PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 24:22-27
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“(Paul) spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.” (Acts 24:25)
Paul is speaking about his confidence in Jesus, but notice what Paul also talks about:
“As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment, Felix was afraid.” (Acts 24:25)
Paul speaks about the gift of righteousness granted to us by faith in Jesus.
He talks about the fruit of self-control that comes from the Spirit in us.
And he talks about the hope of grace and eternal life after the final judgment.
The Spirit uses this message of grace to teach Felix’s heart to fear.
Unfortunately, Felix does not stick around to have those fears relieved.
His self-confidence cannot take the thought of putting his confidence (faith) in Jesus.
The message of Jesus is not appealing to those who want to be confident in themselves.
This not only applies to successful irreligious people, but also successful religious people.
Jesus also disturbed the Pharisees who were also confident in themselves (Luke 18:9-14).
Am I confident I am right, that my behaviour is good enough or better than others?
The Spirit of Jesus humbles everyone, pharisee and prostitute, so they can be graced.
May we not silence his conviction like Felix, and miss out on the comfort of his grace!
PRAYER
Lord, you are teaching me to fear the pride in my heart, and to trust the grace in yours. Thank you for teaching my heart to fear, and for relieving those fears with grace!
I wonder if Felix eventually did come to be a believer. The spirit was working on him: “As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid”. Yet not within those 2 years of his term. Felix allowed Paul to be taken care of – and Paul still had outside contact as he was regularly called in by Felix and his wife. It is fear of death and the consequence of judgement that stokes ‘fear’ in people – it is why we look outside of ourselves – to religion – to a higher power- or we try to ‘reason’ it away to massage our doubts about the unknown. Felix stopped the conversation when it got too deep and it aroused the fears in him – shutting his ears to the messenger of hope: Paul. We hope and pray that in our conversations with others we can help them with fears like that – to share the hope we have in Jesus! Help us Lord to see you working in others and continue to refine me!
The time is now and not when I think it is convenient.
Hearing the Word spoken requires action by its hearer then and not later.
All too often I too am sitting in the comfortable pew. To hear, to really hear is also to take action – to do. I need an open heart to really hear and take action – to serve Him in all I say and do and not when I think it is convenient or people pleasing.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.