-16.

"For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist" (v. 15).

     Most of us look at trouble as all bad. We avoid it if possible. Paul was warned not to go to Jerusalem. Agabus prophesied (Acts 21:11) that Paul would be bound and imprisoned when he went to Jerusalem. Paul said he was "ready… to die... for the name of the Lord Jesus." He went, was arrested, witnessed to Jews, Gentiles, high ranking officials, and prison guards. He was ill-treated and later died for his testimony. Eternity will reveal millions perhaps who will be in heaven because of his witness those last days of his life as a prisoner. Paul said he suffered the loss of everything and counted those things but rubbish that he might win Christ.
Savanye found Christ as Savior in one of our churches in Haiti. A bitter enemy put a machete to Savanye's throat, demanded him to renounce the church, the pastor, and the president of Haiti. Savanye boldly refused and remained faithful! God delivered him. He serves cheerfully and faithfully today
Many have been turned to Christ simply because someone "lived it." The statement is made: "I want what that person has!" (Mark J. Surbrook)

Life is a series of attitudes and adjustments.
Adjustments depend on attitudes.
Our attitudes determine our measure of usefulness,
our measure of peace, and the destiny of souls.
                                                                                    — Karl Paulo

Read Acts 19:30-41. 

 "But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians" (v. 34).

    Mob mentality is not a new concept! There are a couple of characteristics of this phenomenon seen both in our text and our society. First, it leaves those in its grasp much less inclined to think logically and independently. Second, it creates the illusion that the smaller group is the enemy. Mob mentality was active in the Ephesus of our text and is often seen in the protests that take place in American cities.

But before we condemn those who give us to such reasonless actions, let's remember that church history is full of examples when people who called themselves the church committed atrocities and justified them either with misused Bible texts or church governing rules. Even in Jesus' day, the Sanhedrin declared, "We have a law, and by our law, he ought to die" (John 19:7).

It is easy when someone upsets the "status quo" for mob mentality to take over, and for the larger group to take actions that are neither necessary nor logical or biblical. The church should stand against sin, but it should also stand against mob mentality!

"Lord, help me not to condemn anyone today simply because my group does!

Help me instead to exercise righteous judgment" (John 7:24). (Gordon L. Snider)

Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9.

           “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” (v. 9).

   “You’re an awesome gardener! These are gorgeous!” my friend gushed over the dahlias, roses, and celosia I had brought her. I hesitated to accept the compliment as I felt I honestly didn’t deserve the praise. I’m an amateur at this gardening thing. I experiment each year, and much of my garden’s success is almost accidental. I can only take credit for purchasing, planting, and watering. Sometimes I overwater. Sometimes I forget to water. Sometimes I prune too much. Sometimes the light isn’t right. Sometimes even my best efforts fail to save a plant. All I can do is try. I cannot force a plant to grow. So, when something blooms beautifully, I get quite excited!
   Watching plants grow and flowers bloom is deeply moving. It is a reminder of the principles mentioned in today’s Scripture reading. Ministry is a lot like gardening. When trying to reach others for Christ, there is a little we can do and a lot that is in God’s hands. But if I quit doing my part – if I quit “watering my flowers” – and quit preparing for my Sunday school class, quit interacting with my neighbors, etc., I am guaranteed failure. God asks me to do my part…all I can do. Then, when combined with the “sunshine” of His love, He multiplies my efforts and the results can be truly beautiful! (Shawna J. Wright)

                                        We must work hand-in-hand with God to reach and teach souls.

Read 1 Kings 8:22-30.

"And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart" (v. 23).

The theme is woven throughout Scripture: God is faithful and merciful. After God promised Abraham and Sarah innumerable descendants, Abraham broke faith by having a son through Hagar. Yet, God was faithful to grant him the "child of promise" through Sarah. After God established a covenant with the descendents of Abraham, Israel again and again broke that covenant by worshiping other gods. Yet, God mercifully called them into repentance through the judges and prophets. When God promised a never-ending rule of the family line of David, He kept that promise. Although many in the royal line would break that covenant resulting in the exile of the Israelites, God established an unending kingdom in the person of Jesus, whose earthly mother descended from the line of David. In this act of faithfulness, God has shown mercy not just to the covenant breakers of the past, but also to all humanity, including you and me.

God remains faithful and merciful. "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9). (Lyle A.W)

"God is faithful, ever faithful;

He will surely keep his word;

To the uttermost faithful filling

Ev'ry promise I have heard."

-Eliza Hewitt 

We can trust our covenant-keeping God.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12. 

 "For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God" (v. 9).

   Your pastor will relate to this verse. "Laboring night and day" to declare the Gospel is what pastors do. Pastors are motivated to see that as many as possible hear the Gospel and respond to it. They are motivated to preach the Word because they are called by God to do it. They don't want to be responsible for someone under their influence, not making it to Heaven.

Reading the paragraph that contains this verse (vs. 7-12), one discovers that the apostle was deeply concerned about the spread of the Gospel. He knew that his work and character were important channels to seeing God's work grow.

This leads us to a couple of simple conclusions. First, God's Word often speaks through people whose lives and characters reflect His message. Those who are most effective in speaking the Word have allowed the Word to penetrate and change their lives. Second, the Gospel is about change. It transforms believers so that they "walk worthy of God." It's not that Christians have to repay God for His work in our lives. Instead, He adjusts our lives so that we reflect Him in every aspect of living. (Mark D. Avery)

As the Word speaks into our lives, we grow in grace and Christian maturity.