Day 74: Devotion Comments

This blog post is to make up for the one I missed on Monday, March 11.  I might share more of my devotion comments in the future, if you find them interesting.

Currently, I am reading the book of Acts.  In Acts 25, Paul is enduring the unfair accusations that the Jews have brought against him, just as Jesus had to patiently endure in front of the High Priest.  Verses 7 and 8 of Acts really struck me.

When he [Paul] had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove,  while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”

It really irks me when someone says something incorrect or misinterprets what I say or think.  I want to speak up immediately and correct them, defend myself from their false opinions.  Yet Paul patiently takes all the blows.  It might not sit well with him that they slander him but does not let it show outwardly.  A couple chapters ago, he is even polite and civil when he stood before governor Felix to be judged.  Paul doesn't deserve to be subjected to that, but he still maintains his faith in God and the truth.  All the world can deny what he says, but Paul can rest assured because God is on his side.  The truth always prevails.  I just give Paul a lot of credit because I am not sure I could have that kind of composure.

Another thing, I relate to doubting Thomas more than I thought.  I like to think of myself as an optimist, someone who trusts in God and still believes in miracles.  Other times, I am cautious before jumping to conclusions, can be bluntly critical, and try to look at things realistically.  Normally, this means "bursting someone's bubble" or inadvertently hurting feelings.  I was in one of those later moods when my sister called me "doubting Thomasina."  I wasn't insulted, but it made me realize how quickly we can fall into that sort of attitude. Perhaps Thomas did not purposely disbelieve in Jesus rising but chose to be realistic.  He was protecting himself from getting his hopes dashed.  I suppose sometimes we have to put our hearts on the line, especially when it is concerning God or something important.  There might be pain, but God is there is to catch us.