Have
you ever been told it is insane to believe in Jesus as your Savior?
You
may have heard someone say that faith is for the weak and unintelligent. It
isn’t, but it is certainly for the humble. Prideful and arrogant people don’t
want to admit they are nothing without God.
As Paul
was speaking to all the educated and powerful people in Jerusalem and Caesarea,
they recognized his great learning and intelligence. It confused especially
Festus, though. Paul’s humility and selflessness, because of his faith in God, was
“abnormal” for someone of his intelligence.
Acts 26:20-25 20 First to
those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and
then to the Gentiles, I [Paul] preached that they should
repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That
is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day;
so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing
beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as
the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his
own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this
point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your
mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you
insane.”
25 “I am
not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying
is true and reasonable.
Do people
see your faith as “abnormal” for someone who is intelligent? My sister was once
asked how she could be so smart and yet believe in God.
Anyone
can be knowledgeable, but a truly wise person is fully surrendered and
dependent on God, their Creator and Sustainer! It isn’t insane. As Paul states,
it’s “true and reasonable!”
Alice
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