May 8 HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW Civilla D. Martin, 1869–1948 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father in heaven. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than sparrows. (Matthew 10:29–31) Mrs. Civilla Martin, author of this gospel hymn text, tells of a visit in 1904 to a bedridden Christian friend. Mrs. Martin asked the woman if she ever got discouraged because of her physical condition. Her friend responded quickly: “Mrs. Martin, how can I be discouraged when my heavenly Father watches over each little sparrow and I know He loves and cares for me.” Within just a few minutes Mrs. Martin completed the writing of her new text, which has since been a source of much encouragement to many of God’s people. It is interesting that our Lord chose the most common of all birds, sparrows of little value, to teach a profound truth: In God’s eyes, no one is insignificant! He is vitally concerned with even the details of our lives. Notice also that the Bible uses another bird to teach this inspiring truth: “Those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles … ” (Isaiah 40:31). With an awareness of God’s concern for our lives and the promise of His enabling power to live victoriously, why should we be afraid? Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17, 18) Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, why should my heart be lonely and long for Heav’n and home, when Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, and resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; tho’ by the path He leadeth but one step I may see: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know we watches me. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
For Today: Psalm 40:17; Matthew 6:28; Luke 12:6, 7, 22–31; James 1:1–11.
Rest and rejoice in the assurance of God’s love. Seek to bring a word of cheerful encouragement to some sick or invalid individual. Remind him or her of God’s concern and the truth of this song
May 7 UNTO THE HILLS AROUND DO I LIFT UP John D. S. Campbell, 1845–1914 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1, 2) The more we pursue God’s majesty and greatness, the greater becomes our strength to live victoriously. Each day we need to take time to look away from ourselves and our petty complaints and focus our attention on our Creator God. Someone has observed that it is usually not so much the greatness of our troubles as the littleness of our spirit that makes us disgruntled complainers. A worthy starting point is to find inspiration from some part of God’s creation. For the psalmist, it was looking at the hills all around him, reminders of God’s power and authority. In another portion the psalmist reminds us that in time of need we should flee like a bird to our mountain and there find rest and security (Psalm 11:1). Yet the instruction is clear that though we receive inspiration from observing the majesty of creation, our real source of help must ultimately come from a personal relationship with God Himself, “the Lord, who heav’n and earth hath made.” The author of this text, John Douglas S. Campbell, was a well-known English personality of his day. He was a member of Parliament and the Governor General of Canada. Campbell was also a noted writer and a devoted Christian. The hymn first appeared in 1877. These inspiring words can still be a source of much comfort for any believer today: Unto the hills around do I lift up my longing eyes; O whence for me shall my salvation come, from whence arise? From God, the Lord, doth come my certain aid, from God, the Lord, who heav’n and earth hath made. He will not suffer that thy foot be moved: Safe shalt thou be. No careless slumber shall His eyelids close, who keepeth thee. Behold, our God, the Lord, He slumbereth ne’er, who keepeth Israel in His holy care. Jehovah is Himself thy keeper true, thy changeless shade; Jehovah thy defense on thy right hand Himself hath made. And thee no sun by day shall ever smite; no moon shall harm thee in the silent night. From ev’ry evil shall He keep thy soul, from ev’ry sin; Jehovah shall preserve thy going out, thy coming in. Above thee watching, He whom we adore shall keep thee henceforth, yea, forevermore.
For Today: Psalm 11; 24; 121; Isaiah 40:9, 26; 41:10
Enjoy the majesty of some particular part of God’s creation—a mountain, sunrise, sunset. Breathe a prayer of gratitude to the One who has made this possible. Determine to rely on Him more fully throughout this day. Carry this musical truth with you—
“When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him” (Acts 28:16).Even a prisoner who knows God can influence others.
Overview
Paul joined a group of prisoners being transported under guard to Rome (27:1–8). He warned futilely against sailing from Crete (vv. 9–12), and their ship was caught in a severe storm (vv. 13–25). Though the ship was wrecked, all aboard survived (vv. 26–44). Paul healed the chief official on Malta, where they wintered (28:1–10). Arriving in Rome, Paul was allowed to live in a rented house (vv. 11–16), and to preach Christ to the Jewish community and his visitors (vv. 17–31).
Background
Beyond Acts.
