JULY 23, 2016

“Man is a fallen star till he is right with heaven: he is out of order with himself and all around him till he occupies his true place in relation to God. When he serves God, he has reached that point where he doth serve himself best, and enjoys himself most. It is man's honour, it is man's joy, it is man's heaven, to live unto God.” 
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Humility and How to Get It

PSALM 38-40

David embraces that God is the only answer to all his blessings...

1I waited patiently for the Lord;

he turned to me and heard my cry.

2He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

3He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord

and put their trust in him.

ACTS 23:12-35

The plan to assassinate Paul is foiled and Paul is given protective custody by Roman Governors...

23Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen^b to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

25He wrote a letter as follows:

26Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency, Governor Felix:

Greetings.

27This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. 29I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. 30When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.

JOURNAL 

It is fascinating to see Paul's path play out. His Roman citizenship definitely becomes a factor in allowing him to be protected and the Gospel to be heard in places it never would have been. Paul's calm demeanor and presence also are key factors in allowing him to think clearly in making decisions. These are not the actions of a desperate man...these are the actions of someone content to accept whatever happens. 

So how is Paul so content with his fate? I think the answer is the Gospel itself. Paul has found peace and joy simply in following God, wherever that takes him. He realizes that it may mean an early death, he realizes it probably means stress, rebuke and suffering yet his joy is found in the following not in the outcome. 

David's contentment and joy in the Psalm's come simply from being fully committed to waiting on God. Although he makes mistakes and those mistakes cost him severely at times, he still relies on God for rescue and to restore him. He does not wallow in shame or seek alternate means to make him feel better...he seeks and waits for God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

 ~ GALATIANS 5:22-25