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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
When Paul gave his powerful testimony to Jesus Christ in Acts 22 the reaction was quite astonishing and a little surprising. Those who heard him were hurt and what had hurt them was the truth of God.
This glorious testimony is so personal - so Jesus centered - so real - so Jewish.
It points to Jesus - showing what the risen living Jesus can do - and did do in this man's life. Paul indicated how Jesus Christ can change and transform one of the most violent religious rebels around, but it does not necessarily mean that everyone will want what you share, and that is always a hard lesson to learn.
Have we not thought that people would be queuing up to receive what we have received from Jesus? That seldom happens. Nevertheless we continue to share faithfully and lovingly - and testify accurately and objectively - our experiences of Jesus - trusting God to use our words as He chooses.
Their behaviour was bizarre. They were so touchy, and if you touch touchy people beware - watch out. They were closed to God. They were not interested in what the living God was doing in the world. God was doing something which did not fit in with their ways - their thinking - their theology. When God does not fit in with your theology which are you going to reject?
Verse 24. Paul is taken away to be examined under torture! Prepare to flog him. Then, we will find out why the people are really shouting. As they stretch out Paul to torture him, he asks - "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?" He has had no trial. Was what they were about to do right in the sight of their own laws? There are times when we have to speak out courageously and boldly.
That made them stop and consider what they were up to - what they were about to do.
They discover that Paul was not only a Jew - 'a messianic Jew' - but also a Roman - an apostle, prophet, preacher, teacher, writer - and a man who had to face such suffering for the cause of Jesus Christ.
The longer we serve in the front line of the Kingdom of God the harder the lesson can become. That is something else we have to accept and embrace, and in today's world there are thousands of disciples of Jesus Christ facing this very situation, as they are persecuted and imprisoned for their very real and vibrant faith in the Son of God. Wherever you are this day, can I ask you to pray for them.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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