September 13, 2012 - Acts 26:24

            “At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense.  ‘You are out of your mind, Paul!’ he shouted.  ‘Your great learning is driving you insane.’”  Acts 26:24.

            As Paul told the story of how God miraculously and radically changed his life, Festus couldn’t believe what he was hearing and interrupted Paul’s speech, claiming that Paul had gone crazy.  Festus recognized Paul’s brilliance, but stated that because of Paul’s “great learning”, he had gone out of his right mind.  At least to Festus, what Paul was saying made no sense, so instead of trying to understand, he just assumed that Paul had gone crazy.  What Paul was saying just did not make any sense to Festus.  Either that or Festus was coming under conviction?

            I must admit that there have been times when people who had known me from the past heard me speak about the radical change in my life – that I had become a follower of Jesus – and they looked at me like I was crazy.  Members of my own family didn’t understand what had happened and knew that I was different, but they couldn’t make the connection that God was real and that He was responsible for the positive changes in my life.  Sometimes people will just flat out think that we, as followers of Jesus, are weird, crazy, strange, or some combination of all three.  And we need to just continue to move forward and not worry about what they think, but instead, focus on what He thinks and how He would have us conduct ourselves.  It is not about us.  It is about Him and about how we live our lives for Him before others.

            Questions to consider: Have you ever had someone you know think that you were at least a little off your rocker because of your belief in Jesus?  Have you ever worried that someone might think that you are weird, so you have not been fully genuine about being a follower of Jesus?  What is more important to you: what Jesus thinks of you or what those around you think of you?

            Prayer: Father, it is my heart to be more concerned about what You think of me than what others think, but I confess that I, sometimes, worry more about what they think.  I don’t want them to think that I am crazy because I follow You, so I act differently at times.  Please forgive me and give me the strength to stand up for You at all times regardless of what others think.  Amen.