Dodger: Good to see you! How is life treating you? Hope you enjoy the third day of the weekend as much as I will. I'm so excited because I'm going to meet some cousins of mine on a farm, and we're going to play video games, eat fresh fruit and veggies, watch movies, and I might even learn to milk a cow!
Lilly: My day's a little less involved. I'm just going shopping with my mom and then I'll relax at home.
Dodger: We're pretty blessed to spend this time the way we do, huh?
Lilly: Yep. Not everyone gets to do pretty much whatever pretty much whenever. That's a rare privilege.
Dodger: Especially if one is in prison.
Lilly: What? Dodger, I think you just switched subjects without warning.
Dodger: Oh, I guess I did. Whoops.
Lilly: What were you talking about?
Dodger: I was thinking about Acts 23 and Paul's imprisonment.
Lilly: Wasn't he in prison more than once?
Dodger: Oh yes. This time it was different though. Instead of having a prison-shattering earthquake or terrific rescue, Paul remained in prison for some time. Let's look at the Bible, but first I'd probably better provide a little background: Paul has just come up to Jerusalem and reported his work to the church there. He's at the temple, when all of a sudden some Jewish enemies of his spot him, start a riot about him, and nearly have a mob kill him. He's rescued by a Roman military commander and put into captivity. Finally, he's brought for interrogation before the Jewish council. If you want a fuller version of the story, you can read it here. Lilly, would you start reading Acts 23:1-11?
Lilly: Okay. Here it is:
"Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?” And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (NKJV, boldface added)
Dodger: Needless to say, Paul wasn't having a very easy day. He was wrongfully under guard, being persecuted for no good reason other than that he served Jesus, God's Son. He was facing injustice and corrupt spiritual leaders and had every right to feel overwhelmed by the situation he was in. He didn't give in though or rage at God. Instead, the night after his interrogation God spoke to him and encouraged him. We all have to struggle or put up with things that don't seem to help us much or make much sense, but what matters is how we handle them. We ought to remember that God directs everything for our good.
Lilly: Paul's journey isn't over. The story doesn't even end in the chapter, although we can read some more of it in chapter 23 and continuing past Acts 24. In the short version, a plot is hatched to murder Paul, but by God's working Paul's nephew hears about it and is able to warn the Roman commander. The commander then sends him to a Roman governor named Felix, and Felix, rather than releasing Paul as he deserves, puts him back in prison and leaves him there. Throughout this whole time God preserves Paul, and although he is persecuted, he is not deprived of friends or food. He just lacks his freedom.
Dodger: Sometimes I can't help but wonder what that time was like for Paul. At any rate, God's faithfulness in preserving him through this (and later in the story a shipwreck and a snake bite) illustrates God's power to take care of those he loves. No matter what your situation, you have to trust that God knows what He's doing and will do what's best for you. If you don't understand, ask God questions because He will listen and you may even get an explanation or encouragement. Whatever you do, don't think that God has abandoned you. He never left Paul, and He will never leave you. It's that simple.
Lilly: God is your Father. He loves you even more than your parents. If you think about it, you can probably remember times your parents did things you didn't understand but which turned out for the best. God does the same thing on a much bigger scale. He wants the very best for you. You need to trust that He's got you in his hands and won't let you go, ever, no matter what the challenge you face.
Dodger: I'm glad God is faithful even though we fail.
Lilly: Me too.
Dodger: I think we had better get going. I have to get up early tomorrow.
Lilly: I hope you have a good time.
Dodger: Thanks and same to you, and to our friend here. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's never, ever, ever, going to change. Ever.
Lilly: Later, Gators!
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
Lilly: My day's a little less involved. I'm just going shopping with my mom and then I'll relax at home.
Dodger: We're pretty blessed to spend this time the way we do, huh?
Lilly: Yep. Not everyone gets to do pretty much whatever pretty much whenever. That's a rare privilege.
Dodger: Especially if one is in prison.
Lilly: What? Dodger, I think you just switched subjects without warning.
Dodger: Oh, I guess I did. Whoops.
Lilly: What were you talking about?
Dodger: I was thinking about Acts 23 and Paul's imprisonment.
Lilly: Wasn't he in prison more than once?
Dodger: Oh yes. This time it was different though. Instead of having a prison-shattering earthquake or terrific rescue, Paul remained in prison for some time. Let's look at the Bible, but first I'd probably better provide a little background: Paul has just come up to Jerusalem and reported his work to the church there. He's at the temple, when all of a sudden some Jewish enemies of his spot him, start a riot about him, and nearly have a mob kill him. He's rescued by a Roman military commander and put into captivity. Finally, he's brought for interrogation before the Jewish council. If you want a fuller version of the story, you can read it here. Lilly, would you start reading Acts 23:1-11?
Lilly: Okay. Here it is:
"Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?” And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (NKJV, boldface added)
Dodger: Needless to say, Paul wasn't having a very easy day. He was wrongfully under guard, being persecuted for no good reason other than that he served Jesus, God's Son. He was facing injustice and corrupt spiritual leaders and had every right to feel overwhelmed by the situation he was in. He didn't give in though or rage at God. Instead, the night after his interrogation God spoke to him and encouraged him. We all have to struggle or put up with things that don't seem to help us much or make much sense, but what matters is how we handle them. We ought to remember that God directs everything for our good.
Lilly: Paul's journey isn't over. The story doesn't even end in the chapter, although we can read some more of it in chapter 23 and continuing past Acts 24. In the short version, a plot is hatched to murder Paul, but by God's working Paul's nephew hears about it and is able to warn the Roman commander. The commander then sends him to a Roman governor named Felix, and Felix, rather than releasing Paul as he deserves, puts him back in prison and leaves him there. Throughout this whole time God preserves Paul, and although he is persecuted, he is not deprived of friends or food. He just lacks his freedom.
Dodger: Sometimes I can't help but wonder what that time was like for Paul. At any rate, God's faithfulness in preserving him through this (and later in the story a shipwreck and a snake bite) illustrates God's power to take care of those he loves. No matter what your situation, you have to trust that God knows what He's doing and will do what's best for you. If you don't understand, ask God questions because He will listen and you may even get an explanation or encouragement. Whatever you do, don't think that God has abandoned you. He never left Paul, and He will never leave you. It's that simple.
Lilly: God is your Father. He loves you even more than your parents. If you think about it, you can probably remember times your parents did things you didn't understand but which turned out for the best. God does the same thing on a much bigger scale. He wants the very best for you. You need to trust that He's got you in his hands and won't let you go, ever, no matter what the challenge you face.
Dodger: I'm glad God is faithful even though we fail.
Lilly: Me too.
Dodger: I think we had better get going. I have to get up early tomorrow.
Lilly: I hope you have a good time.
Dodger: Thanks and same to you, and to our friend here. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's never, ever, ever, going to change. Ever.
Lilly: Later, Gators!
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
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