Good morning to all on this Tuesday morning July 8, 2014. My mother, Hisako, was born on this day in 1923. She would have been 91 today but was called home many years ago. I have very fond memories of my mother which is how she lives on. She lives on in the lives of her children and grand children which is the measure of our worth as mothers. Waine and I were attending the funeral of his 1st cousin Carlin in Dallas over the weekend. She died very suddenly on June 25, 2014. She awoke like she did every day, went on the treadmill and then died. She at the moment saw and crossed the River Jordan like all of us will. 100% of us will have that moment and when we do, we should all be sure that our crossing will be with Jesus, the Lamb whose blood buys us safe passage. Death is a very sure thing as is life with God through Christ. We have to choose wisely while we have the chance.
I am continuing my journey in Acts 25, verses 1-27 "Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.” After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them. Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned. “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.” Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
At first I wasn't going to post this chapter because "it was just a story" of Paul's imprisonment. I got to thinking then why is it in the Bible. Why did God chose to include this chapter so that I could read it on July 8, 2014. Paul is JUST DOING HIS JOB--He is preaching the Good News that Christ lived, He died and then ......................He lived again. The Jews were so angry with him (Paul) they sought to kill him over this simple message. Paul represented the mirror through which the Jews and now the Romans would have to see themselves. The Jews in their haste to kill Paul made it possible for the Roman High Court and command to hear the gospel of Christ. Without meaning to, the Jews were helping Paul spread the Gospel. Hallelujah! When the scriptures tell us that God brings Good out of everything, even evil intent, you should remember this chapter in the Acts of the New Testament. When you are falsely accused for God's sake, you don't have to fear because your faithfulness will withstand all the fiery darts of the devil. when you feel besieged by what people may say or do, take heart for the Good Work that God has begun in you and through you, will come to completion. No one said our journey would be easy; in fact if they persecuted Jesus who knew no sin, we should count it joy that we are presecuted when we in faith, exercise our faith. Hallelujah. This chapter has given me lot's of perspective. The victory in this life has nothing to do with out effort--just our faith. Words are powerful and the profession of our faith though Words is the most powerful. That is what satan is afraid of. He puts obstacles and threats in our way so that we will be quiet--at those moments we need to shout louder that Jesus is Christ. Christ is the Redeemer and the Redeemer liveth so that all can come to God through Him. Jesus is the Way Maker.
No matter where you find yourself today, do not be afraid. The same God that delivered Paul will deliver you. God loves all of us the same. He loves us with Passion and Compassion. He withholds nothing from us. We block our blessings through sin and un-belief. The simple and yet hardest thing is just to believe. What are you afraid of? What are you holding on to? Let it go and trust the Hand of God to lead you.
To know Him is to love Him. To Love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Stephanie
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