[Biblemat] S) WHAT PRICE FOR PEACE?

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

WHAT PRICE FOR PEACE?

TWENTY YEARS: -- That's how long Paul had been preaching
by the end of his third journey when he arrived in Jerusalem
for Pentecost.  Despite his lengthy service, the Apostle learn-
ed that half the brotherhood (at least from an ethnic stand-
point) was suspicious of his preaching.  "Myriads" (literally, 
"ten thousands") of Jewish believers, zealous for the law, had
been told that Paul was teaching "all the Jews among the Gen-
tiles to forsake Moses" (Acts 21:21).

What Price For Peace? -- If you selflessly invested years in
Lord's service only to find your character questioned by many, how would you 
respond?

     Eighteen Months: -- Paul had spent at least that long (2
Cor. 8:10) organizing a fund from Gentile churches to relieve
poor saints in Jerusalem (1 Cor. 16; 2 Cor. 8,9; Rom. 15; Acts
24:17).  The Jerusalem need was a providential opportunity
for Gentile believers to respond to the abiding qualms and 
prejudices of their Jewish brethren with an overwhelming dose of brotherly 
kindness (Rom. 15:27,28).  The messengers
(Acts 20:4) who carried the fund to Jerusalem were warmly
received (Acts 21:17).  But the next day, the elders confront-
ed Paul with the rumors circulating about his teaching (Acts
21:21).

What Price For Peace? -- If you carried a cup of cold water in
Good Samaritan fashion to brethren who were aloof, even hostile, toward you 
and your gift was welcomed but you were
not, how would you reply?

     Six Letters: -- That is the number of epistles Paul had writ-
ten when he met with the elders in Jerusalem -- to Galatia, 
Thessalonica, Corinth, and Rome.  Paul's teaching on the Law
and the gospel was well documented, particularly in Galatians
and Romans.  It is remarkable that the elders cited the brief
letter preserved in (Acts 15:23-29), as proof of their own
soundness (Acts 21:25), but that Paul's six epistles were not
mentioned.  Had Paul's critics read Paul or heard Paul?  Or 
had they merely heard about Paul?

What Price For Peace? -- If brethren wounded you by tolerat-
ing disparaging reports about you, but never came to you,
and regarded you as the offender when they in fact offended
you, how would you answer their offense?

     Fifty Days: -- That was the length of Paul's trail of tears
from Philippi to Jerusalem (Acts 20:6,16).  "In every city" the
Spirit testified that "bonds and afflictions" awaited him" (Acts
20:22,23).  Luke's account of Paul's "bound in spirit" journey
seems purposely parallel to his record of Jesus' trek to Jerus-
alem (Lk. 9:51).  Even the remark of Paul's companions, "The
will of the Lord be done" (Acts 21:14), seems reminiscent of
Gethsemane (Lk. 22:42).  When the elders informed Paul that
many believed him the perpetrator of division rather than an
advocate for peace, Paul "opened not his mouth" (Acts 21:21)
Their peace proposal, involving his appearance in the temple,
was a death sentence (Acts 21:22-25).  Paul's compliance was
not an act of cowardice or compromise, but of selfless cour-
age.  With nothing to gain, and his life to lose, he took up the
cross that the brethren put on his back.  He was not obliged,
but chose the path of mercy (Acts 21:26).

What Price For Peace? -- If brethren were oblivious to your
advocacy for peace and proposed that you pay the price to
bridge a breach they caused, would you pay?

     Five Haircuts: -- That's all the elders expected Paul to pay
(Acts 21:24).  But they  were expensive haircuts.  Few, if any,
in Jerusalem knew Paul's risks in coming there, much less in
making an appearance in the temple during Pentecost.  But
Paul knew.  The Spirit had been telling him for fifty days.  Be-
cause of five haircuts ... Paul was beaten by a mob, arrested,
falsely charged, jailed, and narrowly escaped death (Acts 21:
17ff).  It was ironic that a jury of Paul's own brethren were un-
witting accomplices who conveniently "bound" and "delivered
Paul to the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles (Acts 21:11).

What Price For Peace? -- If your brethren assigned a price tag that cost yhou 
bodily harm at the hands of your worst
enemies with the peril of costing life itself, would you pay?

     Four Years: -- That's the long-term price Paul paid for 
peace.  Two years in Caesarea (Acts 24:27).  Two years in
Rome (Acts 28:30).  In between -- a shipwreck, snakebite and
others perils (Acts 27:1ff).

What Price For Peace? -- If the pursuit of peace in the king-
dom cost you four years in prison, how would you feel about
the brotherhood?

     Folks talk easily of peace when it costs nothing, then shake their fists 
and lick their wounds when it costs a little.
Paul spoke of peace after it cost him everything.  Read his
other prison missives (Phil. 2:1-18; Col. 3:12-17; Phile. 10-16).
He says that peace is worth whatever it costs me -- even my
own peace.  --------- Jason Moore in Biblical Insights, Vol. 7,
No. 5, May 2007.

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