Despite Paul’s efforts to defuse the controversy surrounding him the people were set against him. There was nothing that warranted their hostility towards him but their passions at this time were far from rational. Paul knew that all this was inevitable and yet he still submitted to that Nazirite ritual in order to clear himself of any controversy. He was eager to ensure that there was nothing in him that warranted their opposition. We can learn a lot from Paul. We should never seek conflict. We should do all we can to be at peace with people. However, like Paul, we should not live to avoid it. You may be good at keeping the peace but perhaps you go too far to avoid being rejected by people? Jesus made it very clear that we cannot follow him if we are not willing to be disliked and rejected for his sake. There should be nothing in us that warrants being disliked. But this aside, you must face the very real likelihood that people will reject you when they find out what you live for; when they see the real you, the follower of Jesus. That is what many of us won’t risk. It is what many of us will do anything to avoid. In fact, we might avoid it with such paranoia that we never admit to being Christian at all. The thing that people most dread in such a case is the idea of being ostracised and ending up isolated and lonely. But that is why we have each other. That is why we need a community of believers who can affirm and encourage us.
Reflect on these things and ask God to give you boldness.
Read Acts 21:27-36
