Speaking
of power, we lost power and internet for over 30 hours last Wednesday evening and
all day Thursday, so sorry I couldn’t access or post this devotional!
We
often have lots of questions why God allows certain things to happen. He is so
powerful and could prevent and stop so many things, but He often doesn’t. We
don’t see the big picture.
In
Paul’s case, God continued to let him remain in prison unjustly. Yet, it was
part of God’s purposes to have Paul preach the gospel to high officials in
Caesarea and eventually in Rome (Acts 23:11 the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem,
so you must also testify in Rome.”)
By the
time we get to Acts 26, Paul had already spoken to the Jewish crowd, the Jewish
leaders, High Priests, Govenor Felix, Govenor Festus and all the people around
them. Now, Paul gets the opportunity to speak to King Agrippa, his wife and high-ranking
officers.
Acts 26:1-8 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
If God
is powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead, then He is powerful enough to
do anything. He is watching over us. He will powerfully accomplish His purposes
in our lives. It may not go as we planned, but as He planned! Like Paul, you
and I can trust His purposeful power. How will you and I do that this week?
Alice