Opposed but Prepared

Scripture: So do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. Acts 21:23-34

Observation: Upon his return to Jerusalem, Paul is greeted by the elders with news that many believing Jews have heard a lie the Paul is teaching Jews to ignore the laws of Moses. This isn't true - he teaches Gentiles that they are not bound by the same law but rather by the teaching of Jesus (who supported the law - and the elders know Paul is innocent. To demonstrate the truth, they advise Paul to perform the purification rites required by the law. This will show everyone that Paul himself honors the law and therefore teaches no wrong thing to other Jews.

Paul will wash in prescriptive ways, shave his head, and dress in a manner that indicates he is in a period of repentance. This act will likely leave Paul ... very Roman in appearance. He will not appear as a Pharisee, if he did before, with traditional hair and beard and robes. It is in this state of appearance he will be arrested and presented to various Romans for trial, and eventually sent off to Rome.

Returning to Jerusalem, Paul immediately faces minor internal opposition from within the church. To address this, he takes actions that prepare him for major external opposition from the most powerful authority on earth.

Application: Paul was always prepared to give a response to questions about his belief, regardless of the source of those questions. HIs appearance and behavior, it seems, was also part of that prepared state. So how am I prepared to address others in my daily walk?

I do wish I wore a cross so I could identify more openly as Christian at work. I don't own one, and feel strange beginning that custom at my age, but perhaps I should. This may also help me prepare for daily discussions, reminding me physically of whose I am.

Prayer: Lord, Paul was always ready, even when he didn't actually know yet that he needed to get ready. This is certainly because he was open and available to your instructions as they came to him. May I be open as well, and may I better seek and receive your instructions from various sources. Amen.