we don't like losing control

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Acts 19:13-41. In it, we read about control.

First, we read about seven brothers, sons of someone named Sceva, who were going around commanding demons to leave people, and using the name of Jesus to do it. Seems legit, right? But they apparently didn't know what they were dealing with. They were using the name of Jesus like a tool, and gaining fame and it seems from the reading like fortune by charging people to rid them of demons. One of the demons turns on them, and asks an amusing (to us, not to them) question. "I know Jesus," it says, "and I've heard of Paul. But who are you?" And then it attacks them and sends them naked out into the street. They were playing with fire and didn't realize it.

Then Demetrius gets mad at the Christians in Ephesus because they're teaching that Artemis isn't really a god. This makes Demetrius mad because he sells items used in the worship of Artemis. He says he's also upset because the great name of Artemis is losing its prestige, and maybe that's true. But the main thing is, he's losing control of his income and his religious sensibility, and so he's upset.

In both of these stories, the men involved were upset because they were losing control. We don't like to lose control, do we? But that's part of what being a Christian means. It means giving up control of our lives (which is really an illusion, anyway. Does anyone really control their lives? If so, for how long?) and trusting God to direct our steps instead. It's a scary thing. But it's far better when He directs us than when we take the wheel. Because He knows what's ahead, and He knows where we want to go.

God, thank You for teaching us to give You control over our lives. Please help us trust You.