August 9, 2012 - Acts 26:7b-8

            “’…it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me.  Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?’”  Acts 26:7b-8.

            Paul presented a case that any good Pharisee would have agreed with: that their great hope was in the resurrection of the dead.  The Pharisees were living in the hope that God would send a Messiah, similar to how God sent Moses to deliver the nation from slavery.  This Messiah would lead them to new life through the resurrection of the dead.  The difference was that Paul believed that this hope had been fulfilled in the carpenter’s son, Jesus of Nazareth.  The Pharisees could not believe that their Messiah would come as Jesus came, as a servant-leader.  Because they viewed Paul’s preaching as false and heretical, they sought to seize, muzzle, and ultimately kill him.  Even though Paul was demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled all that they were waiting for, the Pharisees made their own judgment and accusations without fully weighing the evidence.

            While I have not killed anyone (yet!), there have been times when, in my mind, I wanted harm to come to others.  I have had many times when I accused others of wrong-doing, and instead of weighing the evidence and turning all of it over to God, I stewed on it and cast my own judgment.  When I realized what I was doing, I was quick to change my direction, asking the Lord to forgive and cleanse me.  I have come to realize that I have a tendency towards making quick judgments of others, accusing them of things out of my own perceptions, instead of praying for God’s grace to be with them.  It is humbling to realize that I tend to be this way, yet I am thankful that God has shown me a positive way to move forward.

            Questions to consider: Have you ever been accused anyone unjustly for doing wrong to you?  What was that like?  Have you ever made judgments of someone, accusing them of wrong-doing, and you have been wrong?  What was that like?  How would God have you respond when you begin to accuse others?

            Prayer: Father, forgive me for making quick and incorrect judgments of those around me.  Help me to pray for them instead of accusing them.  Help me to have grace instead of judgment.  Amen.