Microchurch Minute
Being a Christian sure is a cakewalk, isn’t it? With our collectively perfect pasts and simply acquired citizenships. Sense the sarcasm. We see parts of Paul’s story highlighted, even in the midst of trials. Paul even identified as a Jew while referencing the persecution he personally inflicted on believers prior to being welcomed into the family of God. Relatable much? I really have grown to love the saying “I was one way and now I am completely different.” It looks different on this side of grace, yet sounds completely crazy to unbelievers. The crowd turns against Paul when he mentions reaching out to the Gentiles. As Christians, we understand that we are all God’s children, and that dictates an urgency in reaching out to them all. But to those confused at the mercy of grace and the gift the Jesus bestowed upon all creation the day he took up the cross, it’s a common misconception that is seen even in the modern day church… “christians” believing that they are better than or worth more than those that are not.
How does your everyday life look? Are you actively reaching those around you? In the midst of persecution, do you find yourself seeking opportunities to point to Heaven the way that Paul did? He related to people by way of sharing his story. You can’t argue someone’s testimony. Religion and politics can be debated all day, but the facts of your story will hold true. Who you were. Where you’ve been. What you’ve done. And then the shining moment, how did God make you completely different after you chose to rest in His grace. We all have a story. We have all faced varying degrees of trials. You’ll be amazed at the situations God strategically places you in where there are ears that need to hear it. At the coffee shop? In the checkout line at the grocery store? We have hundreds of opportunities each day to shine the light into the lives of others. Embrace it and seek the opportunities. Allow God to give you the boldness to speak unapologetically about His glory and how you’ve been transformed.
Microchurch Minute
We jumped in to Acts 23 discussing what to means to have a clear conscience. God can see to the very depths of your heart, even the dark spots. What does He see when He looks there? When you’ve actively turned from sin to pursue Jesus, you’re choosing each day, every moment to resist sin and subdue yourself to God’s will. His grace is not a permission slip to sin freely, but a true acceptance of new identity when we choose to shed our sinful nature. Paul was clearly living the convictions God had placed in his soul. While Paul receives a message from God to keep spreading the good news, there were simultaneously men that were planning his assassination. Yet in God’s great goodness, He provided a messenger to alert the commander who offered Paul a secured escape by the cover of night. After being safely delivered to the governor in Caesarea, Paul was granted safe keeping in Herod’s palace. See, even in the face of opposition, surrounded by those who may not be believers, God can still use those surrounding you to help make a way. You see, because He is God, He can and will continue to use all circumstances for His good, to accomplish His desired plan. Are you trusting in that plan or leaning more on yourself? Even when it gets uncomfortable, we can confidently trust that God is still orchestrating everything around us for His good plan. I pray that you be consumed by full faith vested in His unfailing grace.
Microchurch Minute
Acts 24 was tough to get through. We saw false accusations thrown at Paul, as he stood before Felix in Caesarea. Instead of an argumentative rebuttal, Paul chose the response of God’s grace. He was confident in his actions, the facts of the holy truth, calm in his reply and respectful of the audience that he presented to. Can you take notes from that? How does this compare to the way that we handle criticism or misunderstandings? Think carefully, Paul is sure to respond and not just react. He approaches this trial with a clear conscience. God knows the depths of his heart and soul, Paul can confidently provide facts knowing that the Holy Spirit is in his corner. Felix, a Roman leader, is revealed to have a Jewish wife (Drusilla). What a shake up in the system. Paul was then given the opportunity to speak regarding his faith and the knowledge of what is to come in the end of times. This made Felix nervous, so Paul was sent away. As he was continually sent for, Paul kept with the truth and maintained his clear conscience, refusing to offer bribes or drop his guard for the earthly promise of “freedom”. Instead of a final judgement being made, Felix chose to leave Paul in custody, continuing to await a fair trial.
