LookingtoJesus

November 14

Bible Reading: Acts 25:13-22

Acts 25:19, “Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.”

The cross of the Jesus represents the most important event in human history, for by His death for sins and resurrection from the dead He provided a way of salvation for all who believe.  But not everyone views the cross that way.  That which is “the power of God and wisdom of God to those who are called” is “a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). 

The Apostle Paul gloried in the cross and boldly proclaimed it (Galatians 6:14).  The opposing Jews relentlessly opposed Paul’s message and even sought his death (Acts 23:12).  Festus did not understand what all the fuss was about regarding a “certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive” (Acts 25:19).

Things haven’t changed.  People vary in their response to the “Christ crucified” message.  But the crucial question for us each is how do we ourselves view it?  Paul said, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14)!

In his book, “The Cross,” Martyn Lloyd Jones wrote: “My dear friends, there never can be a more important question than this: what does this cross do to you? Where do you find yourself as you think of it and face it? It is one of these two, it is either an offence or else you glory in it. Are we all clear about our position? Do we know exactly where we stand? There are some perhaps saying, ‘Well, quite certainly it is not an offence to me, but I am afraid I cannot say I glory in it.’ Well, my friend, you are in an impossible position. These are the only two positions—offence, or glory.”

Do you glory in the cross?  Do you understand it to be the sole basis for the forgiveness of your sins?  Is your hope firmly set on the risen Christ and His soon return? 

“All of heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, hell afraid of it, while men are the only ones to ignore its meaning.” — Oswald Chambers

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. [Refrain]

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. [Refrain]

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. [Refrain]

November 13

Bible Reading: Acts 25:9-12

Acts 25:10-11, “But Paul said, ‘I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.’”

There are few guarantees in this world, but when it comes to the will and promises of God, there need be no doubt—God will do as He says.  That Paul was destined to be brought safely to Rome was a sure thing, for Jesus had said so (Acts 23:11).  In fact, the Lord Himself stood by Paul and encouraged him that way.

Though that matter was settled, the question of how it would happen was not.  Paul was on trial before Festus.  The Jews wanted Paul dead and were “planning an ambush to kill him on the way” to Jerusalem (Acts 25:3).  Festus was inclined to do the Jews a favor and suggested to Paul a return to Jerusalem for the trial.  Paul’s response was to exercise his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar.  Festus granted his request.

A change of venue happens when a trial is moved to a new location.  In a high-profile case, that can be granted when it may not be possible due to widespread publicity to get impartial jurors.  The court granted a change in venue for the trial of the Oklahoma City bomber for that very reason. 

Paul could not have received a fair trial in Jerusalem, but worse than that, they planned to ambush him on the way.  But God providentially worked, via Roman law, Paul’s citizenship, and Festus’ verdict, to move Paul’s trial to Rome.  Not only was Paul kept safe, but the gospel message also went with him “before the Gentiles and kings” (Acts 9:11).

We might sometimes wonder about the circumstances we find ourselves in, but regarding the promises of God regarding His protection and deliverance, we need not doubt.  God will always do as He says.

“Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God’s ordering and permission. There is no such thing as “chance,” “luck” or “accident” in the Christian’s journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God. And all things are ‘working together’ for the believer’s good.” – J.C. Ryle

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain:
God will take care of you,
through ev’ry day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

November 12

Bible Reading: Acts 25:6-8

Acts 25:7, “When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.”

Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Even after 2 years, the Jews still had no solid evidence against Paul.  Despite that, their hatred was so great that nothing would deter them from trying to destroy him.  The Jews who’d come down from Jerusalem stood around him.  Imagine that scene, with Paul surrounded by folks with hearts full of hatred and eyes filled with fury!  They came down from Jerusalem, since Jerusalem was at a higher elevation, but they came down not just physically, but morally, for they came to cast falsehoods.

Paul, like Jesus, was falsely accused (Matthew 27:13).  They may have been serious, but they were groundless, unfounded, and uncorroborated.  The truth mattered not to these Jews.  The only thing that mattered was the elimination of Paul and his message by any means necessary!

