i must say that Paul's boldness and willingness to die really hits me today. Just going through some of the vision God has given me, i need to see someone willing to stand up to persecution...
and then there is the same question about the law we've had this whole month. hmmmmm....
i find it interesting that everyone was "hearing" the spirit talk to them. and it was letting them know paul was in for something in jerusalem. even more interesting is everyone's reactions to this truth that was communicated by the spirit. so it is now as well, i think. the spirit communicates a truth to us, and based on ourselves and our natures, we each react differently and do different things with the same revelation.
Ac 21:13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” i can understand this. i'm sure the faith needed to offer up your life can be a very precarious thing. i know that his friends were just offering up their honest feelings from their hearts, but seeing the depth of grief, i know it would be hard to go through with. when i think of offering my life, the thought becomes easier and easier to picture. giving it all. the only image that gives pause is of erin and zaavan and the emotional devestation that would be wrought in that moment. that is a hard thing to contemplate. even harder to give it up in truth and come to a place where i can say, "yet, not as i will.."
Ac 21:21-22 "They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come..." according to this scripture, paul is in danger from the local jews because he teaches people that they need not adhere to the traditions of the church. but instead has been preaching the grace available to us in the cross. "for i purposed to know nothing among you except christ and him crucified."
but, for conscience's sake, he relents to obeying the ceremonial circumstances. and finds himself in chains anyway. sometimes, there is no pleasing those who have it in for you. the mob begin to kick the crap out of him. again.
and i loved the cliffhanger. the moment built up so delicately. the image of a man. the one who has stirred up so much dissent. the one who used to be on their side and fight for the cause of the true god of israel. now, gone away, spreading this heresy all across the land. come back to be beaten and bruised. standing alone. he opens his mouth to speak to the now silent crowd...
i have a feeling no matter what he has to say, they won't want to hear it. if they even truly listen to him.
very challenging. very encouraging. i am taking great comfort and direction from these men who were willing to leave everything behind and even then die, if that is what is required to communicate the truth to their fellow man. this is the heart i desire. this is the heart i need. for me to be crucified with christ so that i no longer live, but christ live through me.
and thank you hersch for sharing again. thank you as well, cheryl. i can study acts alone anytime. thanks for coming alongside me and being faithful in this.
Actually sometimes I think it would be easier to die for Christ than it is to live for Him, because dying for Christ would be a one off act. And once you're dead you get to be with Him. But having to deny myself on a daily basis is for me the bigger challenge.
Just been thinking about a speaker I heard a while ago. She was a missionary somewhere, possibly Albania and was arrested for evangelizing or something similar. They told her they were going to execute her the next day. She went to sleep thinking that tomorrow she would be in heaven and slept like a log. The next day they told her they had changed their minds and she would be given a life sentence instead. She said she felt disappointed. Anyway she was released from prison a short time later, and later again wrote a book called, "Tomorrow You Die".
I think if you are called to die for the sake of the gospel God gives you the grace to cope and as David Watson wrote, God doesn't give dying grace on non-dying days.
I brought cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning but Jon hasn't opened up yet - I will be back later but I can't promise the cinnamon rolls will. :)
8 comments:
oooh...another cliffhanger.
i must say that Paul's boldness and willingness to die really hits me today. Just going through some of the vision God has given me, i need to see someone willing to stand up to persecution...
and then there is the same question about the law we've had this whole month. hmmmmm....
It seemed that he was not only willing but eager to die for the sake of the cause.
i find it interesting that everyone was "hearing" the spirit talk to them. and it was letting them know paul was in for something in jerusalem. even more interesting is everyone's reactions to this truth that was communicated by the spirit.
so it is now as well, i think. the spirit communicates a truth to us, and based on ourselves and our natures, we each react differently and do different things with the same revelation.
Ac 21:13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” i can understand this. i'm sure the faith needed to offer up your life can be a very precarious thing. i know that his friends were just offering up their honest feelings from their hearts, but seeing the depth of grief, i know it would be hard to go through with. when i think of offering my life, the thought becomes easier and easier to picture. giving it all. the only image that gives pause is of erin and zaavan and the emotional devestation that would be wrought in that moment. that is a hard thing to contemplate. even harder to give it up in truth and come to a place where i can say, "yet, not as i will.."
Ac 21:21-22 "They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come..." according to this scripture, paul is in danger from the local jews because he teaches people that they need not adhere to the traditions of the church. but instead has been preaching the grace available to us in the cross. "for i purposed to know nothing among you except christ and him crucified."
but, for conscience's sake, he relents to obeying the ceremonial circumstances. and finds himself in chains anyway. sometimes, there is no pleasing those who have it in for you. the mob begin to kick the crap out of him. again.
and i loved the cliffhanger. the moment built up so delicately. the image of a man. the one who has stirred up so much dissent. the one who used to be on their side and fight for the cause of the true god of israel. now, gone away, spreading this heresy all across the land. come back to be beaten and bruised. standing alone. he opens his mouth to speak to the now silent crowd...
i have a feeling no matter what he has to say, they won't want to hear it. if they even truly listen to him.
very challenging. very encouraging. i am taking great comfort and direction from these men who were willing to leave everything behind and even then die, if that is what is required to communicate the truth to their fellow man. this is the heart i desire. this is the heart i need. for me to be crucified with christ so that i no longer live, but christ live through me.
and thank you hersch for sharing again. thank you as well, cheryl. i can study acts alone anytime. thanks for coming alongside me and being faithful in this.
Actually sometimes I think it would be easier to die for Christ than it is to live for Him, because dying for Christ would be a one off act. And once you're dead you get to be with Him. But having to deny myself on a daily basis is for me the bigger challenge.
Just been thinking about a speaker I heard a while ago. She was a missionary somewhere, possibly Albania and was arrested for evangelizing or something similar. They told her they were going to execute her the next day. She went to sleep thinking that tomorrow she would be in heaven and slept like a log. The next day they told her they had changed their minds and she would be given a life sentence instead. She said she felt disappointed. Anyway she was released from prison a short time later, and later again wrote a book called, "Tomorrow You Die".
I think if you are called to die for the sake of the gospel God gives you the grace to cope and as David Watson wrote, God doesn't give dying grace on non-dying days.
Thanks for that quote Susan - it makes sense.
I brought cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning but Jon hasn't opened up yet - I will be back later but I can't promise the cinnamon rolls will. :)
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