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In Acts 26, we have the various trials of a man of God. They can be different - repetitive - changing - always the same to some degree - stemming from the same source through people - and strength from Jesus Christ through a variety of sources - and occasionally direct. We are reading of Paul being on trial for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - but in particular for his belief in the resurrection from the dead. There is no other faith in the world where a man could be put on trial for such a belief. Once you have met the risen Jesus - there is no doubt - no question - no wondering.

This is what happened, and it can happen to any man who is totally committed to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This could happen to anyone of us, and it does happen, occasionally taking other forms. We experience pressures of various kinds and varying degrees.

Paul is in the dock - before Governor Festus and King Agrippa - this is the king whose great grandfather had tried to kill Jesus by commanding all the boys of two years old and under in the Bethlehem area should be killed. This is the king whose grandfather Herod mocked Jesus at His trial in Jerusalem. This is the king whose father had killed Jacob (James) the apostle, the brother of John. We read about that in Acts 12. What does Paul do as he appears in front of all these influential dignitaries - rulers, kings and leading citizens? What is he going to preach? What is he going to say? How is he going to handle this crucial appearance? He gives his personal testimony.

We have his testimony in full, three times in one Book. When God gives us something three times in one Book, we would be wise to pay attention to it. It is always wise to pay good heed to what God is saying to us. I am glad Paul never grew out of giving his testimony. Never grow out of sharing your testimony.

I'm glad he never compromised here - or gave in a little there - or changed or modified it - as the years passed by - perhaps saying that he had been too emotional to begin with - or it was all too subjective. No - he never watered things down. Paul remained with what to him was so real. He never lost sight of what was central. He never lost his sight of what was vital and important and significant.

What we hear today can make the difference between success and failure. What we are studying can determine how successful our life has been, five minutes after we die. Men regard and measure success in a very different way from the way in which God regards success. Jesus uses a very different measuring rod.

This man had rebelled against God - resisting the mercy and love and grace of God - fighting against everything God had for him. How he had changed - from imprisoning disciples of Jesus - to making disciples of Jesus. Go into all the world - and Paul eventually obeyed and was a witness to Jesus Christ, telling people everywhere. He was sent to people who were blind to open their eyes that they might see Jesus. You will see people as lost men and women - I am sending you to bring them out of darkness into light - from the power of Satan to God.

How you look at people depends so much upon whether you have met Jesus. How you regard people depends upon what you have heard from Jesus. Three times in one book. What is the living God saying to you through these words of testimony? How does your testimony compare with that of Paul's? There will be unique differences, of course, but there should be certain familiar similarities too.

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

Trusting God Yields Happiness