WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
NOVEMBER 01, 2024
TOPIC: DON’T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS (2)
BY T. O. BANSO
“But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god” (Acts 28:5-6 New International Version).
Yesterday’s devotional discussed some examples of jumping to conclusions in the Bible, namely, Eli’s wrong conclusion about Hannah, Joshua’s wrong conclusion, the wrong conclusion by the tribes of Israel, Saul’s wrong conclusion about David, the Ammonites’ wrong conclusion about David, and the wrong conclusion of Job’s friends about him.
As stated yesterday, jumping to conclusions is judging or deciding something without all the facts needed, leading to wrong conclusions and decisions. Collins English Dictionary defines “jump to conclusions” as “to come to a conclusion prematurely, without sufficient thought or on incomplete evidence.” Such a hasty conclusion destroys relationships, causes unnecessary worry and pain, erodes trust, etc.
Today’s devotional focuses on more examples of jumping to conclusions in the Bible.
Herod’s wrong conclusion about Jesus
Because Herod, king of Judea, was told that the king of the Jews had been born, he was disturbed, and everyone in Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1-4). Considering his action later, he must have concluded that the newborn king (Jesus) would grow up and one day dethrone him. But Herod missed the point completely. Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). He wasn’t interested in Herod’s throne. Later in His ministry, He even didn’t allow some people to make Him king (John 6:14-15). Jesus didn’t want to sit on Herod’s throne but on the throne in his heart!
Because Herod jumped to conclusions, he made a rash decision to massacre innocent children in his domain from age two downward, hoping that Jesus would be killed in the process, after the wise men didn’t return to inform him that they had found the newborn king. This is the kind of thing that happens when people jump to conclusions.
Jesus’ disciples’ wrong conclusion about the man born blind
In John 9, Jesus’ disciples jumped to conclusions about the man born blind. They wrongly concluded that he could have been born blind because of his sin or the sin of his parents. They never considered a third possibility. John 9:1-3 says, “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him’” (New International Version).
Jesus’ disciples didn’t consider that God could have allowed this man to be born blind to display His works in him. Imagine their theology that the man was born blind because of his sin. In other words, the man sinned before he was conceived! How was that possible? The disciples also said maybe the parents sinned. They jumped to conclusions. Jesus said they were wrong – neither of their two reasons was right. Jesus said that man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Jesus went ahead to heal this man and he could see.
Remember that Job’s friends concluded that his trials were because of his sins. They said the tragedy that befell him and his family was because they sinned. But Job’s friends were wrong. Don’t be quick to attribute people’s troubles in life to their sins although sometimes people suffer for their sins on earth. If God didn’t tell you the cause of a particular person’s trouble, don’t jump to conclusions and become uncompassionate.
The Pharisees’ wrong conclusion that Jesus was not from God and was a sinner
The Pharisees jumped to the conclusion that Jesus was not from God for healing the man born blind on the Sabbath. John 9:16 says, “Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others asked, ‘How can a sinner perform such signs?’ So they were divided” (New International Version). The Pharisees were blinded by religion instead of rejoicing and praising God that the man born blind had been healed and could see. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, and the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28). There is no better day to be healed than the Sabbath!
Again in John 9:24, the Pharisees, still on the case of the man born blind whom Jesus healed, jumped to conclusions about Jesus, saying that He was a sinner. “A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. ‘Give glory to God by telling the truth,’ they said. ‘We know this man is a sinner’” (verse 24 New International Version).
To the Pharisees, Jesus was a sinner because he healed on the Sabbath! But Jesus violated no law for healing on the Sabbath; He only violated their traditions which they had elevated above God’s commandment. The blind man Jesus healed gave the Pharisees a proper answer: “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (Verse 25 New International Version). The conversation between the Pharisees and the man continued until they got angry and threw him out of the synagogue (verse 34). Don’t jump to conclusions. Otherwise, you will make the wrong conclusions.
The crowd’s wrong conclusion that the believers were drunk on the Day of Pentecost
The Holy Spirit came down on the Day of Pentecost as all the believers met together in one place. They started speaking in different foreign languages. The crowd present jumped to the conclusion that they were drunk just like Eli the Priest said to Hannah. Acts 2:12-13 says, “Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’ Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine’” (New International Version).
In his sermon that day, Peter addressed this misconception: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!” (Acts 2:14-15 New International Version). Peter told them that what happened was a fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy (verses 16-21). The crowd would have gone away with this wrong conclusion if Peter had not corrected them.
The wrong conclusion that Paul was a murderer who escaped from the sea
In Acts 28, when Paul was on the Island of Malta, a viper was driven out by the heat from the pile of brushwood in the fire and fastened itself on his hand. Seeing the viper hanging from his hand, the people said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live” (verse 4 New International Version). That was jumping to conclusions because Paul wasn’t a murderer.
Sometimes bad things happen to good people. The righteous are not exempted from afflictions or troubles. “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19 New International Version). But the people changed their conclusion when they saw that nothing strange happened to Paul. “But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god” (Acts 28:5-6 New International Version). Note the phrase “they changed their minds.”
Be very careful about jumping to conclusions about others or things. You may have to change your mind soon. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Beware of hasty generalizations. Get your facts right and enough details to make the right conclusions.
Tomorrow’s devotional will discuss how to avoid jumping to wrong conclusions.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to be quick to hear but slow to speak. Save me from hasty conclusions. Father, help me to make the right decisions and not be deceived by what I see; let me see beyond the physical.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
