Are You Willing?

Acts 26:19-23 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen – 23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
 
TESTIFYING before Israel’s authorities, Paul explained he immediately obeyed  heaven’s authority. Jesus had commanded him (verse 18) to open their eyes and turn their hearts to light and from the power of Satan. That is exactly what he did.
   We remember the Romans had found no reason to charge Paul. And he was standing before King Agrippa, who ruled a portion of Israel, because the king was curious about him.
   This was not a criminal trial. The God of heaven and earth was on trial in the unbelieving pagan minds. They were listening to Paul. But did they hear him? Would they believe?
   Paul wanted them to know about his radically changed life. He was the powerful death-dealing Pharisee who experienced a most radical change. There was no earthly reason for Paul to reject the power and authority he had attained. The Jews’ rulers had respected him. Paul was proud of himself!
   But now Paul wanted the prideful people in the assembly that day to know Jesus is far more important to him than any earthly status.
   Paul tried to convey his sense of duty to the law. He had been faithful to Moses’ and the prophets’ words. He testified that he came to know those words told the Jews the Christ would suffer (Isaiah 53).  He would be the first to rise from the dead (Psalm 16:8-11). The Messiah would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles (Isaiah 51:8).
   Paul had come to know his true life was in full obedience to the Scriptures. His life was not his own. Paul wanted the Jews and Romans to know he lived in the authority of the Living Word. His life was not his own.
   This is the Bible’s truth, isn’t it? When God calls you, your life is not your own. Are you willing to join him wherever, however he directs you?