The Book of Acts closes with Paul in Rome awaiting trial. While there he wrote several of the letters found in the New Testament, including Colossians, Philippians, Ephesians, Philemon, and the first Letter to Timothy. Scholars believe that Paul was set free after his trial, and spent several more years as a missionary, probably in Spain. But the political climate was changing. Nero, whose first years were marked by excellent rule, gradually became more and more erratic. When a great fire struck Rome, Nero blamed the Christians in order to divert criticism from himself. As official hostility developed, Paul was arrested again and faced another trial. During this second imprisonment he wrote his second Letter to Timothy. As that letter implies, Paul did not survive his second trial, but was executed in Rome. One of the purposes that Luke had in writing Acts was to demonstrate through his story of Paul’s ministry that the Christian faith was no threat to the Empire. Paul had friends among the Asiarchs in Ephesus. When he was examined by Felix he was cleared of any criminal activity. King Agrippa, a close friend of the Emperor Claudius, agreed that Paul had done nothing to merit arrest or trial. Whenever the facts were examined by an impartial Roman administrator, Paul and the Christians he represented were cleared. While the evidence Luke presented was compelling, it was not enough. Hostility to Christianity was not rooted in a knowledge of the facts of our faith, but in the prejudices and moral turpitude of its enemies. Despite the fact that some today who claim to be Christians have given the faith a bad name, it remains true that any hostility to our faith is not rooted in what Christ taught or what Christians believe. It is rooted in the fact that Christianity functions as a light shining in a dark world. The darker the society, the brighter that light must shine. And the more those who cower back into the darkness will hate and resent it.
Understanding the Text
“We boarded a ship” Acts 27:1–9. This is one of four “we” sections in Acts. Most scholars believe that Luke was with Paul, and described the events of these sections from eyewitness knowledge. Those who have studied Luke’s account of the voyage find it a totally accurate portrayal of first-century ships, ports, and trade routes. Even more important from Paul’s point of view, the use of “we” here indicates that Paul was not alone. Friends went with him on the journey to Rome. Any time we face an uncertain future, having friends with us for support is vitally important. Are there people you know who would like you to serve as their Luke? First-century cargo ships carried grain from the East to Rome. Some were large enough to also carry several hundred passengers. However, the passengers slept on deck and provided their own food for the journey. Thousands of tourists frequented such ships, though travel on the Mediterranean was dangerous. “So Paul warned them” Acts 27:9–14. Paul had not yet had time to establish that “personal power” needed to influence the centurion who guarded them and the ship’s captain. Now he would win their sudden respect. The two ignored his advice and set out to sea. Before they were out of sight of the island they were struck by winds of “hurricane force.” Perhaps as a prisoner Paul had no right to speak up. But he did express his convictions. His confidence, plus the fact that his advice was quickly shown to have been right, established a personal power he was able to use later to influence the centurion and save lives. Don’t hesitate to speak out for what is right. Ultimately your influence depends on you, not on your position. “God whose I am and whom I serve” Acts 27:15–25. Paul spoke confidently out of the assurance rooted in his relationship with God. If we trust God, as Paul did, and are committed to Him, we too can speak out with confidence and be heard! “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved” Acts 27:27–44. People in panic are nearly uncontrollable. Yet by this time Paul’s personal power and influence were so great that he was able to get the soldiers to cut away the ship’s lifeboats and what seemed their best chance of escape. Even more, he was able to quiet the terror of the sailors and passengers enough so that they actually took a little food. Paul’s own confidence in God’s commitment to save the ship and crew were communicated by his voice and demeanor. If we have that God-based confidence, we will be able to influence others for their own good too. “They changed their minds and said he was a god” Acts 28:1–10. People have a tendency to jump to extreme conclusions. Seeing Paul bitten by a poisonous snake, the people of Malta assumed he was a murderer. When he didn’t die, they assumed he was a god. Paul was neither. He was just a human being committed to the Lord. You and I can be comfortable being “just folks” too. God can and does take ordinary people and through them do extraordinary things. “With a soldier to guard him” Acts 28:11–16. Soon after this Paul mentioned believers in Caesar’s own household in his letter to the Philippians. The chances are that these believers were soldiers in the Praetorian Guard, the regiment assigned as the Emperor’s. And most likely the soldiers detailed to guard Paul in his house! How Paul must have looked forward to the changing of the guard, and another soldier to speak to about Jesus Christ. “He explained and declared . . . and tried to convince them” Acts 28:17–29. As always Paul showed special concern for his brothers, the Jews. An intense effort to evangelize the local Jewish community saw some respond to the Gospel message, but the majority rejected it. There are limits to what I’ve been calling “personal power.” Those with personal power can influence others up to a point. But when we speak about Jesus, there is a point at which the other person will commit to Christ or reject Him. We have to respect the right of others to make that decision. We should speak with confidence. But we must not manipulate others into a decision they are not ready to make. “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house” Acts 28:30–31. Paul’s life and ministry falls into periods of one or two years, but seldom more. He was probably in Corinth longer than two years. But he spent two years at Ephesus, two in Caesarea, and now two more years in Rome. Didn’t all that moving around bother Paul? Paul realized something that is true for each of us. We are soldiers, God is our Commander. We never know when we put down our tent how long we’ll stay. Let’s be good soldiers, ready to move or stay at God’s command. And always ready to speak up for our Lord.
