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New Lessons

Andrea Lende • June 10, 2022

Acts:24-25

New Lessons

 

You can listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/New-Lessons-e1jpdhm

 

Acts 24:25

 

But as he continued to argue about uprightness, purity of life (the control of the passions), and the judgment to come, Felix became alarmed and terrified and said, Go away for the present; when I have a convenient opportunity, I will send for you.

 

 

Paul was put in prison for causing a disturbance.

 

Well, he didn’t actually cause the disturbance.

 

He was performing the acts of purification with four other men as was the Jewish custom.

 

Their seven days of purification were coming to an end when some of their fellow Jewish believers saw Paul and incited a riot.

 

They accused Paul of telling people to disobey the Mosaic Law and pulled him outside the Temple to kill him.

 

Some soldiers arrested him just to keep him safe.

 

A high priest from Ananias named Felix was brought in to interrogate Paul.

 

Felix listened to Paul and seemed to want to continue to listen to him over time – over two years’ time.

 

Felix kept him in prison for those two years without making a decision about his case.

 

On one occasion Paul talked about faith and living a good and pure life.

 

Felix became terrified and sent Paul away one more time.

 

He could only hear bits and pieces of Truth at a time.

 

This made me think about how we have difficulty with the Truth too.

 

When I am confronted with a new Truth that I don’t want to hear, I quit listening.

 

I want to turn away like Felix.

 

But God gently compasses me about and shows me the Truth in another way.

 

The Word says God will continue the good work in us and bring it to completion.

 

May we never stop leaning in to learn new Truths from the Lord.

 

Today I choose to be open to new Truths and ask God to change me instead of running away from Him.

 

May you find the Lord shows you new Truths and that you will remain open and lean into Him as He gently changes your heart.

 

 

Daily Prayer:

 

O Lord, thank You for teaching us new Truths. Thank You for teaching us more of Your ways. Help us lean into You learn more about You, Father. Help us not run away from You as You teach us something new. Help us cling to You and seek more knowledge and Wisdom. Show us how to be the person You desire us to be. Interrogate our hearts, Lord. Find the places where we are not being wholly Yours. Help us fully surrender to You so we can give You all the broken pieces of our lives. Help us give our failures to You, Lord. Help us praise You for every success. You are the only good and perfect part of us. Break off the pieces that need to be left behind. Keep our eyes on You as we move past the old and into the new. Help us bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing our prayer.

 

Answer: I AM with you and am doing a work in you so that you can serve Me.

Response: Keep us at Your feet, Lord. Amen

 

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