Read Acts 24
Kim Johnson
Acts 24 opens with drama–Tertullus pours flattery on Felix, even as he presents false charges against Paul. Paul offers a defense that is filled with truth, and even in the midst of accusations against him, he speaks of the source of his hope. There is so much in this chapter to think about and learn from, but as I read it repeatedly, a couple of words in verse 27 kept jumping out to me–“two years.” In chapter 23, God promised Paul that he would preach in Rome, and a short time later, we see Paul left waiting in prison in Caesarea for two years. Two years … it can seem like a lifetime when you are waiting. We have the advantage of being able to read the stories of people of the Bible over the course of just a few pages, and it is easy to lose sight of the fact that God’s work in them and through them often took place over years. The passage doesn’t tell us how the waiting affected Paul, but I tried to put myself in his place. For me, times of waiting are times when I am tempted to begin to doubt and listen to the whispers of the enemy. Did I hear wrong? Am I forgotten? Do my prayers matter? Is God good? Is He good to me?
We get to see these events of Paul’s life through the perspective of time. We can see, in part, some of the ways God worked through the twists and turns of Paul’s life. Even in prison, God provided. Verse 23 tells us Felix allowed Paul some freedom and permitted his friends to take care of his needs. God provided community instead of isolation. God also provided purpose. We can see some of the ways God used Paul during his season of waiting. He had the opportunity to speak often with Felix, while also mentoring the companions who helped take care of his needs. Later, during his time in prison in Rome, Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. God allowed him not only to preach in Rome, but also to speak to us through his writing. Paul’s times of waiting were not wasted. The circumstances of Paul’s life helped him to learn a valuable secret: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13)
Application:
Are you in a “two-year” season of life? Are you waiting for an answer to prayer or for a door to be opened? Pray for God to open your eyes to the ways He is providing for you, even as you wait. Pray for eyes to see the purpose He has for you in this season. Lean into Him as you wait, and seek His strength to help you learn to be content in every season, even when you are waiting.