DEVOTIONAL
Personal Power (Acts 27)
My wife has it in her classroom. She has no problems maintaining order among her 11th-graders. She doesn’t even raise her voice. But when she uses it, her quiet “power” voice creates dead silence. I’m not planning to market a psychological seminar guaranteed to give those who pay some astronomical sum an edge in negotiating. Or a fast trip up the corporate ladder. I’m simply noting a reality that at least one critic of Acts overlooked. The critic, a scholar named Haenchen, pooh-poohed the notion that a person who was a prisoner, being conveyed to Rome under guard, could possibly have been given special favors or listened to with respect by his captors. The details Luke gives of the voyage are undoubtedly accurate. But the idea that Paul played the role described is, to Haenchen, beyond belief. I suspect this scholar, based on his reasoning, would also argue that Lech Walesa must be something of a fictional character too. After all, what pipe fitter from a Polish shipyard could form a union, be outlawed, and then silenced for years, and play a critical role in the fall of Poland’s Communist government? What Haenchen failed to realize was that the personal power of a human being is not related to his or her social position. People with position can be utterly ineffective. And others with no position at all can change the course of history. Paul had an advantage—the confidence and the assurance that come with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul knew Jesus and lived in close fellowship with the Lord. When Paul spoke, that personal power rooted in his relationship with God shone through. Others sensed his personal power. And responded to him. What excites me is that Paul’s source of personal power is available to every Christian. If we know Jesus, and live close to Him, we too will have that calm assurance that translates into personal power.
Personal Application
Live close to Jesus, and when you speak, everybody will listen.
Quotable
“If you are a Christian in small things, you are not a small Christian.”— Walter B. Knight
Reading 271 ON TRIAL AGAIN Acts 25–26“I have nothing definite to write his majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa” (Acts 25:26).It is unwise to judge any situation by appearances alone.
Overview
The chief priests pressured the new Roman governor to let them try Paul, who then exercised his right to demand trial in Rome (25:1–13). Festus asked King Agrippa for advice (vv. 14–21). Agrippa asked to hear Paul for himself (v. 22), and was treated to Paul’s most famous presentation of the Gospel (v. 23–26:32).
