Not Exactly How We Thought It Would Be

 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Acts 9:15

“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.

                                            Acts 26:27-29

I’ve recently just finished reading the book of Acts. I’ve read Acts many times, but I always learn something new each time I do, and I am so thankful to the Holy Spirit’s work in that. I give Him credit, also, for turning me on to Enduring Word, a commentary done by Pastor David Guzik that is available in an app that I listen to in the car or when I work out.

It was while reading Guzik’s commentary on chapter 26 that I was inspired to write this devotional. The setting in here is that Paul, accused and hated by the Jews because of his preaching and testimony regarding God’s message for the Gentiles that sparked a riot amongst the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, stands before King Agrippa in Caesarea. Through a right provided by his Roman citizenship, Paul has appealed to Caesar, to be tried before his tribunal, and along the way has reiterated his testimony and preached Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected to a number of Roman statesmen and dignitaries. It is also with King Agrippa that Paul shares not only his dramatic past and conversion story but also the message about Christ’s suffering and resurrection, proclaiming “light both to our people (Jews) and to the Gentiles.” Agrippa, after being pointedly questioned by Paul, tells him, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (It sounds a bit more emphatic in the NKJV: “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”)

Paul is witnessing to the king, just as Jesus told Ananias Paul would. Only the route he took to get there was probably not the way he would’ve originally envisioned it. Truth be told, were I Paul, and were I told that I would appear before kings to preach the good news and name of Jesus, my first thought would be, “An audience with kings and other dignitaries—what an opportunity! It may take some coordination, connections, and string-pulling, but what an honor and great thing this will be.” I would endeavor to not allow pride to kick in, but knowing who I am, I fear I might lose that battle slightly. I don’t think I’d break my arm patting my shoulder, but I can see my head getting maybe a wee bit larger.

But the route Paul takes to get an audience with kings is quite different. Instead of preaching circuits in fine linens and horse-drawn chariots, with fine dining and drink, rubbing elbows with politicians and royalty, Paul, up to this point, has endured stoning, lashings, imprisonment, beatings, and plots to kill him. After he witnesses to the King and his entourage, Paul will face horrible storms while sailing, being shipwrecked, a snakebite, and further imprisonment in Rome.

Not necessarily the path one would want to be on, pre- or post-kingly visit, wouldn’t you agree? Oh, but it was a path put together by the Lord, one punctuated with its trials and sufferings as well as its highs of miracles (the earthquake that occurred while Paul and Silas were in prison as well as Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons being used to heal and exorcise), successful evangelization throughout Asia, and as we read at the end of Acts, “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

May we aspire to be obedient like Paul, knowing that although the plans the Lord has for us may not jive with how we thought things would go or turn out, He is sovereign and righteous.

Prayer Requests

·      For the lost who desperately need to know the love of Jesus Christ

·      For our hearts to be open to the nudging of the Holy Spirit in all things

·      For us to be Jesus to this broken world

·      For our pastors and lay leadership

Let’s open ourselves up to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and seek the plans that the Lord has for us, sooner rather than later. Let us put away preconceived notions on what we thought Christianity would be like – it can be messy, involved, heavy, challenging, and scary, but it can be oh so rewarding if we rely on Him and obey.

 Quotes

“When thoughts bombard your mind saying, “Who do you think you are?” Just smile and say, “a child of the most high God!”     

“It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way that you carry it.”