It seems today people think they have the right to be rude. If someone blocks their way in traffic, well then they have a right to blare their horn. If somebody says or does something that might temporarily inconvenience them, they have the right to tell them off. If a decision is made that doesn’t “work” for them, they have a right to complain to everyone in earshot. Whenever something is amiss in their eyes, watch out, because they can behave however they want until it’s “right”. This right to be rude seems even to have been extended to Christians. But it’s a right we should refuse. Romans 12:17 says “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.” Others mistakes, perceived or real, don’t give us the right to behave unbecomingly.
In Acts 20, there is the tragicomic event surrounding a young man by the name of Eutychus. He did what a lot of folks before and after him did, he fell asleep during a sermon. Unfortunately, he was setting in in the third story window at the time. So instead of nodding off and hitting the pew in front of him, he fell to his death. The good news was the apostle Paul was delivering the sermon and had the ability to bring him back. I don’t know, however, if we can judge Eutychus too harshly. The sermon had gone on till midnight. Paul wouldn’t finish it up till daybreak. That’s a long lesson. I know some folks that might want to jump out of a window if I had a lesson that long, yet these Christians wanted to be there to hear Paul. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pushing for all night sermons but I think we might need to adopt these folks' dedication. They knew that Paul was only in town for a limited time only and they were determined to ...
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