Don't make crooked the straight

Acts 13.1-12 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (ESV)

Good day, friends~

"All Scripture is God-breathed [inspired by God] and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3.16-17
Carol: Christine, why are you saying this to me?
Christine: Well, I guess that upon first reading, some of what we are looking at in Scripture seems boring, and having nothing to do with our lives--here--now in 2009!
Carol: So, what are you saying, then?
Christine: There is value in reading Scripture--here in Acts, for instance--for the historical perspective, for understanding of the development of the Church, and because a divine exchange happens as you read God's Word--besides, it is ALL inspired by God--even the parts that seem dry or just a bunch of details. As you get ready to read the Bible, first pray that God will help you understand Scripture; then, I suggest you interview yourself with three simple questions when you read the passage. . . Like
"What do I think this passage means?" The above passage is about Barnabas and Saul being sent out to preach the gospel.
"Could it have any meaning for me today?" Yes, we see how the believers prayed and fasted in order to hear from God.
"Is there any action I should take?" When there is a serious decision to be made, I might consider fasting along with praying.
Now, there are many more application techniques you might consider, such as these:
http://pietist.blogspot.com/2006/05/three-ways-to-apply-scripture.html God's Word is a light unto my feet,
a light to my path. It is living and active. . . which is why it can seemingly speak individually to our lives and situations~

Scripture is a roadmap for our lives if we value it, read it, seek to understand it, and apply it. I remember a Sunday School chorus that I sang as a small child, "Study to show thyself approved unto man, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (Paul's encouragement to Timothy--2 Timothy 2.15) Yes, let's study, and seek to understand how to divide, understand and apply God's Word to our lives.

Then, I read the passage again slowly, noticing if anything speaks to me--such as the line I underlined and italicized in the above passage. Saul/Paul dresses down this fellow because he sees his evil intent, but he says something to the magician that I sometimes wish I could say to people--"will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?" You see, the Lord's ways are orderly and clear; but, there are times people bend, twist misuse, and pervert Scripture and the Lord's name for their own purposes. . . they 'make crooked the straight paths of the Lord'. (NIV) This leads to destruction, and it hurts the heart of God. The Lord does not conceal His directions for living life like some kinda' guessing game, nor does he change the rules as he goes along. We can discern his will and his ways by learning about him, his character, and leading from the beginning of time in the Pages he has so graciously given us.

Oh, please read the Word daily~
Christine (DiGiacomo)