At Your Convenience


Hi everyone

I read Acts 24 today. Thought I would share an interesting part at verses 24-26. Context: Paul has been arrested and brought before Felix to be tried.

"Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was AFRAID and said, "THAT"S ENOUGH FOR NOW! You may leave. WHEN I FIND IT CONVENIENT, I will send for you." AT THE SAME TIME he was hoping that Paul would offer him a BRIBE, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him."

I've highlighted in CAPS the important parts.

When Paul started talking about righteousness, self-control and judgment, Felix became AFRAID. He then told Paul - that's ENOUGH FOR NOW and that he would call him back when CONVENIENT. But at the SAME TIME, he was hoping to hear what he wanted to hear i.e. a bribe, so he spoke to Paul frequently.

It reminds me of what our relationship with God is often like. When God tells us what he wants us to do, we are AFRAID. We don't want to accept the truth and what He has required us to do. So we tell God, enough for now, go away! Come back when it's convenient for me. Yet we keep hoping to hear good news, like success in our work, health for our family, even sometimes hoping to hear God's approval for something we know to be wrong! And so we keep asking Him back to speak to us. But actually, we only want to hear what we want to hear - what is convenient for us - and when God tells us something we don't like, we tell Him again - go away for now, come back when it's convenient!

God is not a Stop-and-Shop. Let's decide in our hearts not to be like Felix, only wanting to hear what is convenient for us. Instead, let's heed His call to do exactly what He requires of us, facing up to our responsibilities as stewards of God's time, resources and our very lives, because we are not our own, we are purchased and redeemed.

God bless you!

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