Stay True While You Wait
"When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison." -- Acts 24:27
Do you ever get impatient? Do you ask God again and again for whatever it is you want and get frustrated because He doesn't answer immediately? You're a want it now kind of person. I know the feeling.
Imagine what Paul must have felt. He was in prison. He was charged with defiling the temple area by bringing Greeks into a holy area. But he hadn't. He was innocent and in prison. Talk about unfair.
Paul scared people and he made them jealous. It was easier for the Jews to keep things as they were. They knew the rules. They'd made most of them. They didn't want to believe what Paul was saying, that Jesus was indeed the Messiah that the Old Testament had promised. It was easier to lash out, to point fingers, to demand justice for a faked crime.
Soldiers arrested Paul. Then some Jews vowed to ambush and kill him while Paul was being taken before the Sanhedrin. Fortunately, the plot was discovered and the commander had Paul sent to Caesarea. Where Paul spent two years in prison. And that was before he got sent to Rome.
Paul no doubt suffered during his imprisonment. But he never gave up on God. Indeed, scripture shows that Paul stayed faithful to Jesus and to His Word. Paul seemed intent on telling as many people as he could about Jesus and all He has done for us. I wonder if we would have stayed as true and faithful were we sitting in prison for two years for something we didn't do?
It's easy to get impatient when God doesn't answer -- doesn't save us or give to us -- right away. Look at how God used Paul. And is still using Paul today. Now imagine what He has planned for you and I. Just imagine. We don't know why God sometimes waits but He does so don't ever stop proclaiming all He has done for you and me. There's no telling how many people God will end up touching through you.
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