Passage of the Day: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 28, 2011

Acts 28:8-10

⁸And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him.
⁹After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured.
¹⁰They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

Due to this occurrence, Malta has had a long storied Christian heritage. We never know the lasting impact we can have when we remain faithful to God during the hardships of life.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 27, 2011

Acts 28:1-7

¹When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.

²The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.

³But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

⁴When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."

⁵However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

⁶But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Here is an example of God's providential will. God made it clear that Paul was to get to Rome. It was God's providential will that Paul would get to Rome that earlier He revealed to Paul. Since it was His providential will, there was absolutely nothing that could stand in its way of being accomplished. The shipwreck in chapter 27 couldn't stop it. The viper couldn't stop God's will from happening either. Now, we can't take this to mean that if I figure out God's providential will (or more precisely "perfect will") God will make sure it happens no matter what. That isn't what is being taught here. This isn't about Paul and this isn't about us. This is about God. If we examine the promises and prophecies of God we can rest assured that they absolutely will come to pass because there is absolutely no power that can prevent God from doing what He wants and seeing happen what He wants to see happen. What a mighty and powerful God we serve!

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 26, 2011

Acts 27:39-44

³⁹When day came, they could not recognize the land; but they did observe a bay with a beach, and they resolved to drive the ship onto it if they could.

⁴⁰And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they were heading for the beach.

⁴¹But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves.

⁴²The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape;

⁴³but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,

⁴⁴and the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land.

Indirect, indirect, indirect! You never know how God can indirectly use us. The lives of the prisoners were spared because of Paul. We have no idea the indirect impacts we make on the lives of others. Our faithfulness to God can do great things to people two or three degrees removed from our spheres of influence. Our sin can have similar but devastating effects. Our impact on the world goes far beyond the people we come into contact with. Oh, and yes, I did watch a lot of Quantum Leap growing up.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Friday, February 25, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 25, 2011

Acts 27:27-38

²⁷But when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to surmise that they were approaching some land.

²⁸They took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms.

²⁹Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak.

³⁰But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down the ship's boat into the sea, on the pretense of intending to lay out anchors from the bow,

³¹Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved."

³²Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it fall away.

³³Until the day was about to dawn, Paul was encouraging them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken nothing.

³⁴"Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish."

³⁵Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat.

³⁶All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food.

³⁷All of us in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six persons.

³⁸When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing out the wheat into the sea.

When we take our opportunity to get out of trouble or to payback others, we lose our opportunity to share God’s grace. Again, Paul could have taken advantage of the situation, but rather he helped his captors.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 24, 2011

Acts 27:14-26

¹⁴But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called Euraquilo;

¹⁵and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along.

¹⁶Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control.

¹⁷After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along.

¹⁸The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo;

¹⁹and on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.

²⁰Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.

²¹When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, "Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss.

²²"Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

²³"For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me,

²⁴saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.'

²⁵"Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.

²⁶"But we must run aground on a certain island."

It was Paul’s long desire to go to Rome for the sake of the gospel. However, the path to get there has been fraught with pain, suffering, and disaster. However, he never lost hope. Paul was going to Rome as a prisoner, but he still wanted to go to Rome. Paul showed great faith in this tumult. This is what it means to be a Christian. Being a Christian and trusting God doesn’t mean an easy path, but rather a clear, focused, brave, and strong mind and heart to endure and overcome hardship. Terrible times WILL come, but will fear and despair rule your mind and heart, or will faith and hope? That will depend on your foundation.

Also, sometimes you have to endure many nightmares before your dreams can come true.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Passage of the Day - February 23, 2011

Acts 27:1-13

¹When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius.

²And embarking in an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica.

³The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care.

⁴From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary.

⁵When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia.

⁶There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it.

⁷When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone;

⁸and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

⁹When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them,

¹⁰and said to them, "Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."

¹¹But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul.

¹²Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

¹³When a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore.

Paul was given the wisdom to determine that this trip was going to end in disaster. However, as often happens with wisdom, his words were ignored. Not listening to wisdom is what has caused much of the pain in our world. Not listening to wisdom is why many are not Christians. People are more concerned with their pride and being right than being wise. I know I have this problem.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 22, 2011

Acts 26:24-32

²⁴While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad."

²⁵But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.

²⁶"For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner.

²⁷"King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do."

²⁸Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."

²⁹And Paul said, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains."

³⁰The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them,

³¹and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, "This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment."

³²And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."

Forgive me, but nothing deep tonight. I wonder what the mood of this discussion was. I can't really give too much insight without knowing the mood. The mood almost seems jovial. Maybe I'm distracted by my sense of the mood. Fortunately, the passage pretty much speaks for itself as far as content.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Monday, February 21, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 21, 2011

Acts 26:9-23

⁹"So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

¹⁰"And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.

¹¹"And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

¹²"While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,

¹³at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me.

¹⁴"And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

¹⁵"And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

¹⁶'But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;

¹⁷rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,

¹⁸to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

¹⁹"So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,

²⁰but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

²¹"For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death.

²²"So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;

²³that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

Faith, hope, and love are things that God gave us, but alone they are of little value. Look at verse 18. Here we see the culmination of faith, hope, and love. What use is faith, if it isn’t faith in Truth? What use is hope if it is in something with no Power? What use is love if it is ultimately directed to the father of hate?

The only true spiritual light is Truth. Christ is Truth. The only way to truly walk the minefield of life is with the lens that Christ and His Word provides. Only with a biblical worldview and guidance of the Holy Spirit can we avoid Satan’s traps and mines.

