All About "a Dead Man"

Scripture: When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. Acts 25:18-19

Observation: This is how we judge Paul's heart as an evangelist - the only charges anyone could bring against him in court was that he believed the Messiah had come to earth and been raised from the dead, fulfilling the prophets and the law. Beyond that, he has done nothing to violate any moral, civic, public law, nor has he wronged any person or organization, nor has he spoken against the government and its leaders.

Application: If Christians - including me - could hold ourselves to such a standard, the enemy would have no foothold to battle against us.

Christianity gets a black eye when we fight against the government, or wrong people through righteous judgment, or even break laws and do immoral things in order to advance our "cause".

We don't have a "cause" that needs advancing ... we have a savior with a message of good news for all people. We don't need to condemn people or attack people over their actions or beliefs or values ... we simply need to tell them about Jesus.

We will STILL get attacked over this - Paul is about to be sent to Rome for a public trial and execution. However, I would LOVE to be attacked over my belief in Jesus and proclamation of his word, rather than for my behavior toward others. Only one of these will Jesus stand with me for on my day of judgment. This is my lesson today: My stance "against" anything and everything needs to only be "faith in Jesus is all you need to for eternal life."

Prayer: May I be unafraid, Jesus, to boldly speak of you only in all circumstances. Amen.