Understanding the Text
“Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem” Acts 25:1–7. Festus, who began his rule in ß.S. 60, was a fair-minded administrator far different from the governors of Judea before and after him. On arriving in Judea he immediately went up to Jerusalem to meet with the Jewish leaders. This was an unusual courtesy, for he might well have called them to appear in Caesarea. The chief priests assumed this was the ideal time to press for resumption of Paul’s case, before the new administrator understood the situation. Luke tells us their request that Paul be brought up to Jerusalem as a “favor” to them was part of another plot to ambush and kill Paul (v. 3). There’s no way to tell if Festus was made suspicious by their urgency. At any rate, God overruled, and the new Roman governor decided to hear the case in Caesarea when he returned there. The old saying “man proposes, but God disposes” remains true. “I appeal to Caesar!” Acts 25:8–12 When Festus asked Paul if he would go voluntarily to Jerusalem, the apostle appealed to Caesar. In the first century the right of such an appeal was limited to extraordinary cases, where violent or capital punishment might be imposed. The appeal resolved a major problem for Paul and for Festus. The danger to Paul was that Festus, as yet unaware of Jewish culture and beliefs, might make an unwise decision. The problem for Festus was how to get off to a good start in his relationships with the Jews, and still treat Paul fairly. A fair-minded person can usually find a way to do the right thing—or at least to avoid doing wrong. “Agrippa and Bernice” Acts 25:13–21. Agrippa was the great-grandson of Herod the Great. He ruled part of the ancient family territory to the north of Judea. Later he unsuccessfully tried to keep the Jews in his area from rebelling against Rome. His loyalty was appreciated, and he was given most of the ancient family lands to rule. Bernice was his sister, reputed also to be his mistress. She married twice, and became the mistress of the Roman general and later Emperor Titus, but spent most of her time in her brother’s court. When Agrippa made a courtesy visit to the new governor of Judea, Festus asked his advice. Festus had been unable to make heads or tails of the dispute between Paul and the chief priests. What could Festus report as the charges against Paul when he sent him to Rome for trial? It was an enviable position for Paul to be in—or for any Christian. If we are imprisoned, let it be for our faith, and not because we have broken any law. “I would like to hear this man myself” Acts 25:22. Agrippa was thoroughly acquainted with the Jewish faith and, according to Paul, was known to believe the prophets (26:27). His interest in hearing Paul may have been prompted simply by curiosity. But the Greek construction, “I myself also would like to hear this man,” suggests a more personal interest. We should be glad whatever motive people have for wanting to hear the Gospel. “You have permission to speak for yourself” Acts 26:1–23. This is the third report in Acts of Paul’s conversion. This time Paul emphasized his roots in Pharisaic Judaism, his persecution of Christians, and his discovery after his vision on the Damascus road that the resurrection of Jesus was in complete harmony with Moses and the Prophets. This is less of a defense than a direct and powerful evangelistic appeal to a ruler who was intimately familiar with Judaism and the Old Testament. Again Paul had shown his mastery of gearing his presentation of the Gospel to the person he wanted most to hear. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” Acts 26:24 Festus, completely out of his depth, interrupted Paul’s talk about resurrection. To the Roman, whose viewpoint was limited to this world, talk of the dead coming to life was mad indeed. Many moderns share Festus’ view. Life is limited to our brief days on this earth. We live, we die, and death is the end. One day the universe itself will wink out, as the heat is drawn from the last flickering stars, and an endless dark will fall. To talk of resurrection, to speak of life after death, may be comforting. But it’s mad. Perhaps. But the Festuses of this world need to answer one question. If belief in a resurrection is mad, what have they to lose by trusting Christ? If belief in a resurrection is not mad, what have they to gain? “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Acts 26:28–32 Paul’s message had been directed to Agrippa. Now Paul challenged the king directly. Since Agrippa believed the Prophets, he must know that what Paul said was true. Agrippa equivocated. His reply, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” was neither a yes nor a no. In modern slang, Agrippa “fudged.” I can sympathize with Agrippa. Here he was, on the spot. Festus had just called Paul mad. If Agrippa said he believed what Paul proclaimed, wouldn’t the Roman ruler think him mad too? How tragic when any of us are unwilling to look beyond appearances. How tragic when fear of what others may think seems more important to us than truth we are invited to embrace.
DEVOTIONAL
Welcome to Oz (Acts 25:23–26:32)
Who can forget the Wizard of Oz, that bumbling huckster who, hiding behind his curtain, manipulated an awesome figure that magnified his voice and pumped frightening puffs of smoke out at those seeking an audience. He was a fraud. But at least he was a lovable fraud. I’m reminded of the Wizard as I read Luke’s description of the pomp with which Festus, Agrippa, Bernice, and their “high ranking officers” filed into the courtroom. You can almost hear trumpets blare, see each in his or her finery. Here they come, proud, wealthy, powerful. Taking their raised seats as they looked down on the ordinary mortals below. And then here came Paul. A small man, weighted down with chains, he shuffled into the room, stood for a moment, and when the investigation was formally handed over to Agrippa by Festus, Paul began his defense. What’s fascinating to realize is that the man in chains and not the finery-bedecked listeners had the real power. His talk, of a suffering Christ, of a resurrection from the dead, this is reality. The swords and spears of the guards, the chain mail worn by the officers standing beside governor and king, these are as gossamer and transitory as a butterfly’s wings. We need to remember Oz. And to remember Paul before Festus and Agrippa. Just as the Wizard of Oz was a fraud, so are the powers of this world. Look behind the curtain, see the reality, and they fade to meaninglessness. Look more closely, and you realize that the man in chains was free. And those who proclaimed their freedom by their pomp were bound. Eternally.
