Acts 25:8
“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”
Jesus instructed His followers that their lives are to be lived as a testimony to the world. He taught “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”(Matthew 5:16). In other words, the way we live should testify of a living God.
Paul lived that way. He not only believed that Christ was alive, he spoke about it, and lived it. His life was a living testimony of a risen Savior. While the religious leaders were in an uproar because of his preaching, they had nothing to hold against him regarding the law or customs.
We all ought to live that way. Writing to the Church in Philippi, Paul stated,
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, . . . ” Philippians 2:14-15
That word “blameless” really stands out to me. It speaks of having nothing of which to grab hold. I remember, years ago, watching a group of young people attempting to catch a greased pig. It was quite comical seeing them run around attempting to grab hold, only to have the pig wiggle away from them. There was nothing to grab hold of, and the pig remained uncatchable. We ought to be a bit like that. How we live at home, work, and around the community, testifies loudly of the reality of Christ. When we seek to be a witness of Christ, it will affect the way we live. The way we work, the way we talk, the things we look at, will all be affected, when we see them as a way to win others to Christ.
Let’s determine today, that we want to be those, who not only declare Christ as a Facebook status, but those who live like Jesus is actually alive from the dead.
Pastor Jim
Questions for Acts 25
- Why did the Jews want Paul to be judged in Jerusalem?
- Paul states to Festus,” to the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know”. Paul is getting the run-around. So what does he do?
- Paul is now put before King Agrippa. King Agrippa was a proselyte, a gentile who practiced Judaism and Paul takes this opportunity to witness. We know the end of the story and it is exciting to see who the Lord brings into Paul’s life. Your life on the other hand, we don’t know the end of the story. Will you take a step of faith and trust God that He does have a plan for your life and wait to see what exciting opportunities await you? Everything can change in the next 5 minutes!
Old Testament:
Judges 16- Super Strength
Judges 17- Homemade Religion
Jim Gallagher 