Giving Voice to Faith

We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the Temple; so we seized him. -Acts 24:5-7 (NIV)

Paul is guilty of none of these things. He has returned to Jerusalem to worship on Pentecost. He has been and will continue to be faithful to the Jewish heritage even as he understands Jesus to be the fulfillment of Jewish scripture. He is being unfairly accused and persecuted for his belief in Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah.

Eugene Peterson makes a great point in his “Conversations” Bible. He suggests that God’s revelation is rejected far more than it is accepted, and dismissed far more than it is embraced. He also points out that God’s revelation has been attacked by every major culture. The community of God’s people has survived, but always as a minority- always marginal to the mainstream.

Paul was in the minority and yet he remained true to his convictions. It would have been much easier for him to bow to the pressure around him.

I am often guilty of bowing to the pressure, remaining silent because I fear rejection. I want to give voice to my faith today. I will not be quiet.

May God grant you the grace to confidently give voice to your faith today despite the opposition and rejection that may be around you.




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If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Job 17 and Acts 24-26.