When 'Paul' Was Still 'Saul'

SCRIPTURE
Acts 25:22-24“Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said, he, thou shall hear him. And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the palace of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are hear present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.”

OBSERVATION
Found in Acts 9, Saul persecuted the Christians. He testified against them in the courts but he lied and used trickery. After he was converted, Paul spoke the gospel to everyone. From Acts 21-28, Paul is in jail. The multitudes were furious that Paul had been preaching to the Gentiles. The accusers used lies and treachery to trick the judges into sentencing Paul to death. Sound familiar?

APPLICATION
This reminds me of a children’s song, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” This is exactly what happened to Paul. We all judge. Whether you admit it or not, we have all judged someone in our life. Everyone is going to judge and be judged. It’s part of our fleshly nature. It doesn’t even have to be drastic to count. When you notice someone on the street or at work, our mind starts to criticize. Why did they wear that today? What are they doing? Why aren’t they doing that right?? God gives us this lesson about Paul to give us a wakeup call to ‘reprogram’ ourselves not to judge.

PRAYER
Dear Lord, please help me not to be a judgmental person! Help me to see the good in people instead of finding a way to look down upon them. Thank you Lord for the story of Paul and the many lessons we can learn from it. Thank you for revealing another message from your word! Praise your wonderful name Lord Jesus, Amen.

Holly Ketz
Worship Department - Keyboard/Piano