Scripture:
Numbers 25: 9
Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”
Numbers 25:25 (partial)
But in my opinion he has done nothing worthy of death….
Numbers 25:26 (partial)
But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no real charge against him…
Observation: Festus wants to be in the good graces of the Jews, yet he cannot find any real charge against Paul. He is stumped as to how to handle this situation because he knows what the Jews want is wrong.
Application: Why didn’t Festus just stand up and do what he knew to be right? Why did he allow himself to be swayed in any way by those who were not seeking truth?
I am in no way perfect. But I really do try to be honest about my beliefs and act in accordance with them. If you know something is right or wrong, then act accordingly. Don’t appeal to the masses, pray about it and do the right thing.
Prayer: Lord, this passage infuriates me. Why wouldn’t Festus just do the right thing? And why is that the case so much today as well? Almost every day I hear about another trusted individual or group who chose to act unethically. Why do we let that happen? Why are so many afraid to step forward with truth and judge with truth and make good decisions based on truth?
Please, Lord, call more people to you. Draw us closer and guide us in shining your light in the darkness. Guide us in showing YOUR way, not Satan’s way. Don’t let us accept the evil as a fact of life. Strengthen us to stand up for what is right. Keep us from compromising. And also keep us from judging wrongly.
We are all broken. Let those who are allowing evil to control them see your love and move toward it. Help them to push away evil in their own lives, too.
Heal our nation, Lord. Heal our world. Show me what I can do to help.
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