Listen

One day, when we were on the way to the place for prayer, we met a slave woman. She had a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She made a lot of money for her owners through fortune-telling. She began following Paul and us, shouting, “These people are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!” She did this for many days.

This annoyed Paul so much that he finally turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her!” It left her at that very moment.

Acts 16:16-18

Think

Some stories in the Bible invite us to ask: “I wonder…”

I wonder whether it was the possessive spirit, or the woman herself, that recognized the apostles, the Most High God, and the way of salvation.

I wonder whether her owners were angry and losing money, as she persisted in following the apostles instead of telling fortunes.

I wonder whether the apostles gained new followers thanks to her loud proclamations.

I wonder whether Paul considered what it might mean to the woman to lose that fortune-telling (and money-making) spirit; I wonder whether her owners punished her. I wonder whether she felt “free” from that spirit… though she was still a slave.

I wonder whether she continued to testify to the presence of God, even when her ability to tell the future was lost.

And I wonder whether I, too, am willing to be bold to the point of becoming annoying. And I wonder whether I am willing to put up with annoyance when it speaks the truth.

Nikki Finkelstein-Blair

Pray

I wonder, God, where you are speaking truth in my life today. Help me to listen. Help me to hear. Help me to use my voice, my testimony, so others may know your wonder-full way. Amen.

Go

Listen: God, the Most High, is speaking!

Look: God, the Most High, is working!

Say Yes: God, the Most High, is inviting us to hear, to see, to join in!