JULY 25, 2023

  “The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it. ” 

― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

PSALM 44-46

1God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.^c

ACTS 25

8Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”9Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”10Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11If, 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!”12After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

JOURNAL 

Paul is steadfast in his defense and displays a confidence that he will die if he has done anything deserving of death. It is at this point that I begin to see the shrewdness and intellect of Paul. He knows his arguments and knows how the powers of government work.

Paul is working the system and working within his ability. He is obedient to God but still uses his own talents and opportunities. This verse juxtaposed with Psalm 46 begins to paint a clearer picture of faith in God. It's not about being something you are not...it's about being what you are but embracing it fully, passionately and doing it to serve God and man. 

It is letting the world fall around me and still steadfastly standing up in the storm and delivering the best of what I am. It is in this trust of God that I am to find confidence, joy, peace and a clear purpose. It is in this faith that I leave tomorrow to God and focus only on today. It is in this trust that I bury the past and cease to take confidence nor shame in. 

This is the brilliance of Jesus' word which was focused on today and giving the best of ourselves today...this moment. Not tomorrow or next week or next month or next year. Today and today only. A life consumed with my best "todays" will be a life that truly glorifies God. And a life that glorifies God is the best life I can live.

24“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

 MATTHEW 25:24-27