Commitment Issues
Acts 24:24-27
24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
27 After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.
In case you are jumping in fresh to our series on Acts, you need to know that Paul, who was previously a persecutor of Christians, has utterly forsaken his old way of life and now radically seeks to do everything that Jesus would have him do. This commitment to Jesus has landed him in trouble and now he is in prison.
What a contrast is the life of Paul with the life of Felix, the Roman ruler of Judea. Felix is curious about Paul and what he is preaching. Yet, we see that ultimately, he is concerned with what is convenient for him. Felix is committed entirely to himself and maintaining his current way of life.
This short section of scripture delivers a sharp message to me: “Who am I committed to?”
“Lord Jesus, forgive me as all too often I simply listen to you at my convenience. Lord without your help I fall back into commitment to myself. I receive your power afresh, your presence inside of me by the Holy Spirit. I reaffirm my commitment to you. Fill me with the strength to say NO to my own desires and YES to you Jesus, no matter the cost. Amen.”
Written by Andrew Mellor