Consequence

Acts 18:8 ESV

Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

Acts 18:17 ESV

And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Following Christ has always had consequences, good and bad. Being at peace with God, sharing and inheritance with Christ, growing in Christlikeness, are all many of the inescapable good consequences we are given when we choose to follow Christ as Lord, and are transferred from the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light. We find ourselves wrapped in the father’s love. Much like my children find themselves wrapped in my arms unable to escape giggling wildly, trying to escape their fathers tickling fingers and hugs. We find ourselves wrapped in the love of the father, at peace with him, waiting expectantly for him to return that we might run to meet him and jump into his arms.

So, to the kingdom of darkness starts to rage against us. It was no friend of us before, much like a cruel master would kick its own dog, but know we are at enmity with the world and the kingdom of darkness, and our former masters fury is greater than his casual hatred. As such we have consequences for our switching allegiance. This has always been the case for those who have chosen to accept Jesus as LORD of their lives. As I have read the book of acts multiple times recently one such casual detail was brought to the front of the text for me.

The two verses separated by nine are also separated by a year and a half of time (vs. 11) and so we see two different synagogue rulers. Crispus had become a Christian. Following Paul’s teaching and leadership he was overwhelmed by God and was baptized on his statement of faith. The chapter continued on not mentioning him yet in verse 17 we see he is no longer the Synagogue leader he was replaced by Sosthenes. This change also meant that Crispus had lost his home since that was often part of the Synagogue, much like a pastor who lives in the parsonage.

Notice hear the sweet beauty of his new master and the cruelty of his former. Crispus’s new master took his job and home. He lost everything for Christ that he might purchase the field with the pearl of great price. The man who was given his place, who still served the former master, the ruler of this world, had gained everything, until his master was frustrated, then he was beaten by his fellows!  As you read through the text remember that modern medicine and dental care was not in existence. A mob beating probably had lifelong consequences. Plastic and oral surgeons did not exist to provide facial reconstruction and new teeth to eat with.

We serve a merciful God. Who in his mercy requires us to face loss of those items we hold dear. Yet the blessing is that “God is good…  and All the time…” Crispus was blessed to see a little of God’s mercy in this life, some of us will wait much longer, maybe even into eternity before God will show us all of his mercy in the pain and lose we suffer in this life, but be assured it is mercy that we find, “the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower” – William Cowper.

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO