Week 10 Day 3
Finding God in the Mysteries of every day
Acts 24: 4 But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve ]the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.
Please note in this wonderful apology (from Greek apologia apologia), which means one’s defense of themselves or their position, Paul does his very best to draw the most reasonable points in making his case. More importantly he makes Governor Felix aware that his focus is to maintain a “blameless conscience before God”. This to me is a fascinating statement. If we take just a moment to unpack what is happening here, we see that Paul is in chains, incarcerated, and by all rights should be frightened. After all Felix hold the power of Rome in his hands, the power of life and death. He exhibits no fear. To him Felix and his authority while they are to be respected is in reality more of a backdrop to his understanding the he is always in the presence of God and that is the focus of his entire being. What Felix will or will not do take a back seat to Paul’s clear understanding of his relationship and calling to God the Father through our Lord Jesus.
When we are in the position of standing before the judgement of anyone, are we more concerned with maintain our relationship with that person, or are we more concerned with being very clear and in all Godly wisdom and compassion telling the glorious hope we have in our loving Heavenly Father?
Larry M Lawrence- Mysteries 