Dig Deeper:
COMPARED TO CREATION, RESURRECTION IS NO BIG DEAL: All through the ages one of the biggest hangups people have with Christianity is believing all of the miracles written about in the Bible: everything from the great flood, to the Red Sea opening up, the sun standing still, fire coming from heaven, a baby born to a virgin, water into wine, and more. The biggest miracle, and the most difficult to believe, is that Jesus rose from the dead. But as Paul says in v8, 'why should we consider it unbelievable that God raises the dead?' God spoke the universe into being; the smarter we get as people, the more evidence we find pointing to a massive creation event. If God did that, why could He not raise His Son from the dead?
THIS ALL MAKES SENSE: In v24, Festus concludes that Paul is insane. Literally translated, Festus calls Paul a maniac. It would have been understandable if Paul flipped out and lost his cool at this point, but Paul calmly responds, "what I'm saying is true and reasonable." Paul is right: there's a ton of evidence to reasonably conclude that Jesus rose from the dead and now extends salvation to all who believe in Him; in fact there is way more evidence arguing for the resurrection than against it. Don't let people push you around and treat you as a dolt for having faith in Jesus Christ. Train yourself to know what you believe, and why you believe it, so that you can demonstrate to all that salvation in Christ is true and reasonable.
PEOPLE DON'T SEE JESUS BECAUSE THEIR EYES ARE CLOSED: We all share in the mission that Jesus gave to Paul in v18: 'to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among all those who are sanctified (made righteous & holy) by faith in me.'
Listen to the sermon on Training Yourself To Use Your Spiritual Gifts
Prayer Tips:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The sovereign creator God, who made all things and who raises the dead.
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to equip you more and more to help show the light of Jesus to all those around you who are wandering in the dark.
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Provide Feedback On the 5x5 Bible Reading Plan
