8/22/2021 - The Gospel Makes Death a Gardener - Acts 22

“Death used to be an executioner, but the gospel makes him just a gardener.” George Herbert

The apostle Paul continues to inspire. His final missionary journey will culminate in his arrest. It will be one life threatening situation after another for the rest of Paul’s life. Yet he doesn’t stop. He’s a man of tremendous courage. Courage is not a lack of fear, it's being afraid and doing the right thing. Where does this come from and how do we get it? 

Christian, you are going to need courage in this life. 

Every once in a while a friend will alert me to a YouTube comment someone makes about me. More recently someone said that I sound like the actor Ray Romano. Then another person commented that I looked like him. I’m not saying Ray is unattractive but he’s certainly no George Clooney. Online commenters can be like snipers hiding in the shadows. This is a very small thing. The larger things occur when I get called out for wrong actions and attitudes. See, that’s where my pride comes in. 
So I begin to think of what Paul has to say to me. I’m reminded that Christians have a unique way of looking at themselves and their surroundings. 

Paul had an impressive Jewish resume. That’s what he outlines in Acts chapter 22. Certainly it was a point of pride before he met Christ. "I am superior to others,” he would selfishly proclaim. By the way, people who live in shame and guilt can be just as self-absorbed because all they're doing is focusing on themselves. So superiority and inferiority are both misguided.  Paul says that he needed to be washed clean. He wasn’t as great as he thought he was. In fact, he was wrong and misguided and needed to be brought low. When Paul was brought low he discovered Jesus loved him in spite of his self absorption. So then he found himself in the right balance. He had a joyful humility. Therefore he had the courage to do what God called him to do because he was no longer looking at himself. Instead, he looked to Jesus; and often when facing death. Even in death you win Christian. You gain eternal life. Courage is all about keeping your eyes on Jesus.