Acts Day 192 - Convenient Isn't It?

17:5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” 8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.

Convenient isn't it?

The Jews run to the Romans with the accusation that Paul is acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar and Jason is harboring them. The charge is treason.

But keep in mind these same Jews hate the Romans and are waiting for a Messiah to come and overthrow them. They just don't want Jesus to be their Messiah do they cry treason under the banner of feigned loyalty to Caesar.

I was sat on a board with an individual. The board had a policy book it was to follow not as an absolute rule book but as a guide. This individual never mentioned the policy book when he wanted to do something outside of policy but as soon as someone else did he would quote the policy book to the letter.

Convenient isn't it?

The following scene is Jesus on trial before Pilate:

John 19:10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Convenient isn't it?

There will always be people who change colours. They will do or say whatever they think they need to do or say in any situation to get what they want. My favourite author calls them chameleons. Perhaps you have encountered one or two. Perhaps they have had influence or power over you. Maybe you've been thrown under the bus for their convenience.

If that is the case I want you to remember three things. One is that they have no power over you unless God grants it. The second is that God is working all things together for His glory and our good. The third is that Love already Won.

Never forget what Jesus told us: "In this world you will have trouble but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world."

Love Wins. Love already won... :)