PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 25:23-26:8
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 25:25)
This is my question as well… and why I can believe in the resurrection.
If a person believes in an all powerful being, raising to life is not an issue.
A God that can create the world and life, can also restore life.
This is how I feel about all of the ‘miracles’ of the bible.
It is not the miracles that convince me of Jesus, but Jesus’s life and message.
What he says, what he does, how he lives, how he loves – these are divine!
History is filled with beliefs and messiahs that sent people to their death.
But Jesus himself lives and loves all people, and willingly dies for this.
If God is going to raise anyone back to life, I’d want it to be Jesus.
In fact, we need more people like Jesus raised to life – not just religious people.
Our world needs humble loving servants, if we are to experience paradise again.
The real issue for me isn’t resurrection but restoration.
A true miracle is seeing people join Jesus in living and loving like him!
It is my hope in restoration of love, joy and peace that has me following Jesus!
PRAYER
Lord, if you are not alive and true then nothing really matters… we are all doomed. You lived a life worth resurrecting. Help me to do the same!
Paul was on trial.
His accusers had known him and his lifestyle.
His lifestyle did not conform to their ways. His hope was in the resurrection and theirs was not.
Standing up for Jesus with His words and deeds had a great impact upon those who knew him
My words and deeds must do the same showing that I too live for Jesus. I need to be a living epistle read by all.
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy [redemption],*
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.
“But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him” Festus has to send Paul to Rome but doesn’t know what to accuse Paul of. Paul stands before Agrippa and Bernice and knows they are more familiar with the Jewish religion. Paul turns to the big question people have about hope for a life after – the and raises this question, if a god is anything at all, “Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?” So Paul puts the power of God into context but also challenges all who are listening in the audience. As believers we too can raise questions about Jesus that make people think? It is our hope that we can testify to the hope we have that others might consider Jesus as alive and as the way. May we be used by the HS to say and ask the right things to stimulate others to examine Jesus!