Acts 25

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

To have a prisoner who has no charges which can be brought against him/her is a very difficult place to find oneself.  How can you keep a person in chains if there is no allegation against that one?

This comment from Festus made me think about what the enemy, the accuser of our souls does to us.  He charges us with all sorts of sins of activities and non-activities, thoughts and emotions, our past and future performance with the intent to condemn us to death.  The problem is the same as the one Festus faced, as believers we have Christ's righteousness.  Whatever the charges, they are not  valid against us.  Praise God and His amazingly loving plan!

Despite the freedom provided me, the charges are sometimes accepted by me as prosecutable.  The Just Judge, our Advocate and even the accuser know the charges are not right; but I can find for the plaintiff and bear the indictment.  I can hear the accusation, repeat the accusation and pretty soon, I am imprisoned by the accusation.  I must be careful what I say to myself, what I repeat, what I think on...lest I take on the accusation which has no hold on me.   When I hear that "you don't matter" or "you are invisible" or "you ____"; I must remind myself that he has no permission to speak to me - if I choose to entertain his comments, it is at my own risk that I do so.  My significance, authority and accountability  come from the One who made and saved me.

Glorious One, Lover of my Soul, please let me live and revel in the liberty You have provided.  Let me receive and believe only what You say to me - give me that keen insight to immediately distinguish Your voice from any other and to live with all I have based on Your words.  I praise you that I, too, am one who has charges that cannot result in death... allegations which have previously been accounted for.  I praise You for Your utter "previousness" in dealing with me.  What incomprehensible grace that You would take Your enemy and make her a daughter.  Help me to always maintain the conduct becoming Your child - in all the roles You have created me for, to the praise of Your very great and just Name.

Acts 24

In view of the hope Paul had in God and the resurrection, he did his "best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men."  


I also have that hope.  What challenged me is sometimes, I have a hard time maintaining the blameless conscience before both God and people.  I know when I operate in the Spirit I am okay with having a blameless conscience.  But sometimes, when I am suddenly in a situation where I don't know just what to say or do,  I am afraid my conscience is "blamefull" before one or both.  

An example comes to mind:  A friend began a theological conversation with me the other day.  After quite a long conversation, I began to share the Gospel with him, the law in particular.  The trouble arose when I wasn't sure where to go with it based on his response to a couple of questions.  I understand God is sovereign...I am so grateful for that...but I wonder how I was supposed to proceed.  My heart was very full to make sure that his hope was valid and not misplaced; but I got stuck.  

You see, another mutual friend had struck up a theological conversation with me some years ago.  That conversation was quite pleasant and at one point, we actually followed the script of a well-known evangelism program (I was a student of that program, at the time).  It was a very natural conversation and in the end, she declined the offer to receive God's gift of salvation.  I thanked her for her honesty and said if she wanted to talk about that again, I would be happy to do so with her.  We ended up spending more time discussing a variety of topics.  When we parted, it seemed quite normal and cordial.   However, I didn't talk to her for about a year after that...given the circumstances and our proximity, I believe it was avoidance and not schedules that kept her from further conversation.  God is sovereign and all-powerful, He allowed some circumstances to bring us together and we've been speaking ever since...just that one year gap.


Okay, so fast forward to present day and where I am stuck.  In regard to these and probably every other Gospel interaction, I struggle with desiring to share unto salvation or at least plant/water someone else's planting and not wanting to go too far so they uproot any seed that may have been deposited.  I want to have a  blameless conscience before God and people in having shared the Gospel; but I don't want to  roto-till a potential harvest. 

I am reminded that God does work all things for good to those who love Him and are called by Him.  But I have a responsibility in this, too.  I want my life to demonstrate holy intentions and truth spoken carefully wrapped in His perfect love so that I might be blameless in thought and deed before God and man.  God is the Knower and Discerner of thoughts and motives; He knows.  Man may or not figure it out; but man will live in response to me.  I am not sure I can maintain a blameless conscience before  him/her if I fail to adequately impart the grace of the Gospel.  


God, I don't even know if this makes sense to anyone but me; but I want that blamelessness of conscience.  Help me to rely increasingly on You and Your leading, be bold in the opportunity You present, and to share how and what You have given me to share.  I understand that this does not mean I will get along with all people and that I will never be voted most popular; but I do crave the peace that accompanies the blameless conscience.  Thank You for making this possible and for teaching me Your ways.  ♥

Acts 23

Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.  But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”... As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.

