Heralds Digest

“Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭26:32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.26.32.nkjv The decision of the Agrippa council that listened to Paul's defence of his faith posed a challenge to the pursuit of purpose in life. Pleasure-driven pursuits often override most decision criteria including career choices, marital considerations, business partners, choice of accommodation or residency, etc. The written or unwritten checklists mostly include 'the average salary for fresh graduates in the career, the industry, the economy, etc'; 'life expectancy ratios of citizens'; 'standard of living'; 'prospect of the proposal, partner, project, etc'; and the list grows with no end. While an honest consideration of these criteria is not necessarily wrong, the temptation to ignore or misplace the central purpose for human existence is high, especially when pleasure takes the primary cons...

“Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭26:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.26.22-23.nkjv A life focused on a self-rescue mission is bound to suffer a recurring depression, especially when all personal efforts suffer steep opposition and the challenges of life. However, the determination to help others to live better gives light to the pockets of darkness in human life. Anyone can feel the sense of appreciation to God in the response of Paul before king Agrippa, compared to the possible life of regret and blame to God for his incarceration while in obedience to the heavenly calling. Infact, the reason for Paul's rescue from being killed by the Jews offers the privilege to provid...

“So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭25:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.25.23.nkjv Convocation of large assembly of people on the basis of satisfying the curiosity of an individual is always unattractive, no matter how highly placed the individual in the society. King Agrippa's desire to listen to Paul, especially after the expiration of his and Bernice's many days' visit to Festus, appears boring and irrelevant until the governor drew the agenda for the assembly. What could have ended up as a wasteful side attraction for only king Agrippa and Bernice became a laudable attraction for all the prominent men of the city. After all, the purpose for the use of state resources must attract reasonable and attractive agenda. Unfortunately, believers are often unwary about the purpose for the use of their tim...

“Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭25:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.25.12.nkjv The life of man represents the compilation of sentences, including statement of recommendation or rejection, vote of confidence or confiscation, letter of promotion or termination of service, etc. For example, Festus' sentence of Paul to Caesar's judgement seat in Rome appears a satisfactory compromise for both the Jews and the council in Caesarea. Although the sentence was announced by Festus, it was a complete or faithful execution of Paul's appeal. Precisely, the sentence was a faithful execution of the will of the sovereign God, who had earlier informed Paul of the mission to Rome. Invariably, the wrath and will of all the creatures of God, including man, his methods and machinery, are subject to God's perfect will for all who are called for the fulfillment of His purpose. Unfortunat...

“Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭24:25-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.24.25-26.nkjv Life is so precious for a paving with the paint of pleasure rather than the pursuit of purpose. The misuse of a sense of purpose in life is often treated as the search for a convenient time, otherwise known as procrastination. For Felix the governor, convenient time means the satisfaction of the needs of the body rather than the security of the soul. He is used to the grabbing of unlawful possession from others, the corrupt politics of position, etc. Unfortunately, the same definition holds for every pleasure-driven life. However, the little life of man is so precious than to be sacrificed...

“I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭24:15-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.24.15-16.nkjv In climes where building regulations are strictly followed, development and demolition projects cannot commence unless government approval is obtained. And holder of building permit can go to sleep and freely decide project start date without fear of illegal encroachment. Whereas, developing climes have a restive sense of security for holders of government permits; where commencement of building construction does not foreclose the risk of encroachment. Human conscience is likened to a free-for-all project site, where eternal diligence is required in order to keep the site clean and clear. In pursuit of his conviction about God's final approval of the state of human conscience, Paul pr...

“He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭24:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.24.6-7.nkjv A sincere protection of the temple against profanity is commendable, even as Jesus also defended the sanctity of the sanctuary with zeal. The temple of God is reserved for holy activities, including the offering of prayer, praise and worship unto the Lord. However, the accusation against Paul was not sincere. Actually, Paul was violently prevented from completing the mandatory purification, seized and planned to kill him contrary to the law. Now, they are here accusing commander Lysias, who prevented the possible destruction of lives and properties from the instigated uproar, of violent intervention. Obviously, an insincere defender of an external temple, institution and a religious culture leaves the real temple of God vulnerable to d...