Today I read Acts 24 where Paul is brought before Felix to answer for his crimes. The council stands before Felix and accuses Paul of sedition and causing riots among the Jews. The more I read Acts the more convinced I am that Paul could be a lawyer because his answers are straight to the point and have a way of making the opposite side look almost silly. For example he tells Felix that it has been some years since he had come up to Jerusalem and so he went to the temple to worship. He invites Felix to ask anyone who was there what he did in the temple and whether or not he was causing any problems or doing anything beyond minding his own business. He also points out that if he had been causing trouble with certain people in the temple then why aren't they present to bring forth their charges personally?
I wonder if the Jews maybe didn't view the Romans as inferior to themselves because they seem to underestimate the intelligence of the Roman governors that are put over them. They underestimated Pilate when they accused Jesus. Pilate found no fault in Jesus and would have let him go if he had been a stronger man. Now they are bringing Paul before Felix, again on trumped up charges and again Felix, upon hearing Paul's side of the story sees right through what the Jews are trying to do and defers his judgement until the chief captain arrives and can give his testimony. So it just makes me wonder about the Jews and why they thought the Romans would just swallow their story without question.
Paul does such a good job that Felix actually gives him his freedom, with limitations. He allows Paul to be unbound and move around with an escort, kind of a 1st century house arrest I guess. Paul seems to have one of those personalities that almost seems to radiate something is different and goodness. Everywhere he goes he seems to find people who want to hear his message and learn what is different about him. I have had multiple experiences like this too. I have had people ask me what makes me different or why am I so happy all the time. The spirit makes a huge difference in your life and will shine through if you allow it to. If you are following the commandments you will be seen as different. Those who realize there is more to life than what they currently have or who are disturbed with the world around them will yearn for the happiness that you have and will ask you about it. Our job is to be ready to answer their questions and to help them realize that there is more to this life than what they currently have.
The more we live the gospel, the more it changes who we are. When I was a missionary at one point in my mission I became a district leader, which was not all that different but one of the main things I had to do was to teach the elders in our district in our weekly district meetings. I remember once I gave a physical demonstration where I had two chairs side by side. I had one of the missionaries stand on them with one foot on each of them. They represented the Gospel and the world. As I talked I slowly moved the one representing the world further and further away from the one representing the Gospel until the missionary was very, very unstable and about to fall. I pointed out that if we are not living the Gospel completely but focusing too much on what the world does and wants then we are eventually going to fall or have to join the world completely because it is impossible to please both. I moved the chairs back together and this time had the elder stand with both feet on the one representing the Gospel and this time when I moved the chair representing the world he stayed steady and strong. I concluded by saying that when we are rooted in the Gospel it doesn't matter how much the world changes we will be strong and stable.
When we live the Gospel it changes us, as I mentioned in the last paragraph. And that is as it should be, we should not be staying the same in this life or moving backwards either, we should be progressing. When we live the Gospel, we realize how shallow the world is and how their so called "fun" is revolting and completely against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How can any good Christians can honestly picture Jesus Christ binge drinking? Or in a bar at all? Or smoking? Or using drugs? Or participating in a sexual orgy? Or gorging Himself on sweets? Or anyone of the other dozens if not hundreds of sins that so called good Christians indulge in on a daily basis. Living the Gospel is meant to change our nature and make us more like Jesus and when that happens we are going to stand out. We cannot serve God and Mammon, we have to make a choice. And the best part is, you already know the outcome of who is going to win and what your reward will be depending on who you choose to serve. Choose wisely. Until tomorrow.
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