Like Paul, you’ll never escape criticism from unbelievers. Even as we strive for a clear conscience, the backlash is unavoidable. People who hate Jesus, will look past your goodness and exaggerate your flaws to magnify sin. At the end of the day, can you look to your Heavenly Father and trust that He is continuing to work in your waiting and in your accusations? Keep focused on the One Who holds eternity in His hands. He already knows the truth and knows you. God, I pray that you reveal to me where I am flawed and should be leaning more into you. Let me never grow weary of the warfare that surrounds my soul and the seasons that feel stagnant at times. I trust that You have this and all scenarios in your mighty and powerful hands.
Microchurch Minute
So what happens after two years of Paul’s being detained? Enter, Festus. At first, the Jews ask a favor – that Paul be brought to Jerusalem so that they could ambush and kill him along the way. Wait a minute, didn’t God tell Paul a few chapters back that he would share the Good News in Rome? Festus convened court to hear the charges brought against Paul and then offered to send him to trial in Jerusalem. But Paul appeals to Ceasar. So, as only God can do, Festus can find no grounds to comvict Paul and is moved to send him to stand trial in front of Ceasar. In Rome. Paul is going to Rome.
I wonder, how many times do we feel God’s calling on our hearts and become discouraged at the delay in “our” plan to accomplish that calling. Or maybe what looks like a complete derailment. I’m willing to bet that when Paul heard from God he was going to Rome, he probably didn’t picture himself being imprisoned for 2 years and sent there as a prisoner.
Do you feel the calling that God has placed on your life? He always has a plan and you are always at move in it. Even in unprecedented circumstances. Even in uncomfortable settings. Even in seasons that feel stagnant. I dare you to believe that God has you there on purpose. If Jesus saw you today and asked, face to face, what you’ve done to share the Good News in the last 30 days… what would you say?
Microchurch Minute
We get to take a look at Paul’s testimony in front of King Agrippa. He recounts his past self, a man who was persecuting followers of Jesus, and his life changing encounter with Jesus that turned his whole purpose around. (As a quick recap, he was on the road to Damascus as a pharisee to kill even more Jews when Jesus appeared in a bright light to give Paul a new mission.) Do you have a landmark moment like that? Your testimony is a powerful tool. Like Paul, we should be using every opportunity to share our testimony with whoever has ears to hear it! God truly can use anyone, from any walk of life, to share the Good News of His glory. The accusers pointed out that Paul must be out of his mind. There will always be unbelievers that will see believers as “out of their mind”. But, it doesn’t even matter to Paul. It shouldn’t matter to us either. we have the opportunity to press on joyfully, sharing what we know to be true. Sharing the truth of Jesus Christ. Paul is a great example of how we should use every opportunity presented to us to share our faith story. That’s it, we get to share. It’s God’s hand that can use our words in the hearts of others.
Microchurch Minute
We’re almost finished with the book of Acts! Paul and some other prisoners are loaded on a boat with Julius, the centurion, to oversee his transfer to Rome. They had a few stops on the way, and in Julius’ kindness, Paul was allowed a time to visit with friends during their brief stop in Sidon. I love to see the goodness of God here. He could have appointed anyone to oversee Paul’s journey. God put a centurion in a position that is sympathetic to Paul and adds a level of comfort to his trip, that one would not anticipate in a typical “prison transfer” scenario. I would be willing to bet that we might have also seen these God winks in the midst of our own unfavorable conditions. Small gestures and pockets of peace in what the world would call turmoil.
Then the storms begin. Paul advised the crew to halt their journey, but they did not head his words and continued on. Though thrown off course due to terrible weather, Paul received a visit from an angel of the Lord that confirmed all passengers would live. After disposing of cargo and beginning to lose hope, Paul encouraged all 276 passengers to eat and regain their strength because all hope was not actually lost. As they crew hoped to run aground, the ship hit a reef and all passengers were evacuated to a nearby island.
God guided Paul’s ship to the island using the wind and the waves, seemingly natural sources. There is nowhere we go that God is not, His hand is always in the details, even when it looks stormy. Keep your focus on your Heavenly Father and have peace amid the storm.