Personal Application
Don’t fear the Wizard of Oz, whatever guise he wears.
Quotable
“The eyes of the world see no further than this life, as mine see no further than this wall when the church door is shut. The eyes of the Christian see deep into eternity.”—John Vianney
“Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea . . . and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor” (Acts 24:1).The best defense is the simple truth.
Overview
Paul’s statement to the Sanhedrin divided that body along party lines (23:1–11). The chief priests then joined a conspiracy to assassinate Paul (vv. 12–15). Paul’s nephew warned the Roman commander (vv. 16–25), who sent Paul under heavy guard to the Roman governor in Caesarea (vv. 26–35). On trial before Felix, Paul told the simple truth (24:1–21). Felix, hoping to be paid a bribe, delayed his decision for two whole years (vv. 22–27).
Understanding the Text
“The high priest Ananias” Acts 23:1–5.
The order of Ananias to strike Paul was in character. This Ananias was high priest fromA.D 48 to 59, and is mentioned in first-century writings. Josephus says he stole tithes given ordinary priests and bribed Romans and Jews. He is ridiculed in the Talmud, and was hated for both his brutality and greed. He was killed by Jews in the Jewish uprising ofA.D 66. Paul did not recognize Ananias as high priest because the meeting was called by the Roman commander, who would have been seated as presiding officer between the Sanhedrin on one side and Paul on the other. Paul’s outrage at the order he be struck was justified (v. 3). Yet he apologized, because the office of high priest commanded respect even though the man filling the office did not. In the secular world and in the church it’s right to show respect for the office. But it’s even better to see to it that secular and spiritual offices are held by those of high moral character and integrity. “I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead” Acts 23:6–11. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead and in angels, while the Sadducees did not. Paul identified himself with the first group, and claimed that the real issue before the court was belief in resurrection. Paul has been criticized for this statement, which some take as nothing more than a trick used to obscure the issue of his Christian commitment. But the resurrection is the issue. It was by his resurrection from the dead, Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, that Jesus was proven “with power to be the Son of God” (Rom. 1:4). The uproar that broke out “when he said this” (Acts 23:7) prevented Paul from developing this theme. But clearly Paul was laying the foundation for another presentation of the claims of Christ, by finding common ground with a large segment of his listeners. The accusation that Paul used a shoddy trick reminds us of the danger of standing in judgment on others’ motives. Christians are to agree with God’s assessment that certain acts are sinful. But we are not to judge the motives or personal convictions of others. “The dispute became so violent” Acts 23:10–11. Passionate belief is one thing. Doing violence to others is another. Paul may not have been surprised at the reaction of the Sanhedrin, but he was clearly endangered by it. God’s reassurance and promise were especially welcome at that time. God doesn’t speak with us today as He did to Paul. But the Lord speaks to us through His words to the great apostle. That “take courage” is for us in our times of turmoil or danger. So is the sense of His promise. As God had a purpose for Paul to fulfill, so He has a purpose for you and me to fulfill as well. “They went to the chief priests and elders” Acts 23:12–22. The “chief priests and elders” were members of the Sadducee party. They were also members of the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of Judaism, responsible to administer God’s Law. All we can say about their willingness to join in a conspiracy to assassinate Paul is that it is a shocking revelation of their character. But never mind their hypocrisy. We need to watch ourselves! You and I need to be on guard against professing Christian values, and then acting in a way that denies them. Caesarea Maritima (“by the sea”) was so well designed by engineers that the action of the ocean itself kept the harbor clear of silt and drifting sand. The beautiful city, decorated by Herod the Great with many public buildings, was Palestine’s major seaport and the Roman administrative center. Paul was held there under house arrest for two years before being sent on to Rome for trial (Acts 24–25). “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything” Acts 23:14. Don’t suppose the conspirators starved when they didn’t kill Paul. Rabbinical rulings allowed any vow to be broken if it was incited by others, if it involved exaggeration, if made in error, or if unfulfillable. In other words, the vow to not eat until after murdering Paul was meaningless! No wonder Jesus once urged His followers to let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. If we are not persons of our integrity, making a vow is