The Isaiah 52 Blog

Today’s reading comes from the books of Acts. You can find all of today’s readings here.

“But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.”

“Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial. And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him? And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” – Acts 22:30, 23:6-11 (ESV)

Today there will be two points, so you’re getting double your money’s worth. Get excited.

First off – I cannot help but mention the humor in this passage. There are a lot of people that approach the bible in a completely serious mental state, and granted the bible is generally a very serious text, but you cannot help but laugh at the people and events depicted in it every once in a while. For instance – in Genesis chapter fifteen, when God makes His covenant with Abraham, he tells a sinful pagan who is at the time 87 years old and his barren wife that they will have a son who will become a great nation, and the idea seemed laughable. They soon give birth to a son, and because God always gets the last laugh, the boy’s name is Issac which means laughter. That’s got a little comical value no matter what angle you come at it from. So let’s set the scene here: Paul is brought before the Sanhedrin, the teachers of the law and high priests of the land, because the Roman guards are wondering if he really is guilty. The scene is chaotic and accusations are being thrown all around the room at Paul, and it is stated that the Saducees don’t believe in the spirits or angels. Undoubtedly knowing this, one of the Pharisees stands up and says “Hey guys come on now, maybe he is telling the truth and a spirit or angel spoke to him!” Doi! Come on man! You have got to know that saying stuff like that in the Sanhedrin is gonna cause a ruckus – and this time it did so much so that the Roman guards had to take Paul out because they feared for his safety! Idiot.

Ok, now that we got that out of the way and you know that the bible doesn’t always have to be taken so serenely, let’s move on to the meat of the text.

We see here in verse eleven of Acts chapter twenty three God’s faithfulness to those who He has called into ministry. Yes, Paul was murdered before he ever got to Spain to preach the gospel as he had hoped, but not a second before the Lord allowed it to happen. This scene happens towards the end of Paul’s last missionary journey over thirty years after he was called and converted on the Damascus road by Jesus, and even as Paul is in prison the Lord speaks to him and tells him that his mission is not yet over – he must still proclaim the good news of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection in Rome. The Lord called Paul at a specific time for a specific purpose, as He has done with you, and was faithful to provide until that mission was accomplished and Paul was called home to be in the presence of the Father. Paul even says himself in his letter to the Philippians “…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.” Philippians 1:3-6 (ESV)

If you are in Christ, it was not because of your good works but because of the Lord’s gracious calling of you to Himself that you are saved. He called you at the perfect time with a perfect plan for your life, and in this you may rest that no circumstance is without reason. Indeed the Lord is waiting for you to trust him with every aspect of your daily life, and is faithful to carry you in love and grace until He sees fit to call you home.

So what does this mean? You are a beloved child of the God most high, so live like it! Your life has a purpose, so seek it out! You have a redeemer who is on a continuing conquest for the hearts and minds of men, and He has chosen you to be a part of this ministry! So what are you waiting for? I would encourage you that the Lord will never leave you or forsake you, and you are constantly in the safest place on earth – in the center of His will. Take chances, live your faith out in every situation, and worship like no one is watching, because this is the life the Lord has given you and it is for His glory that you live it.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your faithfulness to me. I am a broken sinner who has rebelled against your will every step of the way, yet I rejoice that you do not forsake me but have mercy on me and even call me your child. Father guide my steps and give me the courage to stop worrying about what others will think or do to me, and start living out my faith in every situation that you have so graciously ordained for me. I pray these things for the sake of my savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

-Mark