From an earthly perspective, it appeared as if the whole world was against Paul.  He was seemingly all alone in the fight.  But he was never truly alone, for the Lord stood with him.  And by the Spirit, he was emboldened and encouraged to keep on fighting the good fight. 

John G. Butler wrote, “The world may put Christianity in a lowly, scorned position. But that does not change the value of Christianity or the vileness of evil. When evil seems overpowering and threatening to destroy, be encouraged that God is with the righteous; and, therefore, they will eventually be the victors.”

You may never face persecution to the extent as the Apostle Paul.  But all those who stand for truth do, in one way or another (2 Timothy 3:12).  The Lord, who is greater than all, stood with Paul.  And He stands with all those who belong to Him!   

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” – 1 John 4:4

O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED
O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.

Oh, let me feel Thee near me;
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.

November 11

Bible Reading: Acts 25:1-5

Acts 25:2-3, “And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.”

How are we to understand what is happening to the Apostle Paul?  Why place the most useful Christian in the world at the time in prison?  Why subject him to repeated interrogations at the hands of wicked men?  Why allow evildoers to continue to plot his murder?  Mysterious?  But, later, from his imprisonment in Rome, Paul explained how God worked through his circumstances to extend his gospel outreach to unexpected places, and even to the imperial guard (Philippians 1:12-14, 4:22).

The hymn, “God Moves in Mysterious Ways,” (see below) was penned by William Cowper (1731–1800).  His life ran a mysterious course, marked by profound heartache. He and his brother were the only two among seven siblings to survive past childhood. The death of his mother during childbirth, when Cowper was just six years old, deeply affected him. Throughout his school years, he faced relentless bullying, compounding his sense of isolation.

Cowper fell in love, but his beloved’s father denied his request to marry her. In 1763, he was offered a job that sent him spiraling into depression at the thought of an interview. He attempted suicide three times during this dark period, which led to his admission to an asylum. There, he met an evangelical believer who revealed the love of Christ to him. Through the truth of Romans 3:25, Cowper’s eyes were opened, and he was saved.

Despite this newfound faith, he continued to struggle with depression. In 1767, Cowper encountered John Newton, the former slave trader turned pastor and author of the hymn “Amazing Grace.” Newton became a mentor to Cowper, offering encouragement and support during his tumultuous life.

Cowper went on to write 68 hymns, including well-known pieces like “Oh, for a Closer Walk with God,” “There Is a Fountain,” and “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” Tragically, shortly after composing the last hymn, Cowper attempted suicide by drowning. He ultimately died on April 25, 1800, still grappling with his mental health.

Nevertheless, from the grave, Cowper experienced that of which he wrote “when in a nobler, sweeter song, (He sang) Thy pow’r to save!”  His life ran a mysterious course, but His legacy endures in the beautiful hymns he created, which continue to encourage those who sing them.

“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense but trust Him for His grace.” – William Cowper

GOD MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
of never-failing skill;
He treasures up His bright designs,
and works His sov’reign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
the clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy and shall break
in blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
but trust Him for His grace;
behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
unfolding every hour;
the bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flow’r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
and He will make it plain.

November 8

Bible Reading: Acts 24:24-27

Acts 24:27, “After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.”

Felix and Drusilla were quite a pair!  Wealthy.  Powerful.  Wicked.  Felix was the younger brother of a man named Pallas.  The two brothers shrewdly advanced from low positions in the Royal household to gain favored status.  Pallas was the secretary of the treasury during the reign of Emperor Claudius.  Felix became the procurator of Judea by the petition of his brother.  Both men became quite wealthy.

Internal troubles and an increase in crime throughout Judea marked the period of Felix’s rule in Judea.  He dealt with such matters with severity.  He not only displayed cruelty but also had a tendency towards licentiousness and accepting bribes (Acts 24:26).  One historian described him to be “a master of cruelty and lust who exercised the powers of a king in the spirit of a slave.”