meaningless. “He wrote a letter as follows” Acts 23:23–35. When word of the conspiracy reached the Roman commander, he arranged to send Paul with a strong escort to the Roman governor at Caesarea. The original makes it clear that Luke did not have the specific letter, but that the commander’s letter was similar to the summary Luke includes. “Your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation” Acts 24:1–9. It was typical to launch a case in court with flattering remarks addressed to the judge. But the words addressed to Governor Felix by the orator hired by the chief priests to bring charges against Paul are so blatantly false as to be hypocritical. Felix was born a slave, but later was freed by the mother of the Emperor Claudius. The Roman historian Tacitus called Felix “a master of cruelty and lust who exercised the powers of a king with the spirit of a slave.” His years in Palestine saw numerous insurrections, and Felix used increasingly brutal methods to put them down. To speak of Felix’s rule as a “period of peace” and to commend the governor for bringing about reforms was worse than ridiculous. How strange it is that those who wish to be flattered lose perspective on reality. The greater the lie, the more welcome it seems. No wonder Scripture warns us, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Rom. 12:3). “Paul replied” Acts 24:10–21. Paul’s reply was quite different from the accusation. He used no flattery (v. 10). He identified himself as a Christian (vv. 14–16). And he stated simply the facts that refuted their charges. He had only come to Jerusalem 12 days earlier: how could he be a “ringleader” of anything? (v. 11) When he was taken he was alone: how could he “stir up riots” without talking to a crowd? (vv. 12, 18) As to why he was in Jerusalem, he came to worship, and to bring gifts from Christians to the (Christian) people of Jerusualem (vv. 17–18). If Paul were guilty of some other charge, where were his accusers? (v. 12) This last question was significant, as Roman law penalized accusers who committed destitutio, abandoning charges made against another person. If no accusers appeared, the legal significance was that of withdrawing the charges. It was clear, then, that there was no legal basis to condemn or even to hold Paul. Was Paul acquitted? No. The governor decided it would be expedient to use judicial delay in hopes feelings would grow less intense—and in hopes that Paul might bribe him to obtain his release (v. 26). Being in the right is no guarantee to either acquittal or justice. All you and I are guaranteed is that God is in full command of our situations, and that He intends to do us good.
DEVOTIONAL
Having Our Say(Acts 24:1–27)
On the one hand, Acts 24 seems to be a defeat or at least a setback for Paul. He made a compelling defense before the Roman governor Felix, and showed how weak the chief priest’s case against him was. But Felix waffled, and refused to decide the case. Paul was put under house arrest, and kept there for two years! Later Felix and his third wife, Drusilla, a Jewess who abandoned her husband Azizus to marry Felix, heard Paul discourse on “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come” (v. 25). Felix was frightened and sent Paul away. Only his hope that Paul would offer him a bribe moved Felix to talk with Paul from time to time. It looked like failure. But in fact it was success! For Paul, and the Gospel, had a hearing. That’s really what we Christians want. A hearing. We shouldn’t expect to be popular. Or that the majority of folks will experience instant conversion. But at the least we must have a chance to be heard. That’s why it’s significant that powerful media unions, the American Federation of TV and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) want to censor a new publication called TV, designed to report information on networks, stars, and program content. The values reflected in TV are those espoused by Paul as he confronted Felix and Drusilla with the biblical teaching on “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.” While AFTRA and SAG are both adamant against censorship of the movie and TV industries, actor John Randolph, who introduced a resolution at AFTRA’s national convention condemning the TV newsletter, said, “I want this to be stopped before it really gets started.” If you want information on networks, sponsors, and groups which are actively anti-Christian, and on Christian organizations working to help Christians have our say in modern society, write the American Family Association, P.O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803.
Personal Application
Don’t be discouraged if few respond to your witness. Having your say is success!
Quotable
“What the world expects of Christians is that Christians should speak out, loud and clear . . . in such a way that never a doubt, never the slightest doubt, could rise in the heart of the simplest man.”—Albert Camus
This is my personal collection of thoughts and writings, mainly from much smarter people than I, which challenge me in my discipleship walk. Don't rush by these thoughts, but ponder them.
Milo 