Where Will Your Faith Take You?
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I pray that you and your families are well, and that you are rejoicing in your relationship with Jesus. Today I'm sharing a good devotional I received from a local writer here in Louisville. Paul the Apostle’s life ended in Rome, then the power center of the Mediterranean world. How he got there says something about his thoughtful reflection on God’s ways.
Acts 28:17-20 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: "Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. But when the Jews F112 spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."
Paul was in protective custody in Israel for several years before going to Rome. At his final hearing in front of the highest authorities, he defended himself so well that they wanted to set him free. However, they could not. Paul had appealed to Caesar, the emperor in Rome, so they were obligated to send him there for another judicial hearing.
Paul could have been a free man again if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar. To understand why he closed off that possibility, we must realize that he had spent years presenting Christianity to all kinds of audiences, and he wasn’t going to lose an opportunity to present the faith to the very highest authority. Suppose Caesar accepted Christ? The empire would change. Millions of people could hear the Gospel of salvation. So Paul took great personal risk to spread the Gospel in the center of power.
What can this say to Christian working men and women?
Acts 28:17-20 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: "Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. But when the Jews F112 spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."
Paul was in protective custody in Israel for several years before going to Rome. At his final hearing in front of the highest authorities, he defended himself so well that they wanted to set him free. However, they could not. Paul had appealed to Caesar, the emperor in Rome, so they were obligated to send him there for another judicial hearing.
Paul could have been a free man again if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar. To understand why he closed off that possibility, we must realize that he had spent years presenting Christianity to all kinds of audiences, and he wasn’t going to lose an opportunity to present the faith to the very highest authority. Suppose Caesar accepted Christ? The empire would change. Millions of people could hear the Gospel of salvation. So Paul took great personal risk to spread the Gospel in the center of power.
What can this say to Christian working men and women?
- It says there is no substitute for knowing Christ and understanding his ways and applying that in all situations including work. Paul’s openness to God led him to believe God would come through for a major evangelistic move in Rome. Sure enough, that happened.
- It says that rather than letting problems undermine us, we need to value truth in Christ.
- It says we are not in charge of our destiny. God calls the shots in that department, not withstanding talk about “taking control” of our lives.
- What does God want to say to you through it?
Blessings,
Bill
posted by BreadBakers at 12:22 PM
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