Next Gen Scriptural Rejection

Scripture: But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?” Paul replied, “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” Acts 25:9-11

Observation: Paul's formal trial with Festus is brief. The Jews accuse him of ... nothing illegal, as Festus himself will point out. However, Festus asks if Paul is willing to be tried by the Jews, and Paul refuses. He is done submitting to the Jewish high priest, who continues to reject the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.

Over and over again, Paul's hardships are the result of Jewish resistance to any discussion about the Messiah. They are not just resistant, but violent and illogical. They reject debate that is based on their own scriptures, and instead do all they can to protect their own status quo. And Paul is done with this. Never again will Paul engage in debate and disagreement over Jewish prophesy and scriptural interpretation. Instead, he will lean into the core tenants of what faith in Messiah truly means ... the manifestation of the Lord's love, with a path to salvation through simple belief.

Application: The Jews lost sight of their own purpose and thus violently rejected the very savior they had been promised, compromising their own belief system to retain their lifestyle. Christians are now the adopted heirs to the promises of the Lord ... and we are doing the exact same thing. We have entire denominations, comprised of millions of believers, who now reject the teaching of the Lord, as found in the bible, and do so because they think they are being 'relevant' and 'appealing' to modern culture. They have compromised their call and mission in order to try to retain their lifestyle.

I know I could do the same, and I probably do. I am not proud of who I am, what I think and do, or how I uphold the Lord's word in my life. I am a failure in almost every respect. However, my heart literally breaks when I see Christians in opposition to the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, a pray again today for so many churches that have cast aside your word. I believe they have faith in Jesus, but have lost their understanding of what that truly means in their earthly life. I will not mourn the loss of their lampstand, but I pray for the people that they can find your heart again. And when I lose my way, I pray that same prayer for myself as well. Amen.