Felix was married three times.  Drusilla was his second wife, the youngest of three daughters of King Herod Agrippa I—the same Herod who slew James, the brother of John.  Her great-grandfather was the Herod who slew the babes in Bethlehem.  Her great uncle was Herod Antipas, the Herod who slew John the Baptist. She married for the first time to a petty king in Syria.  Always looking to climb the social ladder, she divorced him to marry Felix.  In their shrewd and wicked ways, they were obviously made for each other.

By God’s providence, Paul was brought to Felix’s court.  Felix listened to the charges made by Tertullus and the Jews against Paul (Acts 24:1-9).  After hearing Paul’s case, he then instructed the centurion to keep Paul in custody but allow him some freedom, and to not stop any of his friends from looking after his needs (Acts 24:22-23).

After some days Felix and Drusilla sent for Paul and heard him speak about “faith in Christ Jesus” (Acts 24:24).  Imagine that!  They had the privilege of personally listening to the writer of those epistles you’ve read from.  They could do no better than to hear about faith in Christ Jesus from the Apostle Paul himself.  We’re not privy to the details of their response.  The last word is that Felix “sent for him often and conversed with him” (Acts 24:26).  They were wicked folks. Their family had done much harm to the cause of Christ. But God, who “desires all people to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4), worked to provide them ample opportunity to trust in Jesus. 

“The Gospel is open to all; the most respectable sinner has no more claim on it than the worst.”—Marty Lloyd Jones

THERE’S ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU
The cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.

Chorus:
There’s room at the cross for you
There’s room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there’s still room for one
Yes there’s room at the cross for you.

Though millions have found him a friend
And have turned from the sins they have sinned
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcome a sinner before it’s too late. [Chorus]

The hand of my Savior is strong
And the love of my Savior is long
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain. [Chorus]

November 7

Bible Reading: Acts 24:22-23

Acts 24:22, “But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way…”

The governor Felix had a rather accurate knowledge of the Way.  Despite that, it is apparent in what we read about him, that he didn’t know Jesus.

I vaguely remember taking a World Religions class in high school.  I can’t remember the details of what was taught, but I suppose it had to do with the basic tenets of the major world religions.  Though I gained a knowledge of some basics regarding Christianity, I didn’t know Jesus at the time. 

A person can know of Jesus—even secular historians acknowledge his existence—but that doesn’t mean that they “know” Him.  A person can know about Jesus, and even about the facts of His death and resurrection, but again that doesn’t mean that they are saved.  A person can even gain much and accurate theological knowledge of Jesus or Christianity without knowing Him in a personal way.

A person can even claim the name of Jesus and engage in religious works without being saved, as Jesus once warned: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:22-23).”

Paul’s message to Felix, the powerful and ruthless governor, was “about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment” (Acts 24:25).  Spirit-filled Paul was speaking the Spirit’s language (John 16:8).  Paul did not shrink back from being used by the Spirit to convict a wicked man of his wicked ways.  Felix was wealthy, powerful, and knowledgeable, but devoid of righteousness.  He ruthlessly exercised control over the lives of others but had no control of self.  He himself sat as a judge over the affairs of men, but was woefully unprepared for the coming judgment of God.  Felix could only listen so long—he had no heart for truth—till, being alarmed, he had to send Paul away (Acts 24:25).  There is no reason to believe that he ever trusted in Jesus.  But he was given ample opportunity to be set free from sin when his prisoner spoke to him about Jesus.

What about you?  It is not enough to know of Jesus or know about Jesus. What matters is knowing Him and, more than that, being known by Him as one of His own (2 Timothy 2:19).  The right is bestowed on those who receive Him, to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).  There is nothing of greater importance in life than being assured of one’s eternal destiny (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10).  Do you know Jesus personally, as your Lord and Savior?

There is nothing of greater importance in life than being assured of one’s eternal destiny!

HAVE YOU ANY ROOM FOR JESUS?
Have you any room for Jesus,
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinner, will you let Him in?

