He Lingered

Genesis 19:16-17 ESV

16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”

Turn neither to left or right but keep on the path to the hills. 

Mercy pulled Lot in and took him by the hand. Lot was slow to listen to the angels and preferred his own way. Though he was a good man, he didn't always make good decisions. His sons by his daughters were trouble for Abraham's descendants, then and now. 

Despite the warning and help, he lingered. 

We Are And Are Going To Be

God tells us to be holy, to be perfect as He is. While we cannot boast of this ourselves, we can boast of what God has done. If we have received Christ, we have become holy and perfect in Him. 

He sees the end from the beginning. That is how He sees us. 

So we are and are going to be, for He has begun a good work. He will do it, even as He has done it.

They Did Not Recognize Him

Matthew 17:9-13 ESV

9   As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “ Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

They had just seen Elijah talking with Jesus. Jesus tells them that Elijah did come as John the Baptist. No one recognized him then, but the these disciples saw him with Jesus. 

Interesting to note that the three men transfigured left earth with no body to be found. 

Satan looked for the bones of Moses. 

Elijah was taken by chariot into heaven. 

Jesus rose from the tomb. 

Reasoned With Them

Acts 17:2-3 ESV

2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

He reasoned with them using Scripture. Scripture has that purpose, that we might know God and what He has done and what He's doing. Reason is a necessary element and ingredient to perceive God. He asked us somewhere else to come reason together with Him.  Reason leads to faith as we begin to understand our situation. 

 That is reason He came and why He is the Word. 

διαλέγομαι * dialegomai * dee-al-eg'-om-ahee * Middle voice from G1223 and G3004; to say thoroughly, that is, discuss (in argument or exhortation): - dispute, preach (unto), reason (with), speak.

The Jews Were Jealous

Acts 17:5 ESV

5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

Remember the older brother of the prodigal son? He was jealous as well. He represents Israel, and Gentiles are pictured by the errant son. Both are sons of the Father. 

Upside Down

Acts 17:6 AMP

6 But when they failed to find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

The last will be first, and the first shall be last. 

The gospel is truly said to be upside down, for it is contrary to the world. 

Righteous

Being religious has nothing to do righteousness. 

Righteousness has nothing to do with self-righteousness. 

By His grace and in His grace only are we righteous in God's eyes.