Even if we have Truth, if we rely on our power or any other power to release us from Satan’s bondage we are fooling ourselves. You can’t navigate the minefield of life if you are in chains. Christ’s work on the cross saved us from the penalty of sin, but it is Christ’s work on our hearts that saves us from bondage to sin. He chose to remove the chains. This is why we can hope in His Power.

When we serve ourselves, we serve Satan. The desire to do what is contrary to what God wants originates from Satan. Every sin we commit advances the cause of Satan on Earth. Whom do we love when we sin? We end up loving Satan. Love misdirected can cause great harm. However loving God and obeying Him to advance His cause on Earth is our ultimate purpose. It is the capstone of the trinity of life – faith in Truth, hope in Power, and loving the Lover.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 20, 2011

^{Acts 26:4-8}

⁴"So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem;

⁵since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.

⁶"And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers;

⁷the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews.

⁸"Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?

You know, it seems as if the topic of the resurrection of the dead is the get out of jail free card for Paul. It seems whenever he is in a bind he brings it up. It was the great dividing force of Judaism back in his day. What is interesting is that it is the great unifying force of Christianity. Is there a denomination that doesn't believe in it?

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 19, 2011

Acts 26:1-3

¹Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense:

²"In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today;

³especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

Agrippa was a Hellenistic Jew. He knew what it meant to be Jewish and all that goes with it. However, being Hellenist, his life didn't match his beliefs. Paul knew that Agrippa was knowledgeable about Judaism, so he spoke to that to win the heart of Agrippa. Knowing one's audience is important. There may not be anything "Christian" about that fact except that it is wise. Also speaking kindly with respect is also very wise. How we start conversations or case pleadings can greatly affect the outcome.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 18, 2011

Acts 25:23-27

²³So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

²⁴Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer.

²⁵"But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

²⁶"Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write.

²⁷"For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him."

Nothing like a good ole' fashioned fishing expedition! Poor Festus feared being embarrassed. Paul was to go to Caesar, but without a serious crime to accompany him. In a desperate attempt to trump up a charge, Festus offered King Agrippa a chance to investigate. Festus is attempting to cover up a lack of wisdom with an act of injustice. Covering up things to save our pride is a root of all sorts of evil.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 17, 2011

Acts 25:13-22

¹³Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus.

¹⁴While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix;

¹⁵and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

¹⁶"I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges.

¹⁷"So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought before me.

¹⁸"When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting,

¹⁹but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

²⁰"Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters.

²¹"But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar."

²²Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."

Festus, not having a strong religious background was shocked at what the Jews were making such a brew-ha-ha about. It is interesting how blood has been spilled over two fingers versus three for making the sign of the cross in Christianity. I think we simply need to be aware of how odd those of us who are passionate about our faith look to those who have very little interest in theology. That is why it can be difficult to debate them because they don't understand the passion.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 16, 2011

Acts 25:1-12

¹Festus then, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

²And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were urging him,

³requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way).

⁴Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly.

⁵"Therefore," he said, "let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him."

⁶After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

⁷After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove,

⁸while Paul said in his own defense, "I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar."

⁹But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?"

¹⁰But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.

¹¹"If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar."

¹²Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, "You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go."

A piece of wisdom, if someone holding your fate is crooked, try to appeal to someone else. Festus didn’t care about justice or the rule of law, he just cared about making the Jews happy here. Fortunately Paul appealed to Caesar and Festus agreed. Even if Paul made a great case, the power of people pleasing could have consumed Festus. How often do we suffer from people pleasing and how much does it affect our decision making?

Passage of the Day - February 15, 2011

Acts 24:22-27

²²But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case."

²³Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.

²⁴But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁵But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you."

²⁶At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him.

²⁷But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

What an interesting way of handling things! Felix didn’t want to allow Paul to be executed, but also wanted to make the Jews happy all the while trying to exact funds from Paul. Even when he was leaving power he wouldn’t let Paul go. A government official is delaying a difficult choice unless someone fills his coffers? You mean that problem is 2,000 years old or more?

Monday, February 14, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 14, 2011

Acts 24:10-21

¹⁰When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,

¹¹since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

¹²"Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot.

¹³"Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.

¹⁴"But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;

¹⁵having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

¹⁶"In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.

¹⁷"Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings;

¹⁸in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar But there were some Jews from Asia--

¹⁹who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me.

²⁰"Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council,

²¹other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, 'For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.'"

Verse 16 is so important. Very convicting. Do we have a blameless conscience? If we were falsely accused, could we respond to all charges without tripping all over ourselves due to some accusations actually being true? Do we give people reasons to attack Christianity or hold a grudge against it? Have we taken the extra effort to be blameless according to the codes of others? Paul was able to dodge all of these land mines. It didn't get him out of trouble with Man, but he was able to blameless before God and never damaged the cause of Christ.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Passage of the Day - February 13, 2011

Acts 24:1-9

¹After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul.

²After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation,

³we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

⁴"But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.

⁵"For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

⁶"And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. [We wanted to judge him according to our own Law.

⁷"But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands,

⁸ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him."

⁹The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

Writing Passage of the Day on Acts has been difficult. I prefer to not repeat myself so much, but I always seem to have to write about false accusations and persecution. It is a somewhat draining endeavor and I am only writing about it. I can't really imagine living it. However, it does make the Pauline letters regarding faithfulness and endurance come alive. Hardship is part of life, especially for those who sacrifice their goals for the sake of Christ. We aren't all called to the same kind of special ministry that Paul was called to, but we ARE called to have the same kind of faithfulness. The kind of faithfulness only God can provide. Let us be mindful that the passages on endurance not only apply to the persecuted early Church, but also to the ordinary tasks God has laid out before us - family, job/school, church, etc.