13/08/2022
PERSECUTION OF CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS
Acts 19:21-41; Matthew 10:16-28; Luke 21:12-19
“Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).
For the Lord
If the Lord should tarry, the boys and girls in the Sunday School today will have work to do as citizens, and even now some may be thinking about their future work. It is possible to choose a trade, which can be used in the Lord’s work. Many of the men and women who now give of their time for the Lord’s work have been trained in their occupations. Some have made a living by that work. When the Lord called them to work for Him, many have been called to do that very same kind of work. Some give of their time, talent, and skill when there is an opportunity, but others have the privilege of giving all their time in the service of the Lord.
When young people consider their life work, is it not pleasing to the Lord that they choose an art or trade, which can be used in the service of God? When one seeks God, and serves Him, that person has a desire to do something for the Lord. When one loves God, he wants to give of his time, of his talent, and of his skill to the Lord.
A Silversmith
There were craftsmen in Ephesus who moulded and shaped different kinds of metal into ornamental and useful articles, but they did not live for the Lord nor work for Him. Rather, the work that they did was for Satan, because they were making idols. Demetrius was a silversmith of Ephesus. He could have made useful articles but he made idols, because by so doing he could make more money. He not only worked for Satan in that way but he also caused trouble for the Christians.
When Paul was preaching the Gospel in Ephesus, this Demetrius caused a stir. He called a meeting of all the silversmiths who were making idols. He talked to his fellow craftsmen, reminding them that they had received their wealth by making idols. Demetrius told them that they had seen and heard how Paul had pr