Thursday, January 4, 2024

Armed protection

Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.  Acts 23:31

 I remember several years back, I was having some concerns and actually great fear came on me for the protection of my family.  I began to think about what it would be like if something tragic were to happen to one of them.  Of course, the more I thought about it the more terrified and helpless I felt.  I began to pray about it and ask the Lord what I would do and how could I live with this fear of what could possibly happen in the unknown future.  I am actually glad that I had this conversation with Him because what He showed me in that moment has brought me peace every time that fear tries to creep into my thought life. 

In just a moment of time, He showed me that I can ask and believe for God’s divine protection for my family and loved ones.  In the very same way and with the exact same faith that I asked Him to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior, I could ask Him in faith to protect and watch over those I love and care for.  Then He reminded me of Scripture such as Psalms 91 that say He put His angels in charge of us to keep us in all our ways, Psalms 34 that say the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, Psalms 23 that says when I walk through valleys, He is with me and protects and 2 Thessalonians 3:3 that He is faithful to strengthen and protect from the evil one.

I am encouraged once again as I read through today’s reading when the apostle Paul’s life was threatened by a group that had actually taken a vow to kill him.  God provided him with an armed escort right into the king’s palace where he was protected by the greatest military force on the face of the earth at that point in time.  As I read through to the end of the chapter, I saw that He was kept in Herod’s praetorium, but always thought that was a prison.  It turns out that he was actually in the palace that king Herod had built on the Mediterranean Sea as a place of retreat and no one trying to kill Paul could get to him there. This is actually where he spent the next two years before going on to Rome as we will read in the coming chapters.  It was also the place that he wrote many letters to the churches that we are still reading yet today.

Today I want to encourage you as you read through this passage of scripture to consider how great our heavenly Father is.  Is He big enough to keep you and your loved ones safe as you commit each one of them into His hand?  Is He able to send military forces and armed escorts to protect from evil coming against you?  Does His plan for your life include taking care of the details right down to your health and well-being?  You decide and while you are at it, decide that you are going to trust Him no matter what the circumstances look like to supply you with every kind of grace to get your purpose for being in this world accomplished.  This is why it is so important to find out your mission and assignment in life because when you do, there is nothing that can stop you from finishing because God will make sure you are successful

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 23:23-35

23 And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 

24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 

25 He wrote a letter in the following manner:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To the most excellent governor Felix:

Greetings.

27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 

28 And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. 

29 I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. 

30 And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.

Farewell.

31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 

32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. 

33 When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 

34 And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, 

35 he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.