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Letting Opportunity Go

March 30, 2011 by Fritz

[Felix] hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.  –  Acts 24:26

A curious story – Paul was unjustly thrown in prison and brought before governor Felix, who saw no fault in him but wanted a bribe for his release.

Felix couldn’t say so, of course, but everyone knew it – that’s the way things got done.

But Paul was content to stay in that awful environment, meet with Felix and the other prisoners as often as they asked, then finally be passed on to do the same for someone else.

Why?  It doesn’t say, but I think Paul trusted that Jesus hadn’t abandoned him but was with him in that prison.  And when God is with you what difference does it make where you are. I think Paul resolved, as an act of faith, to not live for himself, even in putrid surroundings, and to not manipulate the system to get what he wanted.

Lesson: We sometimes find ourselves in unhealthy and unpleasant circumstances, not because we are outside God’s will but because we are in it, and letting some opportunities go is the right thing to do.

Sound Bite: When God is with you what difference does it make where you are!
– fritz

Related Post: Not a Prisoner of the one who Owns the Chains (May 8, 2010)

Posted in Felix, Manipulation, Maturity, Opportunity, Paul | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

One “Not Good” In All Creation

March 29, 2011 by Fritz

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. – Genesis 2:18

God gave the “Good” pronouncement on everything he created except one – Adam’s aloneness.

Adam was good but his being alone wasn’t, so God made man into a community1 – first with a partner, then through that partner a family.

Some like being alone – no one to be hassled or disappointed with, no one to get in the way or make you wait, no one to limit your freedom or to say, “No!”; but that’s not God’s way.

God has always been a community (in his case – Father, Son, Spirit) and community is his intent for us.  He makes a place, in the Community of faith, for everyone who will accept Christ, if we will but coöperate and choose his way over our own.

God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. – Psalm 68:6

– fritz

1 – Genesis 1:27

Posted in Adam, Church, Community, In Christ | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Not Very Clever

March 28, 2011 by Fritz

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:13

Christ’s followers have often been considered “uneducated” and “ignorant”.    It is not usually true, but so what if it were?

God doesn’t glorify ignorance but neither is he impressed with how many letters are after our names.  We are all the same size to Him – we, too, should take that view.

The apostle Paul, a great learned man, made a conscious effort to not appear “clever” but to present a simple message – Jesus and his gift.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  – 1st Corinthians 2:2″

– fritz

Posted in Humility, Pride | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

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