Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
….as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
….All who delight in him should ponder them. Psalm 111:1-2 NLT

Acts 22:24-30 (<<click here to read the passage)
It is very rare for me to watch the news on TV. One way that I see the news is when I open the browser on my computer. I have one local station and one national news station that automatically come up, though usually I read just the main headlines and skip the rest. On occasion, I will look at headlines that come up on Facebook news or Google news. So much of it is depressing, I’ve just figured I’m better off not knowing about it. I guess the old saying, “Ignorance is bliss” would fit pretty well. But having Massey around has stimulated conversation on a wide variety of topics, so I’ve started paying a little more attention, though I am still selective as to what I delve into.
TheFreeDictionary.com defines “ignorance is bliss” as follows:
It is better to remain unaware or ignorant of things that may otherwise cause one stress; if you don’t know about something, you don’t need to worry about it.
That’s all well and good – I don’t think any of us need any more stress or anything more to worry about! – but to be ignorant on important issues of the day, is not wise. It is important to be well-versed and well-informed.
The notes on verse 24 in the Amplified Bible regarding his order to have Paul whipped, state,
This was standard practice with slaves or others of no social standing under Roman rule. The thinking was that such people did not have the integrity to tell the truth, and had to be tortured to drag the truth out of them.
Nice standard, huh?
Having the mindset of “ignorance is bliss” almost got the Roman commander in big trouble, as far as, Paul was concerned. He assumed that Paul was an individual with “no social standing”, but that was by no means the case. For Paul was a Roman citizen by birth! His citizenship was considered far superior to the Roman commander’s purchased citizenship. And there was no questioning that Paul was telling the truth because to lie on such matters was punishable by death!
In our lives today, especially in our relationship with Jesus, “ignorance is bliss” is not an excuse to be ill-informed. Prayer and Bible study are both of utmost importance in our daily walk. It is also in our best interest to be learned in the things that make a difference in our world.
Jesus warns us,

“Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda]. Matthew 10:16 AMP

To make the greatest impact on the world around us we cannot be ignorant, but we must be wise (cunning) and innocent (unselfish). Know Jesus, then reflect Him in all you say and do.

July 27th, 2022, Wed, 9:48 pm