Profit motive
Day 518, Sunday, Jan. 11
Acts 19:23-41
So far much of the opposition to Paul’s teaching has come from the Jewish community and concerns matters of the ritual law.
Now that Paul and his allies are reaching out more to gentiles, opposition from the larger community increases. The riot in Ephesus we read about today in interesting in showing the connection between religion and commerce.
We also saw this in Monday’s reading when the owners of a slave girl were upset at losing the source of income. Now in Ephesus the issue is that Christian teaching is taking away the market for silver shrines.
A silversmith said, “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.” That business is threatened by Paul. “He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.”
Still today many of the people who are most vocal about keeping Christianity out of the public arena are those whose financial interests are threatened by real Christian discipleship. It’s not just people who produce products or services that are inherently sinful, but also those who depend on values and priorities that change when a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Psalms 60:1-12
You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us; you have been angry—now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking. You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.
Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter. Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us and no longer go out with our armies? Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Prayer focus
Shape our hearts and minds, Lord, so that every aspect of our lives reflect your values.