December 1, 2011 - Acts 21:21

“’They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.’” Acts 21:21.
Paul arrived in Jerusalem and was greeted warmly by the leadership of the young church. On his second day in Jerusalem, Paul explained all that had happened on his journeys since his last time with them. There was much rejoicing among the leadership, for they had heard false reports that Paul had been telling the Jews he encountered to turn away from Moses and to not live according to the Jewish Law. Being there in person, Paul was able to correct these false reports. The problem was that there were now thousands of Jews in Jerusalem who were following Jesus, yet they were adamant about following the Law of Moses. They had their minds set against Paul, and nothing could be done to change them. Paul was now going to face those who misrepresented him and the purpose of his ministry. It is interesting to see how Paul handled being misrepresented in such a central area of his life.
When I have been misrepresented by others regarding an important (to me, at least) issue, I have usually reacted with frustration or anger and have thrown up my hands in disgust. I take it as a personal attack and have a defensive posture. When I take a breath, though, and catch myself before reacting, I usually will stay calm enough to begin thinking through the issue and considering how I have been misrepresented and how I should, if necessary, respond. It seems that Paul was willing to work through the issue and was willing to do what was necessary to demonstrate this willingness. He seemed to handle himself with dignity and humility.
Questions to consider: Have you ever been misrepresented by others? If so, how did it make you feel and how did you handle it? How did Paul handle it? What can you learn from how Paul handled being misrepresented?
Prayer: Father, I know that there will be times when I am misrepresented by others. Help me to remain calm and prayerful and to not react. Please give me insight as to how to respond in those situations. Amen.