^Scripture 

As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”

~Acts 26:31, NLT

Quote

How little they know of Christianity who think that the story ends with conversion.

~C.S. Lewis

I am about to finish the book of Acts in the LSB and once again I am giving thought to Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem. Everyone including Luke begged him not to go but Paul was pig headed like his ancestors and he went despite everyone telling him not to go. Paul’s first mistake was going to Jerusalem and his second was trying to appease James and the Jewish element of the Jerusalem church. Technically, Paul did nothing wrong. He did not break any laws and he did not desecrate the temple which they accused him of doing. They had absolutely no evidence of Paul doing anything wrong. They had no case against him but that didn’t stop this group of  hate filled Jews. Paul got moved to Caesarea for his own protection. While there, Paul has three hearings: one before Felix, one before Festus, and one before King Agrippa. None of the three were able to find any guilt in Paul and were mystified that he had been arrested and imprisoned in the first place; yet none of the three did the right thing and set Paul free. All three knew he was innocent but none of them wanted to upset the Jews.

Paul would eventually go to Rome and die without any formal charges against him and certainly with no evidence to prove his guilt. So much for Roman justice. Paul got the same justice Jesus got which was injustice. Remember Scar in the children’s movie Lion King. Scar’s brother Mufasa was chosen to be king. Scar felt slighted. Scar complains to a tiny mouse, “Life is not fair; I will never be king.” Well Scar got one thing right, life is not fair; the innocent suffer and the good die young. It is a hard and harsh reality to accept.  We have to be careful as believers,  or we can get so caught up in our hate for injustice that we shun our call to live sacrificially. Jesus toward the end of His ministry began teaching His disciples, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. The LORD told Ananias, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Jesus said to want-to-be disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The cross is a symbol for suffering. Jesus never said, “If any man wishes to follow me, let him be successful.”

I have to admit, there is nothing in me that wants to suffer. My flesh draws back at any sign of discomfort or suffering. I long for peace, prosperity, comfort and ease but this is not God’s way. No one just happens to be humble or gracious. These virtues are forged out of our suffering. No pain, no gain. Years ago, I ceased praying for God to make me great at anything. The road to greatness is paved with suffering and they quails my desire for greatness. I will settle for faithful.

Extra

I know all of you have a weather app on your phone and so you know what is coming Thursday-Friday-Saturday. We’ve been blessed with a cool year so far but I think that is about to end. Thank God for shade trees, A/C units, electricity, electric fans, running water, sun block and shelter in any form. God is good. You thought I was going to complain didn’t you? I fooled you: I gave thanks.