Thursday, August 2, 2018
Acts 25:11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!
READY
Caesarem appellesti. Words that any Roman citizen might use under certain circumstances. Festus' reply was also a formula: ad Caesarem ibis, and the trial ended with Paul making use of his rights as a Roman citizen.
Was Paul wrong to do this? Not at all! For if God's way for someone is that he walk a hard path, then he walks it and finds his delight in His Savior. But if God calls him to a path of delight, he walks that path with songs and gladness, and still find his greatest delight in His Savior.
Could it ever happen that we might think that only by suffering can one witness for Christ? Well, our sinful nature surely loves being a victim. A victim does not have to stand up for his beliefs, just for justice and redress which even the heathen can see is right. Adam claimed to be a victim in the Garden of Eden, when he said, "The woman YOU gave to be with me, she gave to me and I did eat." Our flesh likes to be the victim of others, of circumstances, environment, ourselves (monasticism), and even the victim of our own victims ("He hit me first!").
But Paul was not seeking suffering. He was seeking opportunities to proclaim the saving name of Christ, the Lamb of God, who Himself became the Victim so that we might all be more than conquerors! May God grant us also many joyous opportunities to share that name.
