Challenges and Conditions

With each success comes a new challenge.

Since he wanted to find out what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them. While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, "Brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God." Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth. At this Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?" Those standing nearby said, "Do you dare to insult God's high priest?" And Paul said, "I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, "You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.'" When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead." When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.) Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees' group stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks. That night the Lord stood near him and said, "Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome." - Acts 22:30-23:11

Paul didn't choose to become an apostle of Jesus.  Jesus chose him.

What better spokesperson for Christ than someone who not only persecuted the early believers, but was also a Pharisee and a Roman Citizen?

He could get into every place where the leaders of the faith and state were gathered together to plot against the disruptive believers. 

God works in mysterious ways.

I have heard that said many times in my life, often to attempt to explain away those moments when what we see and hear doesn't exactly line up with our expectations of God.

I wonder if this was one of those times for Paul.

In Jerusalem, Paul used his "Get Out Of Jail Free Card," his Roman Citizenship to successfully extricate himself from imprisonment and be heard.

Now, Jesus wants him to bring his case to Rome.

I can't help but believe Paul was chosen for this job.

He had all the credentials.  The only problem was, he was an enemy of the early church.

So, the real challenge in Paul's conversion lay with Jesus.  The risen Lord needed to recruit Paul because Paul could take the message where no one else could.

So, what is it in us that God sees as our advantage for His cause?

What successes will lead us to greater challenges for Christ?

If we look at life through God's eyes, and try to imagine His purpose for all of us in this world, we can begin to realize we have immense value in spreading God's Word.

He will seek us out and invite us to work for him, and it will be up to us to accept or reject the challenge.

Are you ready?

More to come...