Living a Life of Hope

Philippians 1:1-6English Standard Version (ESV)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants^[a] of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers^[b] and deacons:^[c]

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A+1+-6&version=ESV)

I love reading this passage because it brings me hope.  I am sure that it brought the Philippians hope as well as they suffered through persecution, pain, and sorrow.

God has not promised us a life on this earth that is perfect and without fault.  He did that for Adam and Eve but they ate of the forbidden fruit anyway.  Because of their disobedience, as well as our own, we too have had to suffer the consequence.  Although Christ came to suffer the ultimate sacrifice for anyone who believes on His name, there is still sin in this world.  Sin results in pain, suffering, and even death.  Yet we have hope, a hope of a life in the presence of our Lord where there will be no more pain, no more suffering.

There are times in this world that I want to give up and then I remember the Words found in this passage, “⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  It keeps me going by just knowing that God is not finished with me yet.  Once He completes His work, I will be with Him.  Until that time I must continue to believe in the One who saved me.  Trust in the One that gave His life so that I might live.  I must live by Faith, knowing yet not seeing Him.  Life continues, the questions for today: Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and that He dies and rose again in three days?  Is He your Lord and Savior?  If so, are we thanking Him for that life?  Are we rejoicing in knowing Him?  Are we seeking Him with all our hearts?

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Share with Our Children

Joel 1:1-3

English Standard Version (ESV)

1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel:

² Hear this, you elders;
    give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
Has such a thing happened in your days,
    or in the days of your fathers?
³ Tell your children of it,
    and let your children tell their children,
    and their children to another generation.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+1%3A1-3&version=ESV)

As I read these first few verses today, I was reminded of how we need to share the works of the Lord with our children.  The past few days I have been at my daughter’s house and my oldest granddaughter, who is five, wanted me to tell her Bible stories.  One evening I got my Bible out to tell her a story because I wanted to follow along in the Bible to tell her so I didn’t forget any of the details.   She just wanted me to close my Bible and tell her the story.  How often do we forget the stories that are so available to us in our Bible and we want to depend on it to get us through?  There may come a time that we do not have our Bibles readily available to us.  Do we know what is inside of them?  Can we tell the stories to our children and our children’s children.  We need to share the Word and we need to hold it close to our hearts and minds.

As you seek Him today, may you find the stories within the Bible are also in your heart and mind and may you share them with others.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Seeking and Sharing

Acts 28:17-31

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had 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. ¹⁸ When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. ¹⁹ But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” ²¹ And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. ²² But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

²³ When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. ²⁴ And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. ²⁵ And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

²⁶ “‘Go to this people, and say,
“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
²⁷ For this people's heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’

²⁸ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”^[a]

³⁰ He lived there two whole years at his own expense,^[b] and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+28%3A17-31&version=ESV)

Paul was an amazing man.  He waited three days, probably to renew his mind and refresh his body, before speaking to this group of Jewish leaders.  Notice, however, that he does as he has in any other place that he goes, he speaks to the Jews first.  He gives them a chance before going to the Gentiles.  He goes to the toughest crowd first, the ones who have continually rejected Christ, who crucified Him, and who refuse to acknowledge His resurrection. 

This passage is one that we need to remember as we seek Him.  We need to realize that we should also be bold in our faith.  We need to understand that not always will our words be received well; yet, we need to continue to share.  Paul knew that some would reject this message of hope but he was not speaking to them.  Paul we speaking so that those who would receive the Word, believe, repent, and be saved.                Too often we focus more on the rejection than we do the acceptance.  We tend to shy away when we thing rejection is about to come.  Not Paul, he just jumps in and shares with the tough crowd. We need to remember, even though more reject than accept we need to press on because there is someone out there who is ready to hear of the hope found in Christ.

Seek Him and be sure to share with others what you find.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Blessings

Acts 28:11-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹¹ After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods^[a] as a figurehead. ¹² Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. ¹³ And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found brothers^[b] and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. ¹⁵ And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. ¹⁶ And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+28+%3A+11-16&version=ESV)

As I read this I sensed that there was a bit of excitement in the writer’s words when I read, “There we found brothers”.  I did not sense the excitement because of a punctuation mark, there are no annotations that tell me of the excitement, I cannot read tone of voice in this, so how did I sense excitement?  Just by knowing that Paul and the one traveling with him had not had any interaction with any believers other than each other, for quite some time, tells me that they must have been excited.  In addition to that, they were allowed to stay with them. 

Being around those that love and know the Lord can be so uplifting.  I cannot imagine not being able to fellowship with other believers.  However, often times we take that for granted.  We begin to become so accustomed to having other believers around us that we can tend to forget the importance of it.  It is a sad time when we begin to dread going to church rather than rejoicing that we can.  When our focus becomes on others rather than on Christ, when that happens, we have missed the point of fellowshipping together. 

As I seek Him today, I thank Him for those people in my life who I find joy in fellowshipping together with.  I thank Him for a church family to love on and who love me just the way I am.  I thank Him for a Pastor who guides Christ’s flock.  I thank Him for a country that He has allowed me to call home where I can worship freely with other believers.  I thank Him for a husband and family that love the Lord.  I do not want to take this all in stride; He has blessed me so very much.  Yet at times I forget these are privileges that He has afforded me and I want to give Him the glory for them. 

