Daily Scripture Assignment: Num 3-4; Acts 25

Jason StonecipherScripture – Acts 25:1-22 (NAS) (Click to Read)

Observation – Paul must have been an especially bitter pill for the religious leaders of Israel to swallow. Christianity was bad enough, in their eyes, but then to have one of their own, the most outspoken and zealously active opponent of this “new” sect, turn, and with that same fervency and zeal, follow and promote that path… well, it was an outrage. And they planned to deal with Paul as they had planned to deal with all of the followers… death.

In Acts 21-24 Paul, having returned to Jerusalem, is taken into custody, first by the Jews and then by the Romans, moving through a series of trials (sounds familiar) which eventually culminate in Paul appealing to Caesar, which would land him a trip to Rome. What this did, however, was to effectively take him out of Jewish hands and the deadly ambush mentioned in Acts 23:12-14 and 25:3.

More importantly, appealing to Caesar and assuring a visit to Rome fell completely in line with Acts 23:11… the Lord stood before Paul and gave him the direction he needed.

Application – So many things hit me when I read these passages. Truthfully, I feel wholly inadequate. How would I do in a similar situation? I can only hope and guess.

In some parts of the world being a Christian means an immediate death sentence. Here, in this country, the worst the average Christian usually deals with is a severe rolling of the eyes by someone trying to avoid us. True, sometimes, it can be worse, but that’s uncommon. What gets me, though, is how much that little bit of ridicule can so effectively shut down believers. We haven’t had to live under the level of persecution Paul lived in, so we really don’t handle it well. We’re much more enthusiastic about things that don’t bring with them the possibility of criticism. Drop us into Paul’s situation and we crumble.

Unless we have what Paul had, something readily available to us, as it was to him… relationship.

Paul spent endless hours with the Lord in prayer and studying, when times were good and when they were bad. As a result, when storms arose and his life was threatened, when life and death hung by a decision, a choice of action, Paul had enough relationship and had spent so much time with the Lord that he knew His voice and was able to hear the direction God wanted him to go. Not only did this give him his first obvious need, direction itself, it gave him something else, something I know I need regardless of the direction: faith.

I know that if God dropped me into the same situation Paul was in I would probably break down completely under the stress and pressure of it all unless God had spoken to me in that situation. There’s something incredible in the way God doesn’t just speak His will, but adds to it the stuff we need to bolster our faith, causing us to stand in the most difficult situations. You hear it even today, as ordinary people with an extraordinary God face situations and circumstances, from persecution to natural disaster.

When God adds that “extra” to our “ordinary”, amazing things happen and we are enabled in ways we didn’t know possible.

But it does require faith. Paul had a choice to make regarding God’s direction. He could have given in to the pressure and fear of the moment and not relied on the strength of God’s Word and enablement. Had he done so, the results may have been disastrous, not only for Paul, but for all of those he would have touched along the way. But Paul chose faith and obedience and stood in the power of that Word.

I may not ever stand in a situation like Paul’s, but in every situation I do stand in, I must choose to listen and obey the Voice of the Lord or back down in fear, following my own reasoning and inclinations. In fact, I’ve done that. I chose the way that seemed to be best to me (not for me), because it took me out of that place of pressure. Invariably, I missed out on whatever God had intended because I didn’t want to deal with pressure, stress, criticism, etc. I’ve always known when I’ve made those decisions and I’ve always ended up regretting them.

I’ve also known when I’ve taken that step of faith and trusted God and his direction to me. The results of those times have not always been what I’ve expected and sometimes I don’t get to see the results at all, but inside, I’ve always had peace and joy, knowing that I did what He wanted. All of the storms, difficulties and pressures of life combined mean nothing in comparison to walking with Him.

Paul summed it up nicely in 2 Corinthians 9:7, 9… “…for we walk by faith, not by sight …therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.”

Prayer – Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of Your Voice. Help me always to hear You and obey, rather than give in to my own insecurities and fears, which always lead me astray. Help me to grow in You, to trust You like I never have and to walk every day in the faith You give me. I love You. May that always be the first thing that shows. In Jesus’ name, amen.