Not a victim
For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Acts 25:11
For years I have read through the letters that Paul sent to the churches in the New Testament books. Often, his letters began with something about being a prisoner or being in chains. He briefly acknowledged his location and the conditions why he was being held, but he never took on a victim mentality. He certainly could have, but he maintained his focus and determined that he was going to complete his mission regardless of the outside forces coming against him. He never made excuses the he was not able to complete each assignment God gave him because his circumstances were stopping him.
Today’s reading in Acts 25 is no different. After he had been kept at the palace for two years, a new procurator moved into the place, Festus. He didn’t know Paul and he didn’t have the history that Felix had with him. Festus went right to Jerusalem and met with the high priest before he settled in at Caesarea. When he finally got to the palace, he had brought the priest and Jewish leaders back with him to hear Paul’s case. Paul could have been made excuses and complained that he was just trying to do God’s work, but all these outside influences were prohibiting him from getting the work done. Instead, Paul was actually given an option. A choice to go back to Jerusalem to be heard, but Paul took control of the situation by appealing to Caesar. As a Roman, he knew that once he made that appeal, there would be nothing to get in his way until he met Caesar face to face. Since Jesus had told him on the road to Damascus that he would be his witness before kings, he knew he would one day go to Rome, and he took this opportunity to be taken there.
How many times in life do we let our circumstances limit the things God is trying to get done through us. How many times do we play the victim. When the outside forces rage, do we have our eyes fixed on the One who will overcome the obstacles, or do we sit down and let the winds blow us away? Of course, the only way to stay on mission is if you know the mission ahead of time. This is also the only way to not slip into the victim’s mind set. You must get the plan from God’s Spirit and then follow Him diligently step by step. Paul is one of the greatest examples of maintaining focus no matter what the outside world brought.
Today I want to encourage you when hard things are surrounding you, keep your eyes on Him. Set some time aside now at the beginning of the year and begin to take steps toward the plans He has for you. It will be a process, but when you know you are following the leader, you will not be tempted or drawn off track by every opportunity that comes your way. Press in today and ask Him about the current decisions you are making. Learn how to ensure that you are hearing His direction and that you are positioning yourself for all that He has for you. Take away all the chances of falling into a victim mentality by solidifying each decision by following the path He has laid out for you. You will find your place and along with that will come your joy and peace.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 25:1-12
1 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him,
3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him.
4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly.
5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”
6 And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.
7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove,
8 while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”
9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”
10 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.
11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”
The Daily Dose 