As you seek Him today, remember the privileges He has given you, maybe they are the same as mine but one is the same for sure, He has given all of us the opportunity to believe in Him and have fellowship with other believers in some way or another, either secretly or in public, either in a blog or in person, He has blessed us, now let us not forget to thank Him for those blessings.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Why?

Acts 28:1-6

English Standard Version (ESV)

28 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. ² The native people^[a] showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. ³ When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. ⁴ When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice^[b] has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶ They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+28%3A1-6&version=ESV)

As I read this passage today I had to realize once again that God is in control.  I know I say that a lot, yet we read it a lot throughout scripture.  Recently there was a young sixteen year old who died in a small town near where I live.  I found out that this young lady had been battling cancer.  She was a very nice person that was stricken with a horrible disease at such a young age.  I also learned of a little boy or was a bat boy for a semi-pro baseball team that was hit by a bat during the batters warm-up.  The little boy lived a couple of days but succumbed to his injuries and died.  These were two lively children taken way too soon in our eyes.  Why does God allow this to happen?

In Paul’s case he did not allow this to happen.  He healed Paul and he healed the people on the island of Malta.  As a child I always struggled with the stories relating to healing and raising people, especially children, from the dead.  I always asked God why He did not raise my sister.  I would beg Him to allow me to speak to her one more time.  Those prayers were not answered with an affirmative and I finally quit asking.  I did, however, struggle with the question, “why?”

In the passage the healing of Paul and the people gave Paul the opportunity to witness to the people.  Although it is not recorded what he said to them, there is evidence that they were given some information.  1.  We see that Paul prayed and the people were healed.  2.  We see that they considered him some sort of god but they did not worship him.  If Paul would have not witnessed these people would have most likely idolized him and may not have let him leave.  3.  They were thankful and gave Paul and the people on the ship what they needed but they did not shower Paul with all the riches that they owned which would have been a form of worship to him. 

Sometimes God heals as a way of witness.  Other times He does not heal and we wonder why.  The only solace I can have in this is that God is the God of this universe and He knows better than I what He is doing and what is best.  If He gives life or takes it away it is up to Him and He has His reasons.  He was not finished with Paul on this earth so He saved Him.  In fact He sent that serpent to bite Him, so that He would have a pathway to witness.  When we have misfortune, pain, illness, or death of a loved one, do we honor God by being His witness or do we curl up in a shell and feel sorry for ourselves?  How do we respond?  As you seek Him today, remember, our response in all situations should be that of thanksgiving because God is in control.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

My Rock

Acts 27:39-44

English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁹ Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. ⁴⁰ So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. ⁴¹ But striking a reef,^[a] they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. ⁴² The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. ⁴³ But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, ⁴⁴ and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27%3A39-44&version=ESV)

Just as Paul had stated, all of the men were spared from death and the ship was destroyed.  Oh yes, it was a good thing they listened to him and ate the bread because they needed strength to make it to shore.  Several times these men could have died, but God had other plans.  I have to wonder if any of those men became believers after Paul’s testimony. 

This is quite a testimony as to how God works in our lives.  When He has a purpose for us, there is nothing to keep us from that purpose.  The details of this event are so precise that I began to think about my own shipwrecks.  Has any part of my life seemed to get stuck and became unmovable?  Well, maybe my attitude!  Has anything ever been broken up?  I would say, my heart.  Sometimes this vessel gets stuck in storms and it seems impossible to survive yet God has a plan and there will be a time of deliverance.  Maybe, just maybe, it is time to jump ship and put my full trust in His ways.  He is our rescuer, our strength, and our deliverer.  Psalm 71:1-3English Standard Version (ESV) says it well and is my prayer:

71 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame!
² In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!
³ Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A1-3&version=ESV)

 

May we ever seek Him in times of trouble and in times of joy.

 

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Demonstrating Our Faith through Prayer

Acts 27:33-38

English Standard Version (ESV)

³³ As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. ³⁴ Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,^[a] for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” ³⁵ And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. ³⁶ Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. ³⁷ (We were in all 276^[b] persons in the ship.) ³⁸ And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27%3A33-38&version=ESV)

As I read this passage, The Last Supper came to my mind. Luke 22:19English Standard Version (ESV)  ¹⁹ And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Paul did not say those exact words but He did give thanks and what he said before they took of the bread is what reminds me of the Lord’s supper, “For it will give you strength”.  Jesus did not use those exact words either but we find in Isaiah that He does give us strength. 

Isaiah 40:28-29English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹ He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Our strength comes from the Lord, something we should not forget.  Each day I pray before I eat.  Some may say that is a tradition but I do not.  I believe the Bible is clear in saying that we should pray and thank the One that gives us the strength through our food.  By doing this we should daily be reminded of what Christ has done for us.  Jesus did this practice and Paul did as well, I can hardly call that just a tradition.  Is there evidence in our Bible that it is necessary to pray before we eat?  No.  It is not specifically spelled out in the Bible that we must do this.  Jesus only gives us two things to do, as found in  Matthew 22:37-39 English Standard Version (ESV), Jesus speaking, “ ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37-39&version=ESV.