I wonder if Paul went to bed that night with the thought "that really went well...NOT!"  Circumstantially, things really seemed to be going from bad to worse for Paul.  God, graciously reassured Paul that he would preach again in Rome...just as he had in Jerusalem.  Paul would live another day; but I wonder what Paul thought about the truth spoken to him that he would witness of God just as he had done in Jerusalem.  

I wonder if he thought, "Gee, this hasn't been such a successful witness...They want to kill me - really rip-me-apart kind of kill me.  What a pitiful show I am making of the Gospel...I am not demonstrating grace at all.  Oh, and that retort to the high priest...the stinkin' high priest of all people.  How did I miss that!?!?!  I sure did leave them wanting more...but it was more of my pain not God.  How on earth could this be useful to the Kingdom?  And now, to get to go to Rome and do it all over again, in Latin (just a joke there).  I don't see how this will go any better there.  In fact, I bet my enemies will beat me there and really set the stage to mess up my testimony.  Return now, precious Lord." 

I don't think he thought that, either.  But I probably would think that or worse.  But as God spoke to Paul, it seems that all was as it should have been.   Whoa.  Just as you've done here, so you shall you do next time.  And this was chaos and crazy...catastrophic, maybe.  But God was still moving this thing forward.  God was and is still sovereign.

When my life's circumstances spin wildly out of control, how do I demonstrate my complete trust in God?  When I feel I have messed up beyond belief, how can I inwardly and outwardly wait on the Lord in quiet submission, confident of His purpose and plan?

It takes so much less than venomous threats to convince me that I have broken the unbreakable, unshakable, immutable plan of God.  A little insecurity goes a long, long way.  But I can quite deftly unwind some serious Savior study with too much thought on my importance in the universe.  Since God is sovereign, I cannot foil His plans.  I can choose to completely cooperate to the glory of His Name and the spread of His fame and my peace.  Or I can wig out.  My choice.  

Lord, let my choice be for You, always.  Let my trust in You, my God-confidence be a hallmark of my life here.  I need to stay so in tune with You that my fearful flesh is never strong enough nor loud enough to adversely impact my response to You and the divine circumstances You have for me.  Help my heart be strong.  Thank You Jesus.

 

Acts 22

Paul replied, “I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city... Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. (Acts 21:39, 22:3)

God has each of us born into the families He desires, the place, the economic situation, the education, the nationality, etc.; none of it is by accident.  We may not ever see the reason for our particular circumstances; but He has us in place and in people on purpose...His purpose.  

We can see how all of these things came together for Paul...His great loyalty to his people, the protection of being a citizen of another country, the elite training of Gamaliel, his propensity to fervency...All of these situations and qualities made him Paul and they prepared him for the call of Christ.

Help me, God, to better appreciate who and how You have made me and where You have placed me.  I trust Your plans despite my feelings.  Please let me fulfill all that You have prepared for me.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

What blesses and challenges me is that all of the blessings and prestige that Paul had was nothing when Christ called to him on that Damascus road.  Paul repeatedly says that it is all about Jesus and none about him.  When the torture kicks in, he says it much more vehemently.  

May I be as passionate and prioritized as Paul for the things of Christ.  

Acts 21

Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 

Murderous thoughts were reigning in the minds of those who grabbed Paul and drug him out from the temple.  As he was taken, the temple doors were shut - by the religious folk.  Paul desperately needed help and the "church" allowed him to be taken and then made sure he was not able to return.  He was out and that was fine with them.  

Why didn't the representatives of God try to help?  Offer asylum?  Protection?  Mediation?  The church saves no one...Only God saves.  

Where am I trusting in mankind's answers and facilities to save me?  Where am I thinking I am trusting God when I am really relying on a tangible savior?  Am I misleading anyone into thinking that the church will save them rather than leading that someone to Jesus?

Father, help me to point true to You and Your precious Son.  Holy Spirit, I need You to show me where I deviate from Glorious God. Make my path true and straight that when I have the opportunity to assist another, I will be able to properly respond to the glory and praise of Your very great Name.

Romans 16

These are the names of those to whom Paul sent greetings.  I wondered what they meant, as he seemed to be speaking a particular meaning or blessing to many of them in his correspondence.  After looking at the meanings, I realized that they were no longer just Radiant or Praiseworthy or Their Rebellion...they were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ...as such, they were now Radiant in the Lord Jesus Christ, Praiseworthy in the Name of God, Their Rebellion for the Holy (and no longer the unholy).  They were who they were; but they were in Jesus.

Some of them had most unfortunate names; but they were new in Jesus...so the horrible naming was no longer their legacy.  They were in Christ Jesus.  So, Stupidity was now Fool for Christ.  I love the transformation Christ brings us with salvation.

How extraordinary that the first Asian-Christian ever is noted.  Epaenetus.  I know God is no respecter of persons; but being 2000 years on the other side of this, I am greatly encouraged that God would make mention of the very first Asian believer...especially given what hardship they face, what persecution they endure, what threats they know...and what utter darkness they have experienced for so long.  But there was one, there was a beginning to the faith-response in Asia and it was taken down for us.  Always in the details is where I find my God's handiwork.

Finally, Paul recognizes the saints.  The Saints.  The believers in Christ Jesus.  Not some elite group of super holy, super sacrificing, super super workers in the Kingdom - but the rest of the followers of Christ.  The Saints...folks like you and me.  Just folks.  But the word Paul uses refers to the most holy thing....believers who have the Holy Spirit...the most holy...the holy of holies.  That's our description...the ones who give home to the most holy...and we are made holy.  Interestingly enough, the word is derived from the most awful thing.  And that to me is what the message of this text is.  Jesus came and took the most awful things and made them holy...so we are now _________ of the Lord Jesus, _________ to God, etc.  We have been redefined by God for He redesigned us in Him.

Name             Meaning                    Paul's nomenclature

Phoebe        radiant                     servant and helper of many

Aquilla         eagle                        fellow worker, life-risker, host

Priska           ancient                    fellow worker, life-risker, host

Epaenetus    praiseworthy           my beloved, first Asian-Christian

Mary             their rebellion         hard worker

Andronicus   man of victory         kinsman, fellow prisoner, outstanding apostle

Junias           youthful                  Kinsman, fellow prisoner, outstanding apostle    

Ampliatus     large                        my beloved

Urbanus        of the city, polite   fellow worker

Stachys         head of grain           my beloved, (1 of the 70 disciples)

Apelles         called                       approved
Aristobulus   best councilor

Herodion      heroic                      my kinsman

Narcissus      stupidity, 
                     self-absorbed, 
                     or flower

Tryphaena    luxurious                 worker in the Lord

Tryphos        luxuriating               worker in the Lord

Persis           Persian woman         beloved, hard-worker in the Lord

Rufus            red                           choice man in the Lord

Asyncritus    incomparable          

Phlegon        burning

Hermes        herald of the gods

Patrobas      paternal

Hermas        Mercury (tradition says he was one of the seventy)

brethren     brother whether by parents, nation, belief, affection                      

Philologos   lover of the Word

Julia            soft-haired, also name of many royal figures in first century

Nereus         Old Gentleman of the sea because he is trustworthy, and gentle,

                    and never forgetful of what is right, but the thoughts of his mind 

                    are mild and righteous (from Hesiod, Theogony 233; Wikipedia)

Olympas       heavenly

saints (hagios)     most holy thing...from the word hagos-an awful thing

Romans 15

My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.  I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,

   “Those who have never been told about him will see,
      and those who have never heard of him will understand.”

In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.

Paul's mission and work was to preach the Gospel in places that had never been exposed to it before.  He purposely sought out areas where no church was established.  Places where the locals may ask, "Jesus Who?"

Do I ever consider where His Name has not been made known as the best place to begin?  How can I impact places and people where He is not known from my current season and station?  I choose today (while it is still called today =+} ) to make that characteristic a part of my decision-making process...In the dailyness of my life, I will look for opportunities to make known an unknown name to the people who have never heard.

Jesus, please give those that have not heard of Your Very Great Name ears to hear and a heart to understand Your Gospel of grace.  I confess that I have never planned my day with respect to who may have never heard of You; but I have labored in vain to faithfully put Your Name before folks who openly scorn it.  I want to reach the elect; help me to be diligent in sharing Your Good News with those who haven't yet heard it.  To the praise of Your Name.