Grievances

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

 GRIEVANCES

Acts 19:35-41

35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

NIV

The city clerk was a man of reason as he laid out what was happening: they were almost at the point of rioting, driven by emotions or their own interests. He instructed them regarding a legal way to settle any dispute with the people of the Way. What can we learn from this advice from the city clerk? First, we would like to believe there are never any disputes within the church, or rather, the community of believers, but we know that what we would like to believe does not matter, as disputes have occurred within the church. In fact, disputes happen within marriages, even in the lives of believers. But it is the church that should be of one mind, guided by the principles of faith, scripture, and, of course, the Holy Spirit. Yet we know some believers struggle with unforgiveness, holding on to bitterness that is almost on the fringe of hatred. It seemed that Demetrius was motivated by his loss of income, which drove him to hate those spreading the truth about Jesus. Was he bitter because of the truth about Jesus, because he truly believed his faith in the goddess Diana was right? Maybe disputes are always about both people thinking their opinion is right. But how can we believers, if we have learned from Jesus and have a gentle and humble heart, still be in opposition, to the point of a dispute, including having ill feelings for one another or hurt feelings? The city clerk warned the men of Ephesus that they were in danger of being charged with rioting. Although we know that God have forgiven our sins, but at the same time are we being charged for having such attitudes that cause disputes among us? We know that if we do not forgive one another, God will not forgive us, so then should we not live in peace, especially when Jesus gave us his peace? If we live in accordance with the truth, we would be building each other up, encouraging one another, forgiving one another, in essence, loving one another, which should mean any disputes simply dissolve instantly. Can we disagree about something? Sure, but we are still supposed to love each other and therefore never allow any dispute to arise or harbor any grievance against one another.