To this I say, if we truly love the Lord our God with all our heart, then we should recognize and thank Him for what He has given us.  If we love our neighbor, we should demonstrate Christ’s love to us.  Paul did this.  Through his obedience to Christ those on the ship were strengthened.  His prayer demonstrated to them the faith that Paul had in Christ.

Seek Him daily and thank Him daily for the strength that He gives to you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Sailing with Christ

Acts 27:1-38

English Standard Version (ESV)

27 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. ² And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. ³ The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. ⁴ And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. ⁵ And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. ⁷ We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. ⁸ Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

⁹ Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast^[a] was already over, Paul advised them, ¹⁰ saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” ¹¹ But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. ¹² And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. ¹⁴ But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. ¹⁵ And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶ Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda,^[b] we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. ¹⁷ After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear,^[c] and thus they were driven along. ¹⁸ Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. ¹⁹ And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

²¹ Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. ²² Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. ²³ For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, ²⁴ and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ ²⁵ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. ²⁶ But we must run aground on some island.”

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+27%3A1+-26&version=ESV)

Psalm 37:4. English Standard Version (ESV), tells us,

⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37%3A4&version=ESV)  If you have been reading along with us in Acts, you may recall that Paul had a desire to go to Rome.  He did not stop at some cities that he had been too because he had a need to get to Rome.  Yet, he still has not arrived.  Now we find him on a ship that is being tossed to and fro in the waters and all the people are about to perish.  Then Paul gets up and speaks.  He tells them that they will not perish because an angel told him so.  This is a bit different than the story on Jonah who was trying to avoid going to Nineveh, a place that God had called him. 

The lesson I heard today is that if God has a plan for you and me, and we can either go with it or try to avoid it but ultimately God’s plan is what will happen.  So, in the case of Paul, he was ready for the adventure God had set forth for him.  He was so in tune with God and His will that he had the same desires that God had for him.  Whereas Jonah had his own agenda to attend to and it did not go as well for him.  Most of the time I feel more like Jonah than I do Paul, which is sad to say and hard to admit.  I tend to look at my agenda and want God to go along with it rather than looking at God’s agenda and following His calling.  I get down and depressed when my agenda does not work out, forgetting that God has the entire situation under control, it is in His hands.  I have to think that even Paul was somewhat scared of the situation, wondering if it was his desire to go to Rome or if God really wanted him to go.  For even Paul stated that the angel told him to “fear not”.  This is a common greeting of angels, yet; in this case I believe the angel was referring more to the storm than to his appearance to Paul.   

I believe these words are for us even today.  I can get into situations that I do not understand.  I can think that I am following God’s will when it is really my own desires.  I can sit and wonder for hours upon hours as to why I am in a certain predicament.  Yet, if I put my trust in Him, I have no need to be afraid, discouraged, or distraught.  Let this be a lesson to us today, let our hearts desire His will for our lives, to be witnesses of His grace and forgiveness and give Him the glory.  Let us live our lives in such as way that others may know that we seek Him with all our hearts.

May God bless you as you continue your journey with Him, whether you are shipwrecked or smooth sailing, know that He is the Captain of your ship and it is sailing on course for His will.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Paul's Defense/Our Defense

Acts 25-26

English Standard Version (ESV)

25 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. ² And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, ³ asking as a favor against Paul^[a] that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. ⁴ Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. ⁵ “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

⁶ After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. ⁷ When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. ⁸ Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” ⁹ But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” ¹⁰ But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹ If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” ¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

¹³ Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. ¹⁴ And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, ¹⁵ and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. ¹⁶ I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. ¹⁷ So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. ¹⁸ When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. ¹⁹ Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. ²⁰ Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. ²¹ But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” ²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

²³ So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. ²⁶ But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

26 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

² “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. ⁵ They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, ⁷ to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! ⁸ Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

⁹ “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

¹² “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language,^[b] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, ¹⁷ delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you ¹⁸ to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. ²¹ For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. ²² To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: ²³ that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” ²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”^{[c] 29} And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

³⁰ Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. ³¹ And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+25+-26&version=ESV)

This is a longer reading than usual but I felt it was important to put all of this together.  My questions for today are these:  “Could we, like Paul, use our testimony for our defense?”  The answer should be “yes”.  Next question:  “Are we using our testimony as our defense?”  The answer again should be “yes”.  Sadly to say, I often use many other defenses rather than my faith to defend my actions or argue the actions of others.  Today as we seek Him, let’s remember, like Paul, we have been called for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel and to give God the glory due Him.  We all have ways that God has gifted us to do this.  Some are bold like Paul and have the opportunity to stand before Kings and Queens while others are quiet and have opportunity to proclaim it to the common folk.  Whatever God has gifted you with, use it to give honor and glory to the One who deserves it, Jesus Christ.  As the song goes, “My one defense, my righteousness, oh God how I need you.”

Seek Him, proclaim Him, and honor Him.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila