Thursday Devotional - Smart, yet Insane?

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

Thursday Devotional - Trust the results to God

There are a lot of unknowns these days. We don’t know if we and our loved ones will remain healthy, we don’t know what plans we can make for the summer, we don’t even know what groceries we’ll be able to get in our next pick-up order!

We do know God is Sovereign, in control, sees all and is active. Last week we saw Paul demonstrate his active and courageous faith by sending his nephew to the commander to tell him about the plots to kill him. Paul did what he could with the information provided and trusted God with the outcome.

God had the commander act quickly to protect Paul.

Acts 23:23-24, ²³ Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. ²⁴ Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

470 armed men protected Paul all the way to Caesarea! God was going to fulfill His plan to have him testify in Rome (Acts 23:11)!  

We can trust God with our lives, too, as we actively follow His commands and direction. I think right now that means wisely using the information we know to protect ourselves our family and those around us from the virus. If we must go somewhere, we can follow the laws of wearing masks and keeping the recommended social distance.

My sister and her family were planning to come for a visit in June. However, we are all praying for direction to make a wise decision. We want to be like Paul, wisely using the information we have and then trusting God with the result.

Where do you need to trust God for provision or direction? How will you be like Paul? Let’s not react in fear nor sit back and do nothing, but respond in active faith and then trust the results to God!   

Alice