I
never dreamed we would still be living under “stay home, stay safe” orders.
It’s been 2 ½ months! The first few weeks were especially difficult. I remember
reading Acts 24 about two weeks into our confinement and took great encouragement
from it! We weren’t in jail for over 2 years in Caesarea like Paul. Two years
is a whole lot worse than 2 weeks or 2 months. Plus, I’ve been able to get
outside almost every single day for a jog, walk or bike ride.
Not
only was Paul in prison for two years, but the Jews were still plotting his
death!
Acts
24:27-25:3 27 When two years
had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix
wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from
Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where
the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the
charges against Paul. 3 They
requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem,
for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
I don’t know why the Jews were still so angry and
plotting Paul’s death two years later. I would think they would have forgotten
about him or at least moved on knowing he was in prison.
Anyway, it’s never recorded that Paul complained
about his situation or wondered when it would end. In fact, in Philippians
4:11b-12 Paul says: …I have learned to be
content whatever the circumstances. 12 I
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have
learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well
fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Paul wrote Philippians while he was confined in
Rome under house arrest, after his 2 years in prison in Caesarea. So, he
was definitely speaking from plenty of experience with trouble, including
confinement!
Would
others around us say we are content in any circumstance? Or, has our
confinement brought out greater frustration and impatience?
Lord,
help us develop greater contentment by relying on and trusting you through this
time of confinement.
Alice
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