There are some interesting characters that crop up in the Book of Acts. Because these people lived 2,000 years ago does not mean that they were uneducated or that they lacked intelligence.
On the contrary they were bright, well informed individuals.
St Paul had been told when he was converted to Christ that he would be a witness to kings and rulers and, thirty years later, it came to pass.
He was brought before Herod Agrippa and his wife, Bernice, to explain the new faith of Christianity.
Such was the power on his testimony that Agrippa suddenly blurted out:
"Almost you convince me to be a Christian"
He would probably have been converted right there had it not been for his wife Bernice. She held a rare influence upon him. She was a profligate woman living in an immoral relationship with Agrippa. She was also a lapsed Jewess and likely froze the King with a baleful stare when she heard of her need of repentance.
I have found that wives have powerful effect upon their husbands for good or bad.
One man said boldly, "I am the head of my house" to which the wife immediately replied "And I am the neck that turns his head."
In this case Bernice was the neck that turned the head of Agrippa away from making his peace with God.
Remember it is not sufficient to be "almost" a Christian, we must be "altogether" believers in Christ and then live out this conviction in
a skeptical world.
Jubilate.
Ian
Yesterday I was talking about our trip to Corinth and the pro-consul, Gallio. He was the "I don't know, I don't care man" who dismissed charges against Paul.
There's another Roman judge who crops up shortly after Gallio in the Book of Acts.
He was called Felix.
Felix was a hard-headed "give me the facts" sort of guy who summoned Paul to his office and asked him to tell him what his message was all about.
Paul took full advantage of the invitation and got to work preaching his sermon about "Righteousness, self control and the coming judgement day."
This was not what the governor expected and he literally shook with fear. He cut Paul short and said "Enough! Come back at a more convenient time"
But when God speaks there never is a better time than NOW. If we pass by the opportunity of today we might never have another.The devil knows that if he can get people to postpone deciding for Christ till tomorrow, he can postpone the matter for ever.
Felix, I've met him a thousand times as I have preached around the earth but I don't expect that I'll be meeting him in Heaven.
Jubilate.
Ian
Three years ago when I was in Cyprus staying with English friends I did my first "Breakfast With Ian." It was in the form of a short morning devotion over toast and cereals.
Since then I have done six hundred more "BWI's" which are now read in about thirty countries. So much for small beginnings.
Pauline and I had visited Greece before we journeyed to Cyprus and it was with this trip in mind that I did my breakfast talk with our hosts, John and Sue Cowgill.
One of the stops on our tour was in ancient Corinth. A feature, pointed out by our tour guide, was the Bema Seat of the consul Gallio. When Paul was brought before him for creating a public disturbance by preaching, Gallio curtly dismissed the charge as frivolous.
It was the right decision but there was no further inquiry by Gallio as to the Gospel message and WHY Paul was preaching.
The Bible simply says "He cared for none of those things."
An intelligent man with no spiritual interest.
I heard of a man taking a poll on the street who was asking passers-by what they felt was wrong with Canada. One brusquely replied:
"I don't know and I don't care." "Right on both points", rejoined the pollster, "Ignorance and indifference."
Let's make sure that, as far as spiritual matters are concerned, we don't become like Gallio, "I don't know and I don't care" people.
Jubilate.
Ian