Refrain:
Room for Jesus, King of Glory!
Hasten now, His Word obey.
Swing the heart’s door widely open;
Bid Him enter while you may.

Room for pleasure, room for business;
But for Christ, the Crucified,
Not a place that He can enter,
In the heart for which He died? [Refrain]

Room and time now give to Jesus;
Soon will pass God’s day of grace –
Soon your heart left cold and silent,
And your Savior’s pleading cease. [Refrain]

November 6

Bible Reading: Acts 24:10-21

Acts 24:20-21, “Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

Put simply, the gospel message is that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  This “gospel of the glory of the blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:11) represents the “power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

First proclaimed by Peter on Pentecost, the message of Christ’s resurrection was the Spirit-borne message that worked like a glorious sunrise to spread life and hope in Jesus to Jerusalem and beyond.  It was the message that Peter and John boldly proclaimed despite threats against them, for they could not “but speak of what (they) had seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).  A great persecution later spread the message to Samaria.  And then through Peter to Cornelius and the Gentiles (Acts 10:40). God saved Saul and called him to take the message to the Gentiles on his three missionary journeys.  The message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was at the heart of what he proclaimed.  That good news of salvation by grace through faith in Christ, who died for our sins and rose from the dead, stands triumphant through this age as the great message of hope amidst the ever-constant bad news associated with living in this sin-broken world.

There can be no true Christianity apart from the message of Christ’s resurrection.  John MacArthur put it this way: “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single greatest event in the history of the world. It is so foundational to Christianity that no one who denies it can be a true Christian…A person who believes in a Christ who was not raised believes in a powerless Christ, a dead Christ. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then no redemption was accomplished at the cross and “your faith is worthless,” Paul goes on to say; “you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).”

As Paul understood it, he was on trial for the statement he’d made (Acts 24:21).  He was on trial that day for that statement, but he faced countless other “trials” because he refused to be moved from the truth of Christ’s resurrection.  By His grace, God brought to you that same great message of hope.  There’ll come a day when you’ll trade hope for sight in the presence of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:50-57).  The good news of Christ’s resurrection is the message, above all others, worth sharing—no matter the cost!

“No matter what happens to you, no matter the depth of tragedy or pain you face, no matter how death stalks you and your loved ones, the Resurrection promises you a future of immeasurable good.”—Josh McDowell

MY HOPE IS IN THE LORD
My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Calvary

Refrain:
For me He died
For me He lives
And everlasting life
And light He freely gives

No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus’ righteousness [Refrain]

And now for me He stands
Before the Father’s throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own [Refrain]

His grace has planned it all
‘Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive [Refrain]

November 5

Bible Reading: Acts 24:4-9

Acts 24:5, “For we have found this man a plague.”

Plagues such as cholera, the bubonic plague, smallpox, and influenza have killed between 300-500 million people in human history.  In the recent COVID pandemic, we’ve our own experience with the horrors and widespread suffering associated with such brutal killers.  Plagues are something we all want to stay far away from.

Tertullus deemed the Apostle Paul to be a “plague.”  The term he used in describing Paul was used literally in secular Greek most often to describe a deadly pestilence or any infectious malady.  His point was that Paul, by his mere existence, was a malignant threat to public well-being. This even though no one on earth, except for Jesus Himself, had done more to elevate the well-being of folks than the Apostle Paul through his preaching of the good news.

Vance Havner commented on this: “Wherever Paul went, there was either a riot or a revival! So, in a sense the charge has some truth, but it was not Paul who was guilty but the Jews who opposed his Gospel message! Indeed, the Gospel does ‘stir up’ the status quo in the lives of sinners! So, remember that Paul is on trial for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need not be surprised when we proclaim the Gospel to others, that they in a sense ‘put us on trial’ for the Gospel stirs up folks, especially religious folks who are satisfied with their ritual without a relationship with God.”

By this time in the Acts account, Paul had already written the following to the Corinthians: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).  Paul in his ministry was “the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved;” a beautiful “fragrance from life to life.”  But those rejecting the gospel sense things differently, for in their refusal of Jesus, all that is left to them is the awful scent of the plague that is associated with their pending judgment.  The gospel message is the sole answer to the plague of sin that besets humanity.  It is a glorious message that brings glory to God!

“You cannot be neutral to Jesus Christ. There is no neutrality in dealing with Jesus. If you are not for him, you are against him.”—John Piper

THERE’S ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU
The cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.

Refrain:
There’s room at the cross for you
There’s room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there’s still room for one
Yes there’s room at the cross for you.

Though millions have found him a friend
And have turned from the sins they have sinned
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcome a sinner before it’s too late. [Refrain]

The hand of my Savior is strong
And the love of my Savior is long
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain. [Refrain]

November 4

Bible Reading: Acts 24:1-3

Acts 24:1-2, “And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him…”

If you’ve ever faced false accusations of wrongdoing, you know how difficult it can be.  To respond to such a thing in a God-honoring way is difficult.  Anxiety lurks, as does the temptation to harbor hatred.  In a situation such as that, it’s good to keep in mind that the believer in Christ has the Lord Jesus Himself as an advocate.

Tertullus was the Roman prosecutor employed by the Jewish authorities to prosecute their case against Paul before Felix, the Roman Governor.  Such prosecutors were skilled orators possessing knowledge of Roman laws.  Curiously, the name Tertullus is derived from a term meaning “liar or imposter.”  Those vices proved essential, for his job was to charge the defendant with crimes he’d never committed. 

Tertullus first sought to impress the judge via flattery, then came the accusations—”this man is a plague who stirs up riots, a ringleader of a religious cult, who’s even profaned the temple.”  “For that reason, we seized him and brought him to this court.”  Though Tertullus was working for the Jews, his ultimate employer was none other than the devil, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), who sought to do Paul harm.

Though Paul had no human attorney to represent him, he did have an advocate (1 John 2:1).  Charges were brought against Paul, but God is the One who justifies, so “who is to condemn” (Romans 8:33-34)?  From a loftier and more just courtroom, at the right hand of God Himself, the One who died and rose again, was interceding on Paul’s behalf (Romans 8:34)!  Sometimes the decision of a lower court is appealed to a higher court.  In the believer’s case, the finding of the highest court is always “not guilty,” for it is the blood of Christ itself that has won the once-for-all acquittal for sin (1 John 2:1-2).

“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?” –Romans 8:33-34

MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

His oath, his covenant, his blood,
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

November 1

Bible Reading: Acts 23:23-35

Acts 23:23-24, “Then he called two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor’.”

The question was not whether Paul would escape the plot formed against him, for Jesus already assured him that he would testify in Rome.  The question was how it would come to pass?

God sovereignly enlisted Roman soldiers to ensure Paul’s safety.  The commander called to him two of the centurions and gave them orders.  He knew that he would be held accountable for Paul, a Roman citizen, if anything happened to him.  So, Paul was to be escorted by 470 soldiers on his way to Caesarea.  No band of 40 Jewish zealots would be so foolhardy to attack that small army! 

The Lord had previously appeared to Paul and spoke to him reassuring words (Acts 23:11).  God would take care of him!  In living for Jesus and serving Jesus, Paul experienced the divine hand of God’s protection. God could have used any number of ways to deliver Paul to Caesarea, but he chose to use the Roman army, reminding us that God sometimes works in mysterious ways to accomplish His plan. 

One wonders about Paul’s influence on those soldiers.  No doubt he availed himself of opportunities to share his faith.  Some likely witnessed the commotion he had caused and wondered.  How many heard the gospel?  How many trusted in Jesus?

dangerPaul’s time in Jerusalem was filled with turmoil, and his life sometimes appeared to be in jeopardy.  But he was never truly in danger because of the faithfulness of God.  God works on behalf of his people to protect and provide.  “No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you.”

“Safety does not depend on our conception of the absence of danger.  Safety is found in God’s presence, in the center of His perfect will.”—T. J. Bach

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain:
God will take care of you,
through ev’ry day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]