America has a very unique justice system. Offenders get free food and housing, rehab, and a chance for parole. I even read about this man who spent three months in prison, and upon leaving, stated that he wanted to go back because it was “so carefree.” Now compare this with God’s justice and retributions. Pretty marked difference, eh? Now imagine that America’s legal system is as absolute as Gods, which basically means it’s perfect. Now let’s imagine that there was this one man who went around persecuting various ambassadors who were only trying to tell other countries that America is a good place to be. Not only did he persecute them, he even tried to get them to renounce their belief in the good ol’ USA. But it gets even weirder: as this man goes to another city with his gang of haters to wreak havoc, he is approached by the President himself. The President should have the man killed on the spot, right? But what does Mr. President do? He says to the man, “Hey, I wanna recruit you as one of the ambassadors.” He offers this man who committed atrocious crimes a job; a job that this man has been working to overturn. Isn’t that amazing? Well, let’s take a look at the passage for today.
Please read Acts 25:23 – 26:18
Paul’s testimony is one of the most powerful I have ever read or encountered. A man who was wholeheartedly opposed to Jesus, a man who once proudly called himself a Pharisee to the point that his goal was to have saints and followers of Jesus executed, was won over by Jesus Christ. Paul should have got a lightning bolt or runaway train thrown his way, but that’s not what God had planned for Paul. God took Paul’s life and changed it 360 degrees, and the good works that this servant has performed are testimony to the Christ inside of Paul. So what does this mean for us? Well, God uses everyone, even people we would never expect! I’ve read about paroled murderers who gave their lives to Jesus Christ and did incredible works in His name. The radio station K-love once told about an ex-convict who was so changed by Jesus, that this man decided to take a 12 foot cross and carry it on foot throughout the entire country. And these are the tame stories! Rejoice, brothers and sisters, because no one is left out of God’s plans! So that means even the people that you think are hopeless are fair game in Jesus’ eyes. So that tells us two things: one, to be able to spread the Word to people who you think are too far gone, and two, that YOU are integral to God’s plans for this world. I want you to pray for a few people who you think are hopeless, and I hope that you can one day approach them- be the impetus for change in them! Second, I want you to ask God to reassure you that He has a plan for you, and whatever it is, it’s going to be glorious!
Thursday: Pray for the church (small c)
Pray for the Alliance Youth Conference, that we will have good fellowship with the other youths
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