Sosthenes’ Conversion - Acts 18

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,
13 saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law."
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews,
15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."
16 And he drove them from the tribunal.
17 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. (Acts 18:12-17, ESV)

I found it interesting to note that evidently Sosthenes later converted to Christianity because we find him joining with Paul in addressing the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:1.

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, (1 Corinthians 1:1, ESV)

Did the Christians minister to his wounds after the beating??  If so, was that the cause of his conversion?   It is interesting to speculate...It certainly would have provided them with a perfect opportunity and a captive audience to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him and at the same time live out the words of Romans 12 before Sosthenes.

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."....Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I also found it interesting to note that had Gallio ruled in the Jews’ favor, Christianity could have been banned throughout the Roman Empire.

Psalm 145 - David’s Psalm of Praise...

Ps 145 is David’s Psalm of Praise. It is a beautiful psalm and served today to remind me to pray that His praise  would be continually on my lips. Oh to live in a way that praises and glorifies You, Father, moment by moment...even and ESPECIALLY as I face difficulties.  I outlined Psalm 145 as I read it because I want to worship like David...I wanted to replicate his pattern of praise.  Standing in awe this morning of our God and thanking God for the example of the heart of David his servant...the sweet psalmist of Israel.

Outline Ps 145

First is the commitment to Praise...the most important one for me today...

1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.  (Psalms 145:1, ESV)

Next, David speaks to God’s awesome greatness...vs 3-7

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable....They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.  

He moves on to God’s great grace in verses 8-13.  

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love...Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]  

My favorite is next....In verses 14-16 David speaks of God’s unfailing faithfulness. 

The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.  15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.  

Verses 17-20 look at His perfect righteousness...

The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works....The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.  

David ends the Psalm similar to how he began with an exhortation to praise.  (Vs 21)

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.  

Praise is comely and the one who offers it, glorifies You.   Sing joyfully to the Lord, o you righteous...sing to Him a new song...for His word is right and by it the heavens were made. The earth is full of His goodness. His counsel stands forever, the plans of His heart of love toward us to all generations. He has chosen us as His own and fashioned our hearts individually.  Hallelujah!!