Daily Bread Acts 24
Daily Bread Acts 24
2 At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23 He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.
24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
27 After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.
Observation:
We see the continuing saga of Paul before the Roman governor, Felix. Although the Jews hire Tertullus, a lawyer. to make their case, Paul defends himself. And he defends himself quite well I might add.
The story takes an interesting turn as Felix brings in his wife (who was Jewish). As Paul continues to use this opportunity to preach the Gospel, Felix starts being convicted. The text says he is frightened. When he can’t take it any more he sends Paul away.
Paul is stuck in this mode for two years, where many of his prison letters we find in the New Testament are written. Even though Paul’s intention in coming back to Jerusalem was to bring the money collected for them from the churches he had started, the Jews still want to get rid of him. Seems like a strong irony there.
Application:
Sometimes it is easy for us to demonize those we might think would be hostile to the Christian message. But God seems to bring people into our lives for a reason. It is a lot easier for Christians to hang out with those who are like them. But as Becky Pippert reminded us in her book “Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World – Evangelism As a Way of Life”, the salt does no good unless it gets out of the jar.
There are many ways to share one’s faith. Many seeds can be planted in other’s lives just by the way we live our life and love others. When we do something for someone for no other reason than to show them God’s love, it is treating them like no one has ever treated them before.
Sometimes we can be in conversations with others and be able to pique their interest in spiritual matters merely by being open to listening to their lives and sharing a word of peace or a short prayer with them. When we are open to be used by God, He will open up opportunities for us to share the Gospel in many ways that lead to a person being ready to accept Jesus s their Savior.
Sometimes like Paul this will come as we share the word of truth with someone and God and the Holy Spirit begin to convict them of their need for a Savior. Some might push away initially out of fear but yet be open at another time.
Prayer: God help us to step out of our comfort zone to bring comfort to those who are afflicted by love of the things of the world. Help us to ambassadors for your truth that will convict the heart and soul of those who need Jesus. Give us a heart like yours and like the apostle Paul for lost people, who matter to you and should matter to us! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
2 At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23 He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.
24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
27 After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.
Observation:
We see the continuing saga of Paul before the Roman governor, Felix. Although the Jews hire Tertullus, a lawyer. to make their case, Paul defends himself. And he defends himself quite well I might add.
The story takes an interesting turn as Felix brings in his wife (who was Jewish). As Paul continues to use this opportunity to preach the Gospel, Felix starts being convicted. The text says he is frightened. When he can’t take it any more he sends Paul away.
Paul is stuck in this mode for two years, where many of his prison letters we find in the New Testament are written. Even though Paul’s intention in coming back to Jerusalem was to bring the money collected for them from the churches he had started, the Jews still want to get rid of him. Seems like a strong irony there.
Application:
Sometimes it is easy for us to demonize those we might think would be hostile to the Christian message. But God seems to bring people into our lives for a reason. It is a lot easier for Christians to hang out with those who are like them. But as Becky Pippert reminded us in her book “Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World – Evangelism As a Way of Life”, the salt does no good unless it gets out of the jar.
There are many ways to share one’s faith. Many seeds can be planted in other’s lives just by the way we live our life and love others. When we do something for someone for no other reason than to show them God’s love, it is treating them like no one has ever treated them before.
Sometimes we can be in conversations with others and be able to pique their interest in spiritual matters merely by being open to listening to their lives and sharing a word of peace or a short prayer with them. When we are open to be used by God, He will open up opportunities for us to share the Gospel in many ways that lead to a person being ready to accept Jesus s their Savior.
Sometimes like Paul this will come as we share the word of truth with someone and God and the Holy Spirit begin to convict them of their need for a Savior. Some might push away initially out of fear but yet be open at another time.
Prayer: God help us to step out of our comfort zone to bring comfort to those who are afflicted by love of the things of the world. Help us to ambassadors for your truth that will convict the heart and soul of those who need Jesus. Give us a heart like yours and like the apostle Paul for lost people, who matter to you and should matter to us! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment