August 2, 2012 - Acts 26:6

            “’And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today.’”  Acts 26:6.

            Standing before King Agrippa, Paul began to tell his story of his upbringing as a Jew who always followed his beliefs very strictly, having become a Pharisee as a young adult.  As a Pharisee, he had a deep hope in the promise of God that all Pharisees held: a hope in the resurrection of the dead.  For many, this was a great point of interest, thought, and discussion, but had no real-life experience.  None of the Pharisees had known anyone who had been raised up again after dying, and it didn’t take much faith to intellectualize about whether or not there was an actual resurrection.  Yet, Paul’s belief in a resurrection was founded firmly on his very real and very alive relationship with the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth.  Paul staked his life on his hope in the resurrection.

            In being removed from Jesus’ resurrection from the dead by over 2000 years, I am challenged to consider whether or not I am staking my life on my hope in the resurrection of the dead.  Jesus appeared to Paul at least once, and perhaps more than once.  I have strong impressions of being in the presence of Jesus, yet I cannot say with certainty that He has ever appeared to me.  My hope, though, is as strong as ever, yet I think it still doesn’t have the conviction it would have if Jesus had appeared to me.  My hope is not based solely on the fact that the Bible tells of the resurrection; so it is not built just on intellectual findings.  It is built on experiencing God’s presence through the work of the Holy Spirit, as well as being built on His Word.  My hope in God is not just in words but also in action; the way that I live my life.  That was certainly Paul’s example.

            Questions to consider: What is your hope built on?  Is your hope built on something or someone that is solid enough for you to put the weight of your life on it?  What does it mean to have hope “in what God has promised our fathers?”

            Prayer: Father, I hope that the weight of my life can be supported by the hope I have in Your resurrection, and in my own resurrection.  Because Your Spirit resides within me, I hope in what was promised by our fathers, the hope in the resurrection from the